Who in their right mind would write an article on the different types of lock rings? The answer is me, and being in my right mind is debatable.

I would have appreciated this knowledge when I started producing ammo, and it would’ve saved me a lot of frustration. No one else has covered the subject, so I might as well.

Grab your favorite cup of coffee, and let’s go.

What are lock rings?

These are circular rings made out of different types of metal. They will allow you to attach, adjust, and lock the settings of your reloading dies into a press.

Companies tend to play pretty fast and loose with the definition of this product. I’ve seen “lock rings” that don’t have a locking mechanism. (No joke.) That’s like buying batteries, and they are not included.

Type one
Old-school standard

These rings used to be the industry’s standard, and I need to find out the product name or the company responsible for this atrocity.

I could write pages ranting about how useless they are. Unfortunately, they will likely be the first lock rings a new handloader will experience (which is not a good introduction).

They love seizing up, damaging threads, and changing settings when tightening. It would be wise to melt them down and make fishing lures out of them if you encounter any.

Suffice it to say; they should be taken out back to the woodshed for the “Old Yeller” treatment.

Type two
Cross-bolt rings

This ring is simple in design and easy to operate. It uses a cross-threaded screw, which, when tightened, locks onto the die by squeezing it.

After using one the first time, I turned around and purchased several of them. Indeed, this is not a choice that I regret.

Many companies manufacture these because they do their job and do it well. This is the way to go if you want to simplify your life.

Type three
Laser engraved

These rings are relatively new and primarily used for setting up a sizing die. Suppose you don’t possess a surgeon’s hands and an eagle’s eyes. You will appreciate this product.

These rings have laser engraved marks on them. Each mark represents 0.001

Why does this matter?

Let’s say you are working at dialing in your shoulder bump; after checking your measurement, you discover you need to rotate the ring 0.003 to get your desired setting.

Rotate the ring three lines; that’s it, you are done.

Type four
Click adjustable

Welcome to the matrix. These rings are the most user-friendly and advanced product available at this time. When you rotate the ring, you will feel and hear a click. Each click is equal to .0001

This feature makes adjustments almost foolproof. You could be blind as a bat and still use this equipment. Yes, they cost more than the others, but you only need to use one on the sizing die.

Conclusion

These are only a handful of available options for loaders to choose from these days. THERE WEREN’T MANY OPTIONS when I started competition shooting over a decade ago. You had to work with what you had and didn’t have much.

I hope you have enjoyed this write-up on the different types of lock rings. After reading this, you should have a good handle on different lock rings. Then, if I have done my job, I just saved you a lot of frustration.

Before you ask or send an email, the answer is no. I did not receive any compensation for this article from the company unless you consider drinking a pot of coffee compensation.

Disclaimer: Reloading/handloading can be hazardous to your health like many things in life. You take full responsibility when performing these procedures. 5 Gun Nation is not liable for your decisions. Don’t be an idiot; if you are, it is not our problem.

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