I posted recently about getting started in reloading, and got lots of helpful replies (thanks!). Now I have run into my first big problem!
I have some .223 brass that I want to use to start learning the basics. But I couldn't seat primers in them. After a little investigation, I realized there was a crimp on the primer pocket. So I ended up getting an RCBS Primer Pocket Swaging tool for my press. And now I appear to have broken it while putting it together. But I don't know what I could have done differently.
The instructions say you have to thread the swaging rod into the die body "until the groove on the rod lines up with the bottom of the die". They don't tell you what "lines up" means (the groove is 1/8" wide so there's quite a few turns between having the groove start at the bottom of the die vs ending at the bottom). Anyway, I put it roughly there and tried to install the locking nut, which you are told goes tapered side down. The threads are very tight, but since it's supposed to lock the rod in place, I thought that was ok. The only way I could see to tighten it was to counter hold the rod it with a screwdriver in the slot, and tighten the nut with a wrench. But as soon as I started to turn the nut, the rod started to disintegrate. Bits of metal started flying into my face. The metal is obviously extremely brittle.
The screwdriver was a pretty good fit and I didn't use much force. It literally just started to fall apart. What did I do wrong? And how the hell are you supposed to set this up?
I don't think I cross threaded it - it looks like it's on dead straight in the pic.
I have some .223 brass that I want to use to start learning the basics. But I couldn't seat primers in them. After a little investigation, I realized there was a crimp on the primer pocket. So I ended up getting an RCBS Primer Pocket Swaging tool for my press. And now I appear to have broken it while putting it together. But I don't know what I could have done differently.
The instructions say you have to thread the swaging rod into the die body "until the groove on the rod lines up with the bottom of the die". They don't tell you what "lines up" means (the groove is 1/8" wide so there's quite a few turns between having the groove start at the bottom of the die vs ending at the bottom). Anyway, I put it roughly there and tried to install the locking nut, which you are told goes tapered side down. The threads are very tight, but since it's supposed to lock the rod in place, I thought that was ok. The only way I could see to tighten it was to counter hold the rod it with a screwdriver in the slot, and tighten the nut with a wrench. But as soon as I started to turn the nut, the rod started to disintegrate. Bits of metal started flying into my face. The metal is obviously extremely brittle.
The screwdriver was a pretty good fit and I didn't use much force. It literally just started to fall apart. What did I do wrong? And how the hell are you supposed to set this up?
I don't think I cross threaded it - it looks like it's on dead straight in the pic.
