Proper position of Carbide Sizer die

[MADCleveland]

I recently purchased a combination carbide die set for 38/357 pistol reloading. When resizing a case with a steel resizing die, proper procedure requires the sizing dye to be locked 1/4 turn below the point at which the die contacts the fully extended ram with shell holder attached.

What is the proper procedure for setting a carbon resizing die? The instructions state that when using a carbide sizing die, "the shell holder should never touch the bottom of the die". Do I still lock the die 1/4 turn below the point at which the die contacts the fully extended ram with shell holder attached? Not sure how that can be accomplished without having the die contact the shell holder. If the carbide sizing die is positioned in the same manner as a steel die (1/4 turn below contact with the shell holder) it will definitely contact the shell holder and possibly damage the carbon sizing die.

Thanks.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Ramming a shellholder up hitting a carbide die insert can break the insert. Some carbide dies actually have the insert set back in the steel body just enough that will prevent the shellholder from hitting the insert. The shellholder hits the die body. I set the die to just touch the shelholder when the ram is all the way up. I but a fired case in and "slowly" run the case up. While leaving it fully up, I eyeball the gap between the shellholder and die bottom. Then I will lower the die to reduce the gap but not enough to hit the insert. If insert is set back then I usually turn the die down to just miss the die at full up with a case inserted.

Frank

 

[K22]

I have loaded thousands of 38 and 357's using a carbide die.

Set the sizing the die so the when the ram is fully up, the bottom of the die does not contact the shell holder. In other words, there is a small gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder with the ram fully up.

Mine is set with a .10 feeling gauge. The amount does matter so much, within reason, as making sure there is no contact under load. However, it is better to have the least amount of gap between the shell holder and the bottom of the die that provides no contact with the bottom of the die.

 

[marchboom]

I have loaded thousands of 38 and 357's using a carbide die.

Set the sizing the die so the when the ram is fully up, the bottom of the die does not contact the shell holder. In other words, there is a small gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder with the ram fully up.

Mine is set with a .10 feeling gauge. The amount does matter so much, within reason, as making sure there is no contact under load. However, it is better to have the least amount of gap between the shell holder and the bottom of the die that provides no contact with the bottom of the die.

I'm sure you meant .001". I set my dies up so it just barely touches the shell holder but doesn't put any stress on the die. I can move the shell holder a little when the ram is completely up.

 

[K22]

I'm sure you meant .001". I set my dies up so it just barely touches the shell holder but doesn't put any stress on the die. I can move the shell holder a little when the ram is completely up.

It has been so long since I set my sizing die, I would have to check. This is the problem of trying to quote something from memory.

But the gap is slight, just enough so the shell holder doesn't touch the bottom of the die. But it's differently not 0.10", more like 0.010.

 

[DocBII]

MADCleaveland,

You don't state what you are loading, so this is a guess. The RCBS kit usually contains a spacer to be used with the die for .357 cartridges. You may need to insert the spacer.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

You don't use the space with the sizer, only the other two!

Frank

 

[FloridaAKM]

All my carbide dies instructions state the same thing as the OP, never let the shell holder touch the carbide die. Also, you should be using a case gauge to make sure you are resizing the case adequately. Utilizing these two procedures should guarantee you won't damage your carbide die & your case gets properly resized without oversizing it.

 

[divingin]

MADCleaveland,

You don't state what you are loading, so this is a guess. The RCBS kit usually contains a spacer to be used with the die for .357 cartridges. You may need to insert the spacer.

HTH,
DocBII

Spacers is so you don't need to readjust the flare or seating dies when changing between loading 38 Special and .357 Mag. Pop the spacers in for the longer cartridge. Sizing die needs to go down as far as you can get it to on both, so no need for a spacer on the sizer.