Ever have one of those days?? Reloading rant

[ap1040]

This is a rant and figure someone on this forum will be able to relate . . .


I just spent the last 3 hours trying to SETUP my reloading press to run some 45 ACP. I've so far loaded ZERO rounds and have called it a night, will try again tomorrow.

I'm currently using an LnL AP press, no case or bullet feeder. I've previously loaded about 2K of 9MM and 2K of 38 Cal so know how to set the press up.

I thought things were going well until I got to the RCBS lock out die and it wouldn't set properly. Ok take it out and then re-look at charging and resizing dies. They WERE properly set but now were not. So got the resizing die re-set and locked down then went to the power die.

I've given up for today because I just could not get it to flare the case and get a full powder stroke in it. I've set it about 6 times today and no dice.

Now since I was setting up the die, there is NO powder in the press.

After 3 hours and it just wasn't working decided to clean up, put the powder away and will pick it up tomorrow. I am not sure why I can't get it set up today but know if I keep at it will only get more frustrated and either make a very stupid mistake or break something.

So going to find a comedy to watch on netflix and get a beer.

To any reloader, if things are just not going right for some reason STOP what you are doing, take a break and come back later. Don't force it as that is when avoidable bad things are likely to happen.

Ok rant off and I feel better now. Sorry your not getting that 2 - 3 minutes of your life back.

[Pauliedad]

Good call.

A fresh look at the set up instructions may slow you down enough to catch whatever mistake you might be party to.
Good luck.

[Che762x39]

Me: Son, take a knee.

You: Thank you coach!

Some days you need a break and regroup tomorrow. Take care and have fun

['ol shooter]

Yup, nothing like a short break to flush out your head. Learned that one young, and the hard way, of course.

[BigBronco]

Yup spent way over an hour trying to get a bullet feeder die going. Was about to throw a wrench through the window. Stepped away and got it going in under 15 minutes the next day.

[bubbapug1]

I feel the same way every time I use my MEC. You need a damn litter box under one of them!! And that's when it's working well.

[chknlyps2]

Do you have one of these adjustable linkage things under the return spring on your powder drop? http://www.midwayusa.com/product/959..._vc=OBv1959962
For me it makes setting up the flair using a ptx die quick and easy.

[Mike402]

I had the exact same issue setting up the lockout die. I gave up and went back to the Hornady powder cop. Much easier setup & its universal with rifle/pistol. Don't be surprised if you see a like new RCBS lockout die in the marketplace shortly :-)

[rdfact]

Ever have one of those days?? Reloading rant

I'm confused on your guys issues with the RCBS Lock Out die. The setup is pretty simple. Screw the die into press until it is about 1/4" above the shell plate with the ram at the top of its stroke. With the correct powder charge in the case and case in the press, raise the ram until the case mouth starts to contact and just moves the sliding internal sleeve (Die Case Lock, part #2 in below link). The die is set properly when the white line is just visible/even with the top of the die when the case contacts the sleeve. Adjust the plunger longer or shorter until you get it set. You have to readjust the length of the plunger for each different caliber and/or powder charge.
The die works well to catch no charge or a double charge. It may not catch a 50%, 75%, 125%, etc charge.

http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/LockOutDie_Instructions.pdf

[1bulletBarney]

When I first started out at reloading, I marked for each slot on side of the Lee 4 die box for each die to cordinate with the picture of dies on the the data sheet. The seating die and FCD look somewhat alike and thought this was a good idea.

Using the SS press I flared and charged a batch of 45 ACP getting ready to switch over to the seating process. I grabbed the die that was in the slot I labeled for "seat", set in press and away I went... pulled lever to seat, ram down and pulled round from shell holder and bullet falls out, WTF... I try again and same thing, try one more time, now I am puzzled. I pull die from press and take die apart, everything looks OK but something is not right. I grab the data sheet and then I glance at the pics of the dies. I must have put the FCD in the seating slot and the seating die was in the FCD slot. I was trying to seat bullet with the FCD...

I was getting to the red zone but thankfully I took a time out and figured it out, lesson learned...

[Mike402]

It likely boiled down to user error on my part, as I was able to get it set initially, but then a few hundred rounds in, I would spot check it, and it would allow a no charge to sneak by without locking up. Honestly I didn't spend much time trying to troubleshoot it, as I found the Hornady easier to use/setup, and I'm all about making my life easier these days.

I'm confused on your guys issues with the RCBS Lock Out die. The setup is pretty simple. Screw the die into press until it is about 1/4" above the shell plate with the ram at the top of its stroke. With the correct powder charge in the case and case in the press, raise the ram until the case mouth starts to contact and just moves the sliding internal sleeve (Die Case Lock, part #2 in below link). The die is set properly when the white line is just visible/even with the top of the die when the case contacts the sleeve. Adjust the plunger longer or shorter until you get it set. You have to readjust the length of the plunger for each different caliber and/or powder charge.
The die works well to catch no charge or a double charge. It may not catch a 50%, 75%, 125%, etc charge.
http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instru...structions.pdf

[meaty-btz]

Yup spent way over an hour trying to get a bullet feeder die going. Was about to throw a wrench through the window. Stepped away and got it going in under 15 minutes the next day.

A word to the wise.. when choosing an item to throw in anger.. never choose a wrench.

Every wrench throwing story ends up badly.

Had a friend throw a wrench, it bounced, came back, and hit in the head knocking him out.

Another threw it and it bounced and went straight through his radiator.

Another had it bust a windshield.

On and on.. Wrenches are like magical missiles that seek and destroy whatever will be most angering in your shop.

Throw a hammer, a screw driver, a socket, anything but those evil wrenches of doom.

[uhlan1]

You want a rant? Try starting out on a Lee Loadmaster. Found the LnL a piece of cake after i gave that thing away to a friend.

[Pauliedad]

Yeah, the wrench can be incredibly unpredictable but as a teenager I discovered that the hammer even thrown down on a plywood jobsite subfloor can bounce amazingly high and get stuck in the sheet rock above where our stepladders could reach resulting in an awkward conversation with the boss.
I really boils down to the same issue as shooting near large rocks. Don't do it.

[rdfact]

A word to the wise.. when choosing an item to throw in anger.. never choose a wrench.

Every wrench throwing story ends up badly.

Had a friend throw a wrench, it bounced, came back, and hit in the head knocking him out.

Another threw it and it bounced and went straight through his radiator.

Another had it bust a windshield.

On and on.. Wrenches are like magical missiles that seek and destroy whatever will be most angering in your shop.

Throw a hammer, a screw driver, a socket, anything but those evil wrenches of doom.

Screwdrivers are no good either. I thew one and it went through the decorative plexiglass window of my garage door, across the street to my neighbors lawn. I'm lucky I didn't take out his car window or a kid.