I've got die sets from Lyman, Lee, Hornaday, and RCBS. Maybe it's the black (small base) models, but these get cases stuck 10x as often as other dies I have. Is it just me? Are RCBS much tighter tolerance, or is it a design issue?
RCBS dies
- Thread starter Sasquatch
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I find it really funny that you post this question at the same time you post them for sale. Back to marketing 101 for you!
Just kidding, and I have never needed small base dies, although I’m pretty sure I have one for 308.
Just kidding, and I have never needed small base dies, although I’m pretty sure I have one for 308.
Yep, that's kind of what prompted me to get rid of them, those are new, maybe they won't be as sticky for someone else. I've got other small base 308 and 300 that I'm keeping (just because they're used and beat to sh1t from banging out stuck cases).
I have been using more and more lube- but small base dies are for auto-loaders (volume). They're my 'backup' dies now, and if I do need to break them out, I'll lube the heck out of them. Meanwhile, Lee dies just keep cranking out rounds.
I am using RCBS small base dies on all range 308 and 6.5 pickup brass. Never had a problem with them and I am using the Hornady Unique wax/lube. The only RCBS dies that I ever had problems with was a set of old set of 223 that I bought on line. I called RCBS and was told to send them back and they would repair or replace them. They opened the resizing die and never had a problem again.
I'm not the only one... from Amazon's review of this part...
RCBS Small Base Die Users Need This
November 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm only giving this 3 stars because the design leaves a lot to be desired. The idea that RCBS has designed a product of this nature so that it is fragile and must be replaced if you suffer a jammed case is truly aggravating. But since many popular rifles will only chamber reloads that have been processed through an RCBS "small base" die, we don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. If you are reloading military 7.62 NATO brass using the small base RCBS die, you'd better have one of these (along with their stuck case extractor kit) on hand. When you use the stuck case extractor, you can easily drill too deeply though the primer hole and damage this part, rendering it useless. So it's not a matter of "if" but merely "when" you're going to need it, even if you are fastidious about cleaning and lubing your cartridge cases. C'mon RCBS, take a lesson from the competition and come up with a better die / decapper design...please!
RCBS Small Base Die Users Need This
November 21, 2016
Verified Purchase
I'm only giving this 3 stars because the design leaves a lot to be desired. The idea that RCBS has designed a product of this nature so that it is fragile and must be replaced if you suffer a jammed case is truly aggravating. But since many popular rifles will only chamber reloads that have been processed through an RCBS "small base" die, we don't have a whole lot of choice in the matter. If you are reloading military 7.62 NATO brass using the small base RCBS die, you'd better have one of these (along with their stuck case extractor kit) on hand. When you use the stuck case extractor, you can easily drill too deeply though the primer hole and damage this part, rendering it useless. So it's not a matter of "if" but merely "when" you're going to need it, even if you are fastidious about cleaning and lubing your cartridge cases. C'mon RCBS, take a lesson from the competition and come up with a better die / decapper design...please!
Been using RCBS Small Base .223/5.56 dies for about 8 years now. Processed tens of thousands of rounds. Not one stuck case
What is your lubricating process? It sounds like this is your issue
What is your lubricating process? It sounds like this is your issue
Clicker
Well-Known Member
^ This, I've had mine since the mid 90's. Only one or two stuck cases which were totally my fault.
I use a homegrown lanolin+alcohol solution (there's a thread about it somewhere).
I don't lube these any more than my normal dies, so maybe that's it- maybe they need to be sticky lubed so to 'never' stick. As I posted earlier, this is a known concern with these dies (at least from other reviews).
Had probs with RCBS and HORNADY 223 full length sizing dies in high volume loading on Dillon.650. Cheap Lee resizer just keeps going and going. The RCBS and Horn dies are softer and get (at least with me) brass particles embedded in them easily and start scratching brass at the neck.