RCBS 30 carbine dies

[ebb]

I ordered a set of used dies off of Ebay, as i have no illusion of accuracy with this rifle (its been in the attic for years) and caliber. The dies set arrives and has what is obviously a conventional carbide sizing die, and a standard bullet seater die. I expected a die to bell the case and allow easier bullet seating, just like many pistol dies that I own. They usually have an adjustable plug that has a rounded end that when adjusted properly gives the case a flare so that a flat based bullet slips in with ease. The third die says 30 CARB. SIZE.1N. It looks like a body die more than anything I've ever seen before. The smallish hole in the top of the die has no threads for a belling plug to adjust and is smooth. It is smaller in diameter than a 30-carbine case and I guess it could be machined so it does flare but looks more like it would be a crimp die. What throws me off track is that it says SIZE, not flare, bell, or crimp.

 

[Charliemac]

I checked my sets and I think you should have a combo flaring/ de-capping die. I have a sizing die that I added a de-capping pin to and size on a single stage press. Then trim as needed after that I load on a Dillon 550 and use a Dillon taper crimp die. Maybe that other is a taper crimp?

 

[kenhwind]

Does the die box have "Carbide" printed on it?
What I think you have is a steel sizing die as well as a "Carbide" die. Pictures would help.
But yes, it should be a three die set, you will need a N03 or flaring die.

IIRC years ago, I bought RCBS 30 Carbine dies, and I mistook the .30 CAR Size as "Carbide" when it is actually "Carbine."

 

[SeabeeKen]

My RCBS carbide set has a sizing decap die, flaring/expander die, and a seater die

 

[ebb]

It did not come with the issued RCBS box, so i have no idea if it is carbide or not. I suspect it is not carbide. And Mr Charliemac is absolutely right, it sizes and flares the case in the same stroke. So the only thing that the 3rd die can be is a crimp die to close up the flare and crimp it home. Thank you all very much!!! I had never seen any dies quite like this and it all make perfect sence now.

 

[divingin]

How would you do a carbide die for .30 carbine? It's a tapered case, and most (granted, not all) carbide dies have a very short carbide ring at the die mouth (for straight wall, non-tapered cases, or cases with very little taper like 9mm Luger.)

New RCBS sets have a steel sizer/decap die, an expander die, and a seat/taper crimp die.

 

[jcm800]

The carbide ring only sizes the case head, rest of the die is steel FL. Still recommended to lube cases. Use a carbide Lee and it works very well, almost effortless resizing.

 

[std7mag]

The die set I got from RCBS was sizer and bullet seater only.

I bought a Lee 4 die set, cheaper, and haven't had a problem since.

 

[DocBII]

ebb,

You may wish to check with Redding to see if they sell a tapered case 30 carbine die. I know they have developed them for a number of pistol calibers.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[kenhwind]

Some of the older, or the older RCBS dies did decap during the flaring step.