newbie, picked up used dies do I have all the parts?

skshepherd · July 24, 2009, 06:53 PM

Hello,
I have been wanting to start reloading for some time now. I am not going to start right away but I did get a Lyman spar T press and 5 sets of dies at an estate sale for $15.00 so I jumped on it.

I will be interested in loading for 30 06 and have 3 dies. Two are Pacific Durachrome and one is an rcbs. I was wondering if anyone could give me a little info on these and let me know if I have all the pieces. I suspect I am missing something from one of the Pacific dies.

The first one says Pacific Durachrome 30-06 FL sizer. There is nothing threaded into the top part of this one. Is there something missing?

The next one is Pacific Durachrome 30-06 seater

The last one has on the top rcbs T. EXP 30 to 35 on it.

I would appreciate any help describing these to me. I think I understand the sizer and the seater although I think something might be missing on the sizer, but the rcbs I guess expands the case from 30 to 35 but Im unfamiliar with this and why I would do that.

Just trying to figure out what I have,
Thanks

rcbs left, durachrome sizer middle, durachrom seat right

top of sizer

LHB1 · July 24, 2009, 07:06 PM

This is one of the problems with buying used reloading equipment. Sounds like your sizing die is missing the decapping rod/pin. If you can't find one that fits, you may have to buy a new sizing die. I'm not familiar with the RCBS 30-35 die but it may expand the .30-06 case neck to .35 caliber, thus making the .35 Whelen cartridge.

Did you get the two priming arm mechanisms (small primers and large primers) for the Lyman press? If not, you may have to use an off press priming setup, either hand primer tool or RCBS bench primer tool.

skshepherd · July 24, 2009, 07:26 PM

Yeah that is the problem, plus its worse if your new to reloading your not sure what your getting. I figured I would only be out a little if I was wrong. The press does need the primer arm which I believe Lyman sells for $15.

Ok the decapper is what is missing then, I though so. I read somewhere that Hornady took over pacific so maybe they might have the decapper.

So it looks like I wont be needing the rcbs die to resize it to a 35 whelen. Maybe I can ebay that to help cover the cost of the press primer arm and the decapper rod?
Thanks a ton!

SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 · July 24, 2009, 09:13 PM

G'day and welcome. Read the sticky at the top of this forum and get a reloading manual. Lots of things will make sence after you have read them. You might prefer to get a universal decapper and a hand priming tool.

Sport45 · July 24, 2009, 10:00 PM

If it was me, I'd buy a Lee Autoprime or the RCBS hand primer instead of the primer arm for the Spar-T. You'll have a better feel for seating the primers and you won't have to be at your reloading bench.

The Spar-T is a good press, but I find the leverage to be marginal for sizing rifle brass. My arthritis could have a lot to do with that. I leave .357mag dies and a universal decapper set up on mine.

wncchester · July 24, 2009, 10:18 PM

IF you ever expect to get far into reloading, consider getting a (Lee) universal decapping die and a Lyman "M" die for .30 cal expanding.

The decapper will allow you to deprime before cleaning, etc, in prep for sizing.

The seperate expander will leave your case necks a bit straighter, on average, than any conventional decap/expander system.

A seperate hand priming tool is an excellant choice, beats doing it on the press by a mile, Lee's is good.

You will have no need for the .30 to .35 expander unless you have a Whelen.

oneounceload · July 24, 2009, 10:26 PM

IF you're going to use those dies, I would clean the heck out of them before running brass in there. It looked like there was rust on them. New dies aren't THAT expensive

skshepherd · July 24, 2009, 11:45 PM

Thanks for the great tips guys! Yeah the dies are a little dirty/rusty. If I cant get a decapping rod for the one die then I guess I should move on to another set, or just get a universal decapping die and use the seat that I have? I think the hand primer sounds like a good idea.

LHB1 · July 25, 2009, 02:22 PM

Quote: "Yeah the dies are a little dirty/rusty. "

Then I would scrap them and buy a new set of RCBS dies. Don't mess with old junk.

skshepherd · July 26, 2009, 10:04 PM

Ok, so if I went with new dies what do you guys recommend? Should I get a universall decapping die and a lyman m expanding die and then what else, a die to seat the bullet? Or do you recommend a particular set? How do I tell if these dies really need replacing or just a good cleaning. Thanks for your help and patience with these probably elementary questions.

LHB1 · July 27, 2009, 05:41 PM

Buy a new SET of RCBS dies in the appropriate caliber. Unless you have special needs or advanced knowledge, I don't recommend buying individual dies. Rifle dies typically come in two die sets: sizer/decapper, and seater die. Straight walled pistol calibers dies typically come in three die sets: sizer/decapper, expander, and seater. For straight walled pistol calibers, buy ONLY die sets which include a CARBIDE sizer die. They require no messy case lube for resizing cases.

