RCBS Die Cracking

[smokemjoe]

My 43 Spanish Seating Die By RCBS, 1977, Has 5 cracks starting at the base creeping up about 1/2 in long, Way did this happen, Thanks- Joe

[Rich/WIS]

Call RCBS, customer service has a great, and well deserved reputation. After 40 years I finally stuck an 06 case in my FL die, got it out but damaged the decapping rod. Called RCBS to order new and they sent me a rod, expander button and extra decap pins for FREE! Said it is covered by the warranty, on dies nearly 40 years old.

[smokemjoe]

I can see it on maybe on a sizing die, But why on a seating die. Thanks for the replys.

[zuke]

Call RCBS and let them resolve the problem.

[PS Paul]

Yeah, the seating die? Seems odd for that to happen? I suppose if the die is actually hitting the bottom of the case or the shell holder is hitting the bottom of the die with no case in it, that could cause an issue like that over time. Otherwise, likely just some sort of metal fatigue over the lifespan of the die, finally growing out and succumbing with much use, I figure. Pretty odd.

Anyone else out there ever seen this before?

[Guesser]

Just looked at my 43 Spa. set up. My sizing die is RCBS 1971, fine condition. The other two dies are Lyman, an "M" die and the seater, both are still in fine condition. I'm using some Lyman All American dies that are well over 50 years old and have never witnessed crack like described here.

[9.3X62AL]

I've yet to see any such damage to any die by any maker, and I have examples by most of the mainstreamers. The seater die seems the least likely to incur such damage, but I'm sure the maker will make it right. There is some real force being exerted at the top of a press stroke, so a die set to contact the shellholder a little too deeply might sustain such damage. Just speculatin', here.

[Pavogrande]

Since it is a seating die -- what does it hurt?
But - as others said ask rcbs --

Perhaps a 348 was squeezed a mite in it -- :-)

[o6Patient]

I think rcbs would just replace it ...somebody had a bad day when they built that one.

[o6Patient]

Never had a hitch w/ RCBS dies and they are the majority of mine.