Re: Setting up a RCBS Gold Medal die set
Assuming that you are neck sizing only and have the bushing size that your want/need:
-take die decapping pin and die top part off, aka "neck bushing retainer" in the directions. So now you have just the die body.
-with the press ram full up, screw the die body into your press so it comes close to touching the shellplate, but does not quite touch it. Tighten the die lock ring down.
-lower the ram, then put a piece of brass (with the neck lightly lubed) onto the the shellplate/holder and then run the press ram up to the full stroke position.
-with the brass still at the top of the ram stroke, put the bushing into the die, and at will rest on top of the brass. Screw the the top piece of the die on, so it now just starts to contact the bushing. Lower the ram, bringing the brass and shellholder back to the down position.
Now you need to determine how much of the neck you want to size. All of it, or just some of it? In increments, screw down the top piece, then try sizing the brass to get as much of the neck as you want. Trial and error. (I do about 1/3 -1/2 of the neck, more than that probably isn't needed if you have a factory chamber)
So now you should have the neck sized where you want it. To install the decapping pin, take the top piece off, and screw in the decapping pin, looking at how far out of the die it will project. You need enough to push the primer cleanly out of the brass, but don't want too much, or you will punch out the bottom of the brass.
Not enough neck tension to hold the bullet? Then you need a different bushing. I don't get them in .001 multiples any more, as the tension difference seemed to small to me, so I buy them and bracket what I think I need in .002 intervals, then return what isn't go to work for the brass I'm using. If you have several on hand to start with , start with the largest size, and then adjust tension upward from there by using smaller size inserts as needed.
