Two part question

bill k · February 2, 2005, 11:06 PM

I've never reloaded pistol rounds. I'm going to buy RCBS 44 mag dies. I saw on the midway site the three die set but it had a fourth componet. What's it for? Is that the correct die set to get? I only want RCBS, that's not debatable. Second, only out of curiosity what is a RCBS trim die? I have an RCBS trim pro case trimmer, is the trim die another way to trim?

Jim Watson · February 2, 2005, 11:24 PM

Three die set: Size & decap, expand and flare, seat and crimp. The "fourth component" in the Midway illustration is an extra bullet seating plug for a different shape bullet nose. Probably one for semiwadcutter, one for roundnose or ogival hollowpoints.

A trim die is used by screwing it into the press like any other die, running a case in, and filing off any brass that sticks out the top. The top of the die is more than file hard so you can cut right down to it. Not needed if you have a rotary trimmer with the right pilot.

Actually the only reason I know to trim handgun brass is to get mixed brass to the same length so it will crimp the same. Pistol brass does not stretch like rifle brass.

bill k · February 7, 2005, 02:32 PM

Thanks for the info, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.
Bill

brickeyee · February 7, 2005, 05:37 PM

Using a seperate crimp die will also save messing around with die settings all the time. Bullet seating and crimping works a lot better seperately, and you will need to adjust the die up to avoid crimoing durng seating, and then down to crimp correctly. A seperate die for crimping allows you to leave the die lock rings (and seating plug) set for each step.

February 2, 2005, 11:06 PM	#1
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	Two part question I've never reloaded pistol rounds. I'm going to buy RCBS 44 mag dies. I saw on the midway site the three die set but it had a fourth componet. What's it for? Is that the correct die set to get? I only want RCBS, that's not debatable. Second, only out of curiosity what is a RCBS trim die? I have an RCBS trim pro case trimmer, is the trim die another way to trim? __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

February 7, 2005, 02:32 PM	#3
bill k Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2004 Location: Dog Creek, CA Posts: 457	Thanks for the info, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. Bill __________________ Retired Air Force 8th TFW The Wolfpack

February 2, 2005, 11:24 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Three die set: Size & decap, expand and flare, seat and crimp. The "fourth component" in the Midway illustration is an extra bullet seating plug for a different shape bullet nose. Probably one for semiwadcutter, one for roundnose or ogival hollowpoints. A trim die is used by screwing it into the press like any other die, running a case in, and filing off any brass that sticks out the top. The top of the die is more than file hard so you can cut right down to it. Not needed if you have a rotary trimmer with the right pilot. Actually the only reason I know to trim handgun brass is to get mixed brass to the same length so it will crimp the same. Pistol brass does not stretch like rifle brass.

February 7, 2005, 05:37 PM	#4
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	Using a seperate crimp die will also save messing around with die settings all the time. Bullet seating and crimping works a lot better seperately, and you will need to adjust the die up to avoid crimoing durng seating, and then down to crimp correctly. A seperate die for crimping allows you to leave the die lock rings (and seating plug) set for each step.