I was cleaning up a reloading die set and thought Id suggest a tip that Im betting many reloaders, especially new ones, may not have thought of. This is concerning the set screw that locks the large adjustment ring or nut in place. Some dies use brass set screws and mention its to insure the die threads are not damaged. Other die manufacturers use steel set screws and, I guess, assume you will not tighten it enough to damage the threads. The brass set screws will work but in tightening it the die threads chew up the end of the screw.
Since Ive reloaded for rifle, pistol and shotguns as far back as I care to remember, many years ago the light came on so to speak. I removed the set screw and dropped in a #6 or #8 lead pellet used in shot shell reloading? If all you have is #9 pellets, drop in a couple. Or shave a piece off one of your soft-cast bullets. Reinstall the set screw and tighten it down. It works great. The set screw (brass or steel) crushes the lead pellet or pellets against the threads of the nut and die, while eliminating any possibility of damaging the die threads or end of the set screw. If die readjustment is need later the lead will break loose with little pressure on the nut once the set screw is loosened. The lead shot has now formed to the threads on the inside of the nut. Once the die has been readjusted, tighten the set screw.
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Actually I've been letting my dies float. I've locked the nut on the die but do not lock the die down on the press. I back the die off about a 1/2 turn and by marking the nuts and a reference mark on the press I insure the dies do not rotate from cartridge to cartridge. This is another trick a very experience reloader shared with me some time ago. It definitely improves runout on my cartridges.
Wayne