July 24, 2009, 06:53 PM	#1
skshepherd Junior Member Join Date: July 24, 2009 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 4	newbie, picked up used dies do I have all the parts? Hello, I have been wanting to start reloading for some time now. I am not going to start right away but I did get a Lyman spar T press and 5 sets of dies at an estate sale for $15.00 so I jumped on it. I will be interested in loading for 30 06 and have 3 dies. Two are Pacific Durachrome and one is an rcbs. I was wondering if anyone could give me a little info on these and let me know if I have all the pieces. I suspect I am missing something from one of the Pacific dies. The first one says Pacific Durachrome 30-06 FL sizer. There is nothing threaded into the top part of this one. Is there something missing? The next one is Pacific Durachrome 30-06 seater The last one has on the top rcbs T. EXP 30 to 35 on it. I would appreciate any help describing these to me. I think I understand the sizer and the seater although I think something might be missing on the sizer, but the rcbs I guess expands the case from 30 to 35 but Im unfamiliar with this and why I would do that. Just trying to figure out what I have, Thanks rcbs left, durachrome sizer middle, durachrom seat right top of sizer

July 24, 2009, 07:06 PM	#2
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	This is one of the problems with buying used reloading equipment. Sounds like your sizing die is missing the decapping rod/pin. If you can't find one that fits, you may have to buy a new sizing die. I'm not familiar with the RCBS 30-35 die but it may expand the .30-06 case neck to .35 caliber, thus making the .35 Whelen cartridge. Did you get the two priming arm mechanisms (small primers and large primers) for the Lyman press? If not, you may have to use an off press priming setup, either hand primer tool or RCBS bench primer tool. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

July 24, 2009, 09:13 PM	#4
SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2008 Location: Far Nth Wst QLD Australia Posts: 992	G'day and welcome. Read the sticky at the top of this forum and get a reloading manual. Lots of things will make sence after you have read them. You might prefer to get a universal decapper and a hand priming tool. __________________ If you're not confused, you're not trying hard enough! When you're confused, I'll try to use smaller words!!!

July 24, 2009, 10:00 PM	#5
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	If it was me, I'd buy a Lee Autoprime or the RCBS hand primer instead of the primer arm for the Spar-T. You'll have a better feel for seating the primers and you won't have to be at your reloading bench. The Spar-T is a good press, but I find the leverage to be marginal for sizing rifle brass. My arthritis could have a lot to do with that. I leave .357mag dies and a universal decapper set up on mine. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

July 25, 2009, 02:22 PM	#9
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Quote: "Yeah the dies are a little dirty/rusty. " Then I would scrap them and buy a new set of RCBS dies. Don't mess with old junk. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB

July 24, 2009, 07:26 PM	#3
skshepherd Junior Member Join Date: July 24, 2009 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 4	Yeah that is the problem, plus its worse if your new to reloading your not sure what your getting. I figured I would only be out a little if I was wrong. The press does need the primer arm which I believe Lyman sells for $15. Ok the decapper is what is missing then, I though so. I read somewhere that Hornady took over pacific so maybe they might have the decapper. So it looks like I wont be needing the rcbs die to resize it to a 35 whelen. Maybe I can ebay that to help cover the cost of the press primer arm and the decapper rod? Thanks a ton!

July 24, 2009, 10:18 PM	#6
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	IF you ever expect to get far into reloading, consider getting a (Lee) universal decapping die and a Lyman "M" die for .30 cal expanding. The decapper will allow you to deprime before cleaning, etc, in prep for sizing. The seperate expander will leave your case necks a bit straighter, on average, than any conventional decap/expander system. A seperate hand priming tool is an excellant choice, beats doing it on the press by a mile, Lee's is good. You will have no need for the .30 to .35 expander unless you have a Whelen.

July 24, 2009, 10:26 PM	#7
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	IF you're going to use those dies, I would clean the heck out of them before running brass in there. It looked like there was rust on them. New dies aren't THAT expensive

July 24, 2009, 11:45 PM	#8
skshepherd Junior Member Join Date: July 24, 2009 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 4	Thanks for the great tips guys! Yeah the dies are a little dirty/rusty. If I cant get a decapping rod for the one die then I guess I should move on to another set, or just get a universal decapping die and use the seat that I have? I think the hand primer sounds like a good idea.

July 26, 2009, 10:04 PM	#10
skshepherd Junior Member Join Date: July 24, 2009 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 4	Ok, so if I went with new dies what do you guys recommend? Should I get a universall decapping die and a lyman m expanding die and then what else, a die to seat the bullet? Or do you recommend a particular set? How do I tell if these dies really need replacing or just a good cleaning. Thanks for your help and patience with these probably elementary questions.

July 27, 2009, 05:41 PM	#11
LHB1 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,545	Buy a new SET of RCBS dies in the appropriate caliber. Unless you have special needs or advanced knowledge, I don't recommend buying individual dies. Rifle dies typically come in two die sets: sizer/decapper, and seater die. Straight walled pistol calibers dies typically come in three die sets: sizer/decapper, expander, and seater. For straight walled pistol calibers, buy ONLY die sets which include a CARBIDE sizer die. They require no messy case lube for resizing cases. __________________ Good shooting and be safe. LB