Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

The only dumb question...

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SemperFiGuy:
SS_N_NE:

Coupla items..........


--- Quote ---there is nothing subject to chipping abuse and carbide will be very resistent to damage.
--- End quote ---

Just a gentle reminder that the setup instructions for tungsten carbide (TC) dies most always point out that the press ram must not touch the bottom of the decapping/ resizing die because the carbide insert in the die will be chipped if hit by the ram on the upstroke.   However, regular non-TC die instructions often call for touching at setup.

Special Caution:   If a reloading press ram is raised to the top and overcammed, followed by full insertion of a TC die to the point of touching, when the press operating handle is raised to lower the ram, the overcammed ram will raise just a few thousandths and jam into the TC die.   Which may ruin it.


--- Quote ---Anyone else answer this? Are the shell holders pretty much universal?
--- End quote ---

Pretty much.   Yes.   In my experience, Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Lyman, and Redding reloading press shell holders are interchangeable.   However, they all have different manufacturer's part numbers, so reloaders can't use--for example--an RCBS shell holder chart to pick a Lee shellholder for a given cartridge size.

RCBS uses the same shellholder for the reloading press and the hand primer tool.   It does double duty.   However, Lee has different shellholders for reloading presses and hand priming tools.   Also, Lee furnishes a caliber-specific shellholder with each set of dies.   All other mfgrs. do not.   You have to buy the shellholder separately.

Recommendation:   Get a full set of twelve (12), rather than buy them individually.   And get extras for your favorite calibers.   Shell holders are often stolen after dark by gremlins and other critters from the Dark Side.

sfg

SS_N_NE:

--- Quote from: SemperFiGuy on March 20, 2013, 09:55:04 PM ---Just a gentle reminder that the setup instructions for tungsten carbide (TC) dies most always point out that the press ram must not touch the bottom of the decapping/ resizing die because the carbide insert in the die will be chipped if hit by the ram on the upstroke.   However, regular non-TC die instructions often call for touching at setup.
--- End quote ---

That's the problem with reloading....you can write a book about it.  I should have clarified that properly set up dies with carbide inserts should not be subject to chipping in normal use.

The main point I was trying to make is that the LEE die sets are nicely made, typically lower cost, lifetime warranty and the carbide sets have real carbide inserts placing a very hard metal where most die wear could occur.

My experience the TiN coated tools is that TiN is often slapped over poor quality tools and ultimately fails over a poor base. Although TiN is a very tough coating, it does nothing if the metal below the coating is not up to the job.

As a clarification, I am not pushing LEE die sets, just the experience I have with those dies. The atributes of solid carbide in the dies should greatly extend service life and reduce brass case damage. I have had a couple people show me dies with TiN that were badly scratched and gouged. Obviously abuse in sizing or  crimping brass with dirt on it. Hardened but otherwise untreated dies also seem subject to scratching inside the die and transfer damage to case brass.  This is the reason I advocate cleaning brass before it goes through a sizing die, tearing up the die and the brass.

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