identifiying rcbs carbide die or not?

bandaid · August 10, 2009, 10:56 PM

I just picked up some rcbs dies for .45 acp. The label on the box is missing and i cant seem to find out if they are carbide or not. The guy who gave them to me had no idea. on the sizing die it says " RCBS .45 acp size #1 79" written around the top.

Thanks for your help,
Nate

Scorch · August 11, 2009, 02:49 AM

Look on the bottom of the die. Carbide dies have a ring of carbide inserted into the die, and you can see it plainly by the different color of the two metals when you look at the open end of the die. RCBS carbide dies may also say CARB or CARBO on top.

RKG · August 11, 2009, 03:48 PM

I have never seen an RCBS carbide sizer that was not labeled at such on the top of the die itself. Your die is steel.

Longdayjake · August 12, 2009, 10:48 AM

The box should be gray. If its green then its steel. But if they are really old then that may not be true.

**Unclenick** · August 12, 2009, 11:38 AM

And it seems to me the chromium plating on the Lyman dies I got long ago had chromium plating on the carbide ring as well as the rest of the steel, because chromium plating is compatible with the nickel matrix that keeps the carbide particles together. I don't have any carbide RCBS dies, but assume the same would apply. You can still make out the seam where the ring is inserted into the die body.

jaguarxk120 · August 12, 2009, 04:06 PM

My 9mm carbide dies are marked carbo, date code 84. The plastic box marked carbide is green color. I have no idea when they changed box colors. And you can see the insert by looking on the bottom of the die.

**44 AMP** · August 12, 2009, 09:30 PM

RCBS dies are all marked. Even the oldest ones. If it is a carbide die it will say so. 1984 .45acp ia marked "carbo". 2003 .454 colt die is marked "carb".

Hydraulicman · August 13, 2009, 11:56 AM

I remember when i was buying the rockchucker reloading kit. the salesmen kept talking about carbo dies . I thought he was a moron . Then i saw the dies sayed carbo on the side . I have no Idea why it says carbo. I suppose they did not have room for the extra DE at the end of carbide

jaguarxk120 · August 13, 2009, 02:30 PM

Carbo -- Carboloy Inc. Warren, Michigan Mfg. of carbide machining inserts. Could be they provide the insert for the carbide dies RCBS use's.

**Unclenick** · August 13, 2009, 03:36 PM

Good thought. Now I want a die set that says "Kenna".

bandaid · August 13, 2009, 10:09 PM

Thank you guys for all the info. !!!

August 11, 2009, 02:49 AM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Look on the bottom of the die. Carbide dies have a ring of carbide inserted into the die, and you can see it plainly by the different color of the two metals when you look at the open end of the die. RCBS carbide dies may also say CARB or CARBO on top. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 12, 2009, 11:38 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	And it seems to me the chromium plating on the Lyman dies I got long ago had chromium plating on the carbide ring as well as the rest of the steel, because chromium plating is compatible with the nickel matrix that keeps the carbide particles together. I don't have any carbide RCBS dies, but assume the same would apply. You can still make out the seam where the ring is inserted into the die body. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 12, 2009, 09:30 PM	#7
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	Look at the marking on the top of the die RCBS dies are all marked. Even the oldest ones. If it is a carbide die it will say so. 1984 .45acp ia marked "carbo". 2003 .454 colt die is marked "carb". __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

August 13, 2009, 03:36 PM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Good thought. Now I want a die set that says "Kenna". __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

August 10, 2009, 10:56 PM	#1
bandaid Junior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Posts: 2	identifiying rcbs carbide die or not? I just picked up some rcbs dies for .45 acp. The label on the box is missing and i cant seem to find out if they are carbide or not. The guy who gave them to me had no idea. on the sizing die it says " RCBS .45 acp size #1 79" written around the top. Thanks for your help, Nate

August 11, 2009, 03:48 PM	#3
RKG Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 562	I have never seen an RCBS carbide sizer that was not labeled at such on the top of the die itself. Your die is steel.

August 12, 2009, 10:48 AM	#4
Longdayjake Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Posts: 619	The box should be gray. If its green then its steel. But if they are really old then that may not be true.

August 12, 2009, 04:06 PM	#6
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	My 9mm carbide dies are marked carbo, date code 84. The plastic box marked carbide is green color. I have no idea when they changed box colors. And you can see the insert by looking on the bottom of the die.

August 13, 2009, 11:56 AM	#8
Hydraulicman Member Join Date: June 11, 2009 Posts: 98	I remember when i was buying the rockchucker reloading kit. the salesmen kept talking about carbo dies . I thought he was a moron . Then i saw the dies sayed carbo on the side . I have no Idea why it says carbo. I suppose they did not have room for the extra DE at the end of carbide

August 13, 2009, 02:30 PM	#9
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	Carbo -- Carboloy Inc. Warren, Michigan Mfg. of carbide machining inserts. Could be they provide the insert for the carbide dies RCBS use's.

August 13, 2009, 10:09 PM	#11
bandaid Junior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Posts: 2	Thank you guys for all the info. !!!