44 rem mag reloading?

[kamlooky]

Got meself qwite amused yesterday being a RCBS fan and all.
Lernt a bit of a lesson too.
So with the winter blues and boredom, ended up having to reload for the 44rm.
Couldn't find any RCBS dies and purchased a new set of Lee dies.
Did the walk and messed up a few brass until all systems .......go.
Don't care if'n ya chuckle, but when it comes to reloading......well........chit 'appins.....

Now to the heart oh me story.
Gun show and wandering eyes. Found a set of used RCBS dies with all sorts of kibble and bits inside.
Three die set, spacers and a couple different bullet seating inserts.
Tried to set the full length die up and just couldn't get the die to pull the case mouth closed
enough.
I didn't think anything of it, just did the full length resize thing and then set up the expander die
and run this bunch thru.
Then I wanted to see how much friction there was on trying to slide a fresh bullet into the case mouth.
There was none. Lewse as a gewse..........?
Went back to the full length die and did a bunch of adjustments. Nadda. Couldn't get rid of the slight
bell that the second die put there.
Then I took my Lee full length die and run these brass thru it..........Presto, tight as it should.
Then the WTF crossed me mind?
I used the Lee shell holder as I dint have an RCBS #8.

Anyone care to explain how these RCBS dies should be adjusted or used?
I followed the RCBS wee booklet and nadda.

I reach to you CGN'rs........... bust me bawls if'n yuh gartzs to, I'm in fer a lern'in lesson..........

 

[dirtybarry]

Why not just use the Lee dies? I'm closing in on 10K rounds with my set and they work just fine.

 

[Innercity]

Is it by chance a 44-40 sizing die?


I guess im saying are you sure the rcbs die is the correct die

 

[PrecisionLongshot]

Sounds like the wrong die to me.

 

[kamlooky]

Now you got me thinking.
Going to take both the Lee and RCBS dies apart and have a look see.

 

[H4831]

I thought you had a buddy on here who has reloaded many thousands of 44 magnum loads, using RCBS dies and I thought he explained to you how RCBS dies come with a spacer, so either 44 Special or 44 mags can be loaded with the same dies?

 

[kamlooky]

Uh-oh, now I'm in chit................

I'll bring them out next time shooting.
You can s'plain it to me then.
Butch-ah gotta play nice......................................

 

[vagrantviking]

I've got an old set of RCBS dies where the decapping rod is also the belling rod so the die does no sizing.
Took me a good bit to figure out until I pulled them apart. If yours are mix'n'match from a gunshow that might be the issue.

 

[BCRider]

is your RCBS gunshow die a carbide die or tool steel? If not carbide it mite be just plane wore out.

 

[kamlooky]

I've got an old set of RCBS dies where the decapping rod is also the belling rod so the die does no sizing.
Took me a good bit to figure out until I pulled them apart. If yours are mix'n'match from a gunshow that might be the issue.

This here is the answer.
Left the die set for a slight bell and used the spacer under it
on the first approach.
It will slightly size the die and one can use a crimp die there after.
The Lee does a better job as far as putting on a nice squeeze.
Then again, the RCBS with the slight squeeze the bullet will go into
it without the bell flair.
One needs to use a good crimp on this system.
Thanks folks, all under control now.