Thread: RCBS Dies... Problem?

Has anyone had trouble with RCBS dies? I have a set (FL sizer and seating die) that I bought a while back as I thought they might be a bit better than the Hornady New Dimension dies I was using. Haven't done any reloading for a while and have sold my Hornady dies. Got the new ones out yesterday and sized some brass (all Norma once fired, 270wsm)
It seems the last 3 or 4mm of the stroke requires a fair bit of effort to size the case, and then it feels tight still on the upstroke (removing case from die)
I cant find my micrometer to measure the cases, must have misplaced it during shifting, will get another today and see if I can find any odd measurements. I never had this problem using my Hornady dies (wsm/saum cases always seem to use a bit more effort than a 308 boltface case but this is ridiculous!) and my loaded ammunition always chambered nicely, chambered a few of the sized cases from this latest batch and theres excessive resistance when closing the bolt which is strange as with the effort I was putting into sizing them I would have thought they would be slightly under sized if anything. Any thoughts?

Edit to add: have inspected inside of die to check for a rough chamber and cant see anything, cases dont have any strange marks.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Has anyone had trouble with RCBS dies? I have a set (FL sizer and seating die) that I bought a while back as I thought they might be a bit better than the Hornady New Dimension dies I was using. Haven't done any reloading for a while and have sold my Hornady dies. Got the new ones out yesterday and sized some brass (all Norma once fired, 270wsm)
It seems the last 3 or 4mm of the stroke requires a fair bit of effort to size the case, and then it feels tight still on the upstroke (removing case from die)
I cant find my micrometer to measure the cases, must have misplaced it during shifting, will get another today and see if I can find any odd measurements. I never had this problem using my Hornady dies (wsm/saum cases always seem to use a bit more effort than a 308 boltface case but this is ridiculous!) and my loaded ammunition always chambered nicely, chambered a few of the sized cases from this latest batch and theres excessive resistance when closing the bolt which is strange as with the effort I was putting into sizing them I would have thought they would be slightly under sized if anything. Any thoughts?

Edit to add: have inspected inside of die to check for a rough chamber and cant see anything, cases dont have any strange marks.

Have you got the button fitted?

If so remove it and size a couple and see if it is still stiff.

Only resistance you should have on the upstroke is the button.

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Has anyone had trouble with RCBS dies? I have a set (FL sizer and seating die) that I bought a while back as I thought they might be a bit better than the Hornady New Dimension dies I was using. Haven't done any reloading for a while and have sold my Hornady dies. Got the new ones out yesterday and sized some brass (all Norma once fired, 270wsm)
It seems the last 3 or 4mm of the stroke requires a fair bit of effort to size the case, and then it feels tight still on the upstroke (removing case from die)
I cant find my micrometer to measure the cases, must have misplaced it during shifting, will get another today and see if I can find any odd measurements. I never had this problem using my Hornady dies (wsm/saum cases always seem to use a bit more effort than a 308 boltface case but this is ridiculous!) and my loaded ammunition always chambered nicely, chambered a few of the sized cases from this latest batch and theres excessive resistance when closing the bolt which is strange as with the effort I was putting into sizing them I would have thought they would be slightly under sized if anything. Any thoughts?

Edit to add: have inspected inside of die to check for a rough chamber and cant see anything, cases dont have any strange marks.

That last bit is lies, it does have 270 marked on the bottom after all

Is the expander set too high and trying to squeeze the neck from the inside while the die is squeezing from the outside?

Got a set of forster dies here your welcome to try Ryan.....

So you sized 270WSM cases in a normal 270 die?

Originally Posted by Husky1600

So you sized 270WSM cases in a normal 270 die?

? no

Originally Posted by Husky1600

So you sized 270WSM cases in a normal 270 die?

Wow that would be impressive!

I would inspect the expander and measure it with a vernier caliper while it's out. Maybe it is set too high?

Originally Posted by R93

Have you got the button fitted?

If so remove it and size a couple and see if it is still stiff.

Only resistance you should have on the upstroke is the button.

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Took the button and shaft out of the die and its still really hard to push it up that last few mm

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Took the button and shaft out of the die and its still really hard to push it up that last few mm

That's odd then mate. Even if it is over sizing the spring of the brass shouldn't allow it to bind (at the neck?) without the stem and button.

Go with your original plan and have a measure up.

Have you seated a primer to see if the pocket is still tight? Might indicate a problem if loose.




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Will try pick up a caliper tomorrow and see what I come up with, had a quick look for my other one this evening but I'm buggered if I know where I have put it, have stopped sizing for now as I don't want to wreck all my brass if its playing silly buggers. @matagouri I will give you a text, might have to take you up on using your sizer until I get it sorted

Its not already sized?

Originally Posted by Gibo

Its not already sized?

Nah mate, fired primers in all the brass, and I have only used that brass once, it was all brand spankers at Tobys shoot last year in fact. if it was already sized I would expect it to be even easier to put through the die. I'm beginning to think that this is a dud die, a measure up is needed to confirm though.

Anneal your brass. Does wonders for sizing .

Originally Posted by TeRei

Anneal your brass. Does wonders for sizing .

After one firing?