Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

[uracowman]

I need some help guys. I just recently purchased a lee hand press along with the rbcs competition 2 die set in 308. The full length seating die worked just fine with the universal shell holder I had, but it appears too short to use with the seating die. The kit came with a lengthened shell holder that I presume is suppose to be installed when seating, but it doesn't fit into the press. When using the universal shellholder, the part of the seating die that pushes in the bullet doesn't even engage with the brass even when the micrometer adjustment knob is turned all the way down.

Is there a special shellholder I have to purchase?

 

[uracowman]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

bump

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

I'm confused? What do you mean by, "full length seating die"? Do you have a universal shell holder and a lengthened shell holder?

I don't understand "the part of the seating die that pushes in the bullet" and "engaging the brass? Do you mean the seating stem and the bullet not engaging the neck, or what? BB

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

If you mean what I THINK you mean, that seater requires an extended shell holder (which is one of the four major reasons I have no use for that very costly die set).

All current shell holders are supposed to be a 'universal' fit so if your other shell holders work in your Lee press and that one doesn't you need to call RCBS for a new one.

 

[uracowman]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BuzzBoss915</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm confused? What do you mean by, "full length seating die"? Do you have a universal shell holder and a lengthened shell holder?

I don't understand "the part of the seating die that pushes in the bullet" and "engaging the brass? Do you mean the seating stem and the bullet not engaging the neck, or what? BB </div></div>

I apologize. let me clarify that.

When using the full length resizing die, the universal shellholder I use in the lee hand press works perfect. When using the RCBS competition seating die with the micrometer adjustment, things don't go so well.

When I screw on the seating die as low as it can go, the bullet does not seat into the brass because there the gap between the brass and the part of the die that pushes the bullet in is so large. The die set I purchased came with an extended shellholder, but it doesn't fit into the hand press.

I was just wondering if there was a solution to this problem because I checked on midwayusa and lee doesn't sell an extended shellholder.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you mean what I THINK you mean, that seater requires an extended shell holder (which is one of the four major reasons I have no use for that very costly die set).

All current shell holders are supposed to be a 'universal' fit so if your other shell holders work in your Lee press and that one doesn't you need to call RCBS for a new one. </div></div>

essentially this.

I actually got the extended shellholder to somewhat work, but I need an alternative. If I push the extended shellholder really hard into the press, it will work, but I have to use a set of pliers to pull the extended shellholder out after I am done. The bigger issue is that the numbers on the micrometer adjustment tool do not line up properly because the extended shellholder is way too long, but I ended up seating bullets into all the cases I prepped yesterday. It may not look pretty, but it works and I adjusted the MM adjustment knob so the OALs for all my 308 rounds were 2.800 inches. I verified this with a set of electronic calipers.

I'm looking for an alternative because the shellholder, die and press were not designed to be used like this but it does work for the time being.

 

[repiv]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

Yes you need to use the shell holder with that die. I remember in your other post where you said you wanted to load Precision rounds. You could have listened in the first place and not bought that die set. Its expensive and is not very good when trying to get low runout numbers. Your die set is OK if you just want to load some rounds and go shoot but if you want "precision", not so much. The Redding or Forster seater is not just about the micrometer head thats on it. Its actually more to do with the way it seats a bullet and the amount of runout you have (or in the case of Redding/Forster you DONT have). And they dont require a special holder. The FL sizing die in the Redding competition set also has the advantage of being a bushing die so you can set the "proper" bushing and get an ideal size for your application. You can even remove the expander and not stretch the brass at the neck on the downstroke of the press. This is where most runout is caused.

You should do a little research on "runout".

Shoot me a PM if you want. I was where you are now a few years ago and might be able to save you a lot of time and trouble and you would not need to make the same mistakes that I did when starting out. BTW My first die set for my .308 was none other than the exact one you have. And yep my runout was not pretty.

 

[uracowman]

Re: Issue with rbcs mm seating die w/ lee han press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: repiv</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yes you need to use the shell holder with that die. I remember in your other post where you said you wanted to load Precision rounds. You could have listened in the first place and not bought that die set. Its expensive and is not very good when trying to get low runout numbers. Your die set is OK if you just want to load some rounds and go shoot but if you want "precision", not so much. The Redding or Forster seater is not just about the micrometer head thats on it. Its actually more to do with the way it seats a bullet and the amount of runout you have (or in the case of Redding/Forster you DONT have). And they dont require a special holder. The FL sizing die in the Redding competition set also has the advantage of being a bushing die so you can set the "proper" bushing and get an ideal size for your application. You can even remove the expander and not stretch the brass at the neck on the downstroke of the press. This is where most runout is caused.

You should do a little research on "runout".

Shoot me a PM if you want. I was where you are now a few years ago and might be able to save you a lot of time and trouble and you would not need to make the same mistakes that I did when starting out. BTW My first die set for my .308 was none other than the exact one you have. And yep my runout was not pretty. </div></div>

Thanks for the clarification and I appreciate the advice.

The only reason I went with this die set is because someone from that thread recommended te die set. If I remember correctly, I was going to go with the three due redding set, but I was advised not too because it was way too expensive. I'll shoot you pm in a bit once I get home.