.223 Die help

[ADAME2M]

Can anybody identify this type of die.
It has RCBS .223 REM FL R written on it, but the expander rod doesn't have threads is plane. The nut that holds the expander rod is different from my other RCBS Dies. Any idea if is a real RCBS or somebody put it together from different dies.

[ADAME2M]

This is the pic

[tabascoz28]

So you didn't get it retail I take it... Well, I've always had Lee, they were always solid. The nut on top just tightened with friction instead of 2 nuts holding it together. My RCBS dies are threaded. You might also be asking, should I just tighten it more to see if it gets friction? I've tried it, NO. If it was an estate sale they might have not known what they were doing.

[ADAME2M]

No I bought it of ebay. But the expander rod from my other .223 rcbs does not fit on this one either

[tabascoz28]

Maybe it's old production or some kind of special one?

[divingin]

Pic would help.

Does it have the large hex nut on top like Tab's left picture? Is it raw steel? If so, probably Lee.

If it has a gray matte finish, probably Hornady.

If it has a bunch of parts that you can't figure out what they do, could be Redding.

Other than that, can't help without seeing it.

[jsanch03]

[ADAME2M]

I'm trying to post a pic.http://https://imgur.com/a/ungqv7h

[tabascoz28]

Weird, that is an RCBS body although mine doesn't have a flat spot by the knurling. The decapping tip looks like non Lee, it's also just a pass through I think, it doesn't expand, just punches the primer. But the collet type nut looks like it works like Lee, so have you tried tightening that nut? If you do any testing make sure it's nice and lubed. I'm on my third stuck case which takes extra time to take out.

[tabascoz28]

[ADAME2M]

I did a test and It works. The expander ball measures .223.

[tabascoz28]

Sorry, I'm just used to bell shaped expanders. Did you test the rod yet, does it grab and hold everything correctly?

[ADAME2M]

I did resize a case but I didn't check with a head space gauge.

[tabascoz28]

My RCBS is the small base and I'm glad it has the screw top. Good luck reloading.

[baranski]

This expander ball setup looks very much like my Redding, I just snug it down past finger tight with some pliers to get a better hold on the pin. Watch out for small flash hole primers on 223 (usually headstamp 1K) as they will pull that pin out and getting the whole assembly separated can be a headache, any resistance when resizing/decapping and stop and check.