Lee Loader

Ranch Dog wrote:

daboone wrote:I'm I the only one who likes Lee's lock rings? I use them on my non Lee presses.

Nope, I like them and don't have any problems with them. I tighten and loosen them with a Titan wrench. Don't need to touch the die and the rings stay where they were put.

Same here. I have MUCH more variance due to untrimmed pistol brass than dies moving. Like many issues with Lee products, I wonder if the directions are being followed or do people just know how to because of experience. If Lee stuff is different by design (usually the case) than another brand, I read the instructions because chances are there is a detail not obvious or different than any other brand.

Throw one of these in your cart the next time you make an order with Titan ---> Titan Reloading Lee Die Lock Nut Finger Wrench

The only time I find the Lee "O" ring system a pain is in the seating die. It is hard to hold the die from turning slightly when tightening the locknut. Not a big deal for a 30-06 case but more of an issue in the .223 where variation in seating depth has more impact.

Macd wrote:The only time I find the Lee "O" ring system a pain is in the seating die. It is hard to hold the die from turning slightly when tightening the locknut. Not a big deal for a 30-06 case but more of an issue in the .223 where variation in seating depth has more impact.

Dude, you need that Titan wrench.

Ranch Dog wrote:

Macd wrote:The only time I find the Lee "O" ring system a pain is in the seating die. It is hard to hold the die from turning slightly when tightening the locknut. Not a big deal for a 30-06 case but more of an issue in the .223 where variation in seating depth has more impact.

Dude, you need that Titan wrench.

Yes. It looks like the solution.

Ranch Dog wrote: Dude, you need that Titan wrench.

So what does the Titan wrench do that can't be done by tightening the locking nut "finger tight" by hand per the instructions?

klr wrote:

Ranch Dog wrote: Dude, you need that Titan wrench.

So what does the Titan wrench do that can't be done by tightening the locking nut "finger tight" by hand per the instructions?

With one hand you can hold the die in place, and with the other, tighten the ring down with the wrench. Tighter than possible by hand.

Ranch Dog wrote:

klr wrote:

Ranch Dog wrote: Dude, you need that Titan wrench.

So what does the Titan wrench do that can't be done by tightening the locking nut "finger tight" by hand per the instructions?

With one hand you can hold the die in place, and with the other, tighten the ring down with the wrench. Tighter than possible by hand.

Thanks. I'm constantly loading a few of this and that on my single stage press, so I prefer a ring that locks solidly to the die.

Looks like I'm going against the grain here, but I'll show a couple of ways I modified my lock rings.

First: The pinch method. I milled a pocket and installed a 4-40 screw. It works fine.



Second, The set screw method. I used a soft 4-40 screw and ground a taper on the end. Then I picked a spot on the ring so that the point would tighten into the valley of the threads on the die. It doesn't take much to lock the ring solid and I don't see how that small soft screw is going to chew up the hard steel of the die body. I can't see any evidence of it marring the die threads. I'll bet a brass screw would work too.




See how the tip of the screw was deformed by the valley of the die? I tightened this a dozen or more times about as tight as I dared without stripping the threads. No marks on the die.



If you like the original Lee system: Congrats! If not, I hope this helps.

Nice work!

klr I doubt you did but do you keep the O-ring with this mod? I wish I has your skill to do these sort of mods.

I've had problems with soft set screws on the Forster "pinch type" lockring's phillips heads screw. I had to replace them with stronger screws to prevent mauling the phillips screwdriver insert even with mild torque.

As far as lockrings set screws maring threads I've used lead shot and small pieces of airsoft pellets on RCBS lockrings to prevent die thread deformation for those RCBS dies.

CO-AX press does require setscrew lockrings. My SS, progressive and turret don't. As RD has mentioned the Titan gadget really works for me.