RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

acidone

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 24, 2010
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Chicago, Il
I've been reloading .308 and .338 in my Forster press for years and recently wanted to start reloading .223 in something better than my dillon 1050. I picked up a set of RCBS comp. micrometer dies after a buddy recomended them. I found out that the seating die has a bushing that need to be retained in something for it to work properly :-(

My question is; does anyone make this part currently or is it something I'm gonna have to do myself :-((( Below is a picture of the unconfined part I'm speaking of.

fe873bbd.jpg


Thanks in advance for any help
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=144115 </div></div>

Thanks! It only took me 30 mins to crank mine out and midway says out of stock. I'll keep it in mind if I ever lose mine :)

Why does you quote say "stop using photobucket"? What's the alternative?

John
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

"I picked up a set of RCBS comp. micrometer dies after a buddy recomended them."

I think you need a better grade of 'buddy.'
wink.gif
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

Ouch that's harsh
frown.gif
I know they aren't the best of the best. Cabela's had them for $15 cheaper than the Forster so I figured I'd give it a shot. Besides not being able to use the self adjusting shell plate on the Forster, the RCBS die seems to repeat just as well as the Forster. Im pretty sure it'll work just fine :)
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

By using that shell plate you lose 50% of what makes a Co-Ax such a great press, now only the die can float and not the shell, I recommend you buy Forster Micrometer seaters or my choice Redding Competition seaters.
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

I would agree, but am pretty sure that the bushing that slides into the RCBS seating die does a pretty good job of keeping the case located. I'm not disagreeing with you, just thinking that just because the Forster might be better it doesn't necessarily mean the RCBS is shit :)
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

Fuzzball cracked me up.... gotta get back on task.. ok.

Forster makes the wear plate from 20 gauge steel [.036" thick] and is ok in compression to push a case into a die, but not bending like a beam.
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

It wouldn't take me but 10 minutes to make one out of .100 thk A-2 heat treated tool steel if you thought it would make a bit of difference. I'm not worried about it so much for seating as much as i am during sizing. There is a heck of a lot of pressure on that .036" thk plate. A thicker harder plate would improve things a lot.

On the other hand i would hope that the engineers at Forster took that into account when they designed the press. It wouldn't make any sense to build a beauty of a machine just to save a couple of pennies on a simple to make piece of steel.

John
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SakoTRG FAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It wouldn't take me but 10 minutes to make one out of .100 thk A-2 heat treated tool steel if you thought it would make a bit of difference. I'm not worried about it so much for seating as much as i am during sizing. There is a heck of a lot of pressure on that .036" thk plate. A thicker harder plate would improve things a lot.

On the other hand i would hope that the engineers at Forster took that into account when they designed the press. It wouldn't make any sense to build a beauty of a machine just to save a couple of pennies on a simple to make piece of steel. John </div></div>
The wear plate is normally only used in compression.
The assembly you whipped up is using one in bending.
The Clarance Purdie 1965 patent on the co-ax press
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3345903.pdf
Went from Gopher Shooters Supply -> Bonanza -> Forster -> patent expired.
When ever I call or write Forster with improvements to the co-ax or the other major Purdie patent on seater dies:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3440923.pdf
I get kind words from the sweet female voices, but no follow up with the owners.
The tiny changes between the later Bonanza and the current Forster co-ax do some good and do some bad, but really insignificant.
What does it all mean?
I don't think the engineering staff at Forster is filling up the parking lot.


 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SakoTRG FAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It wouldn't take me but 10 minutes to make one out of .100 thk A-2 heat treated tool steel if you thought it would make a bit of difference. I'm not worried about it so much for seating as much as i am during sizing. There is a heck of a lot of pressure on that .036" thk plate. A thicker harder plate would improve things a lot.

On the other hand i would hope that the engineers at Forster took that into account when they designed the press. It wouldn't make any sense to build a beauty of a machine just to save a couple of pennies on a simple to make piece of steel. John </div></div>
The wear plate is normally only used in compression.
The assembly you whipped up is using one in bending.
The Clarance Purdie 1965 patent on the co-ax press
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3345903.pdf
Went from Gopher Shooters Supply -> Bonanza -> Forster -> patent expired.
When ever I call or write Forster with improvements to the co-ax or the other major Purdie patent on seater dies:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3440923.pdf
I get kind words from the sweet female voices, but no follow up with the owners.
The tiny changes between the later Bonanza and the current Forster co-ax do some good and do some bad, but really insignificant.
What does it all mean?
I don't think the engineering staff at Forster is filling up the parking lot.


</div></div>

That's good to know! Basically i can make anything i want for a forster press, improvements or otherwise, and patent them myself :) If you have any ideas I'd be happy to work something up if you wanna talk about them!!!
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

"I would agree, but am pretty sure that the bushing that slides into the RCBS seating die does a pretty good job of keeping the case located. ...<span style="font-style: italic">just because the Forster might be better it doesn't necessarily mean the RCBS is shit</span> :)"

?? And no one has said that but you.

On average, I think RCBS' costly GM/Comp dies are as 'good' as any conventional dies and that's actually pretty good. But that short sliding bullet guide sleeve only makes sure the bullet actually enters the case mouth and that isn't normally a problem with any seater. And the sleeve itself is much too limited in case contact and far too loose a fit in the die body for it to equal the full body sleeve design of Forster and Redding. (The issue isn't consistancy of OAL - if that's what you mean by "repeat" - it's bullet runout. And it's unlikely that extended shell holder gadget does runout any good.)
 
Re: RCBS competition dies in a Forster co-ax???

i am confused... how are the RCBS competition dies different than others?

you can't just set the brass down and size them or seat the bullet like standard dies you HAVE to buy this piece?

on 2nd thought its because of the bullet "window"