Best Die Lock Rings

[Tamitch]

Who do you think make the best die lock rings?

[joe i]

Love the Hornady rings, wish they'd fit on my Dillon 650 toolhead. They're all I use with the Rock Chucker, no matter what brand dies I'm using. They lock positively without marring the die threads, and have the wrench flat so you don't have to use pliers to loosen them. I'm a big fan.

[engineer401]

Love the Hornady rings, wish they'd fit on my Dillon 650 toolhead. They're all I use with the Rock Chucker, no matter what brand dies I'm using. They lock positively without marring the die threads, and have the wrench flat so you don't have to use pliers to loosen them. I'm a big fan.

What he said.

[nhrifle]

Here's one from the outcast. I like Lee rings. With the oring they are kinda like the Ronco Rotisserie -- set it and forget it.

[GT27]

I second Lee's!

[r1kk1]

Hornady and Lyman lock rings for me.

Take care

r1kk1

[Von Gruff]

With the Lee lock rings I use a permanant marker pen to mark a line from the lock ring onto the die body and make sure that is always to the front in the press with the die put in and taken out by turning the lock ring rather than the die body so I have a positive visual check that there is use to use setting consistencey.
The Hornady is an excellent ring but I also have Lyman Forster and RCBS and they all work well.

[Von Gruff]

With the Lee lock rings I use a permanant marker pen to mark a line from the lock ring onto the die body and make sure that is always to the front in the press with the die put in and taken out by turning the lock ring rather than the die body so I have a positive visual check that there is use to use setting consistencey.
The Hornady is an excellent ring but I also have Lyman Forster and RCBS and they all work well.

[dromia]

I like the Lees but tend to use two per die. I also like the Forsters, however if I didn't have a Co-AX my dies would all carry Lee lock nuts.

[dilly]

I'm a huge fan of Hornady's for the same reasons as Joe. I don't much care for the lee ones; it's pretty common that I accidentally adjust them when I just want to remove the die. I've never had a problem because I'm gentle but the RCBS ones just dig into the threading.

['74 sharps]

The Hornady rings are a more advanced design whereas as the RCBS rings are sort of first generation. RCBS should update theirs.

[imashooter2]

I love the Lee rings. I've put them on a lot of other maker's dies.

[BCB]

I don’t care for the split rings or the Lee, although if one marks the Lee die to line up each time, they might be acceptable. But, I am uncertain they are tight in the press…

The split rings seem to tighten against the top of the press when the rings are tightened…

I absolutely HATE the allen set screws in any of them. Too easy to round off, and the small size does not allow much torque to tighten them…

I throw the set screws away and use brass machine screws. 10-32, I think they are, but maybe 8-32. I have both on stock…

I grind the heads to the same diameter of the threads and that will allow it to turn and not contact the press top…

Sometimes I put a #9 shot pellet in the lock ring and then tighten the screw up on it…

Regardless, the brass does not hurt the die threads…

A bit of effort in the beginning, but simple the rest of the time…

Easy to get a screw driver placed on the brass machine bolt and tighten…

Sorry for the lousy quality of the photo--a bit shaky this morning...

Good-luck…BCB

[BCB]

Same way on Forster Case Trimmer...

Tried a thumbnail this time...

BCB

(Does that thumbnail open when you click on it? If not, I will post it another way)

[waksupi]

For dies using the set screw. Remove the screw, and drop in a single bird shot pellet. Replace set screw. The lead will hold easier and better than the set screw, and help prevent buggering up the screw when tightening.

[winelover]

For dies using the set screw. Remove the screw, and drop in a single bird shot pellet. Replace set screw. The lead will hold easier and better than the set screw, and help prevent buggering up the screw when tightening.

You can also use a piece of copper Romex wire or one of the brass beads cut off an old fashion electrical pull chain.

Winelover

[Doc Highwall]

I have been using a LEE on the bottom with another brand on top of the LEE jammed together.

[captaint]

I do what Rick said. A little shot ll do ya. Love the flats. Mike

[gefiltephish]

Hornady. Except on the Lee turret, then I use Lee rings because of little clearance between dies.

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I have used and liked them all, depending on the application.