RCBS handles problem

[TommyD]

Hi Veral,

I was setting up to cast today with a new mould you made for me - the 230 LFN got .45 ACP. I had just bought an extra set of RCBS mould handles and could not fit them to the new mould. The screws would not go in through the holes in the handles.

A little investigation showed that the new mould fit my old handles just fine. Nothing wrong here. (And they cast beautiful bullets!)

The holes in the new handles were a bit smaller than the old one. My measurements show these diameters: Old = 11/64 and New = 5/32. Just tight enough that the screws to attach the mould would not pass through the handles.

Do you know if RCBS has changed the specs on their handles or is this one just off spec?

On my next trip to the store, I will attempt to exchange for one with larger holes.  If this is a change in design, I will make a date with a drill press.

Tom

[TommyD]

Good news! I stopped off at my favorite gun store after work and they swapped out a pair of new handles for me. I brought one the screws from my LBT mould and it fit perfectly. It would seem that the one I returned was an off-spec item. Thank goodness.

Anybody else see this problem before?

Tom

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got probably 15 sets of handles and i dont think a one of them has stock holes anymore and most have more then one set.

[gypsyman]

First Saeco mold I ever used, I found out that the pin is slightly bigger than the hole in RCBS handle's. Took out my drill index, found the drill that was the next size larger than the hole, and opened it up. Now I have several handle's of each,(RCBS and Saeco) modified them all, so no matter which mold I pull out, they work.We keep trying peace, it usually doesn't work!!Remember(12/7/41)(9/11/01) gypsyman

[Veral]

This is the first report of small handle screw holes in RCBS handles. 
Of interest may be the fact that RCBS handle screws are threaded where they pass through the handles, and LBT screws have a smooth full diameter shank, which is a few thousandths larger than the thread major diameter.  In other words, the handles may have never given a problem if using RCBS moulds.  Drilling out is the right fix, as handle screws should fit the handles fairly loose, so there is no binding on the alignment pins when closing.