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Posted: 12/26/2011 12:52:56 AM EDT
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Was asked for my methods.
I turn my Lee dies in and out of my presses and require a positive lock ring on them. 
Tools you will need. Add a vice, drill and thread cutting lube and your set. 10-32 tap and # 21 drill bit. (5/32 bit will work but is a little small) Set screws are 10/32 x 3/16 hex head. Buy at hardware store. Lead shot will be used later. 
Notice hole is not centered in width. Goal is to have hole centered on threads. 
Hole drilled. 
Lube tap with cutting fluid, and tap hole plumb. 
You will have burrs on the inside after tapping. I use a flat blade screwdriver in the threads to remove them. Follow threads with flat blade, burrs will break off. Just aluminum the burrs are easy to remove. 
I clamp my Lee decapping die in vice and by hand, thread nut on and off die to finish cleaning burrs off ring. 
Test set screw in threads, check for burrs. 
Take # 6 or # 8 shot and slightly flatten with a hammer and insert between die threads and set screw. Take a shotgun shell apart if you don't have any shot. Lead will form to the threads and will not deform the threads on the die. If you ever want to readjust the lock ring it will be much easier without the die threads buggered up. 
Once tightened down once the shot forms to the threads and looks like this. 
Day it took these pics I did 4 lock rings. |
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Quoted:
Take # 6 or # 8 shot and slightly flatten with a hammer and insert between die threads and set screw. Take a shotgun shell apart if you don't have any shot. Dryflash I mentioned this in the past, but it may help others if I mention it in this thread. If you don't have any lead shot readily available (like me) and don't want to disassemble a shot shell, you can always use a small snip of weed-eater string in place of the lead shot. It works really well. jonblack |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg272/dryflash3/Dies/P9170555.jpg Take # 6 or # 8 shot and slightly flatten with a hammer and insert between die threads and set screw. Take a shotgun shell apart if you don't have any shot. Dryflash I mentioned this in the past, but it may help others if I mention it in this thread. If you don't have any lead shot readily available (like me) and don't want to disassemble a shot shell, you can always use a small snip of weed-eater string in place of the lead shot. It works really well. jonblack A good alternative. Just like a nylock fastener. |
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I also do this with lock rings not just the lee ones. works well on the Dillon trimmer dies too for the motor lock rings if you use your motor on more than one trim die. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/BIGGDAWG800/223trimdiesetscrew.jpg Yes all of my lock rings have a shot under the set screw. Except the Hornady, which are a different design. |
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Dryflash-thanks for posting this for me. I too don't have any shotgun shot, so I will try the weed whacker string idea. How should I go about using it? Just cut a 1/8" piece and then hammer it flat and wrap it around the set screw as I tighten it in? that #21 drill bit is just a 10/32 drill bit correct?
Thanks, Mav |
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Quoted:
Dryflash-thanks for posting this for me. I too don't have any shotgun shot, so I will try the weed whacker string idea. How should I go about using it? Just cut a 1/8" piece and then hammer it flat and wrap it around the set screw as I tighten it in? No.that #21 drill bit is just a 10/32 drill bit correct? Thanks, Mav #21 drill bit is the correct size drill for a 10/32 tapped hole. It's a number bit. They come in #1 to #80. Go to a good hardware store and buy a bit when buying set screws. IM me your address, I will send you some lead shot. |
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Good idea.
Dryflash, some questions: do you go a little high with the set screw hole to avoid the o-ring? How about using the rings with out the o-ring? If you leave the o-ring in the lock ring, doesn't that give you a little variation in the depth of the die, depending on how hard you turn the die into the press and how much you compress the o-ring? |
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I cover the not centered location in the pics. Drill the hole in the center of the threads.
I still use the o-ring. I never torque down dies in a single stage press. I just hand tighten snugly. eta, you should get the shot soon, I sent it out a couple of days ago. |
After spending a couple of hours in the garage the other day I now have converted all my Lee regular die rings into locking rings.
After a short while I started to get the hang of it and managed to only ruin two of the rings. I gotta get some more lead shot for them, but other than that they are all set! Thanks again Dryflash... 
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Quoted:
any chance getting the links to the pictures updated ? It's very basic, drill and tap a 10/32 thread in the thickest part of the nut. Flattened #6 shot inserted into hole followed with a 10/32x1/4 hex set screw. Done. |
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Quoted:
Dryflash-thanks for posting this for me. I too don't have any shotgun shot, so I will try the weed whacker string idea. How should I go about using it? Just cut a 1/8" piece and then hammer it flat and wrap it around the set screw as I tighten it in? Thanks, Mav |
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I assume you remove the rubber O ring from the Lee lock ring before you drill it. I can't begin to count how many times those O rings kept me from adjusting a die...
On a related note, I've seen other folks post how they converted RCBS lock rings into cross-bolt style (like Hornady/Forster) rings. Are Lee's rings stout enough to do that with? |
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