Die Storage

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Reloadron

Reloadron

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Before this thread got closed, for obvious reasons, a few members mentioned die storage or more like the packaging which our loading dies come in. Lee dies for example boast the round red plastic packaging and RCBS the flatter rectangular green or grey boxes designed to hold three dies. Don't know if many hand loaders are aware the RCBS does market just the boxes less any dies. Heck, for that matter they also at one time marketed dies less the box as a "Reloaders Special" where the dies came disassembled in a blister package.

RCBS%20Blister%20Package.png

Those were a good deal for people who did not want to pay for packaging. The dies came, as can be seen, fully disassembled and you assembled them. As I mentioned RCBS also markets just an empty three die box as can be seen here:

RCBS%20Empty%20Box.png

RCBS Part Number 9889 for those who may be curious. In the above image the top box or container has the label removed and replaced with an Avery #8161 label measuring 4" x 1". They can be hand written or if you want to get cool use Avery Software and make your own custom labels, that or scribble with a grease pencil.

So for those with odd or lose dies floating around, these handy die boxes may offer a storage solution. I place my Lee dies in them simply because I am in the group that likes the flat rectangular boxes for my dies. I then print a label identifying the enclosed dies.

Just tossing it out as an option for those who may not be aware they can buy loading die boxes less the dies. :)

Ron
 
The first set of dies I ever bought were the Lee carbide .38/.357 set, and it came in that round plastic thing. Neat idea, but not at all practical on a single stage bench. Amazingly, every set I've bought since then has come in their flat rectangular boxes with the clear lid. In fact I just bought the four die sets for 9mm & .380ACP this past weekend (Midway birthday discount!), and they came in the rectangular boxes, too.

Lee also sells just the boxes for their dies:
http://leeprecision.com/red-rec-4-die-box.html
 
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Lyman die boxes are also available by themselves and are very similar to the RCBS boxes. There is also a single die box available.

Another option if you can get past the orange color. Of course, orange would probably popular in TN Vol country.:)

See here.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?userSearchQuery=lyman+die+box

I am not sure if they are available by themselves but other than the green and grey boxes, RCBS die boxes also come in black (AR die sets) and gold (Gold Medal seater dies). Having color coded boxes sometimes is an advantage when looking for a particular die set.

The RCBS die boxes will fit dies with the Hornady L-N-L bushing on it except in the position next to the clasp. By cutting out one of the saddles in that position, enough room can be gained so the die and L-N-L bushing will fit. I believe it is the inner saddles but I am afraid I have slept a bit since I modified a box and the boxes are not handy to look at at this time.

Redding boxes are nominally the same size as the RCBS and Lyman die boxes. Redding molds a case tray in the top of the box and that compromises the volume inside the box. Dies with an L-N-L bushing will not fit inside a Redding die box.
 
Most of mine are stored in a Dillon tool head. Those few that are not are stored in a plastic die box. A couple of the first die sets I bought came in cardboard boxes which eventually got very ragged. So much so I used a couple of the empty plastic ones and covered the original labels with Avery peel and stick labels of the correct size.

Can't bring myself to pitch all those neat little empty plastic boxes thinking one day I'll figure out a use for them. Haven't yet; likely never will.
 
WestKY, Lee has a few different lines of dies and some of the boxes are different. They have the red Round container, and they have the plastic boxes with the clear tops in 2 different sizes, depending on whether a "Deluxe" set of the RGB (Really Good Buy) which does not include the shellholder or scoop. Those plastic boxes come in the typical red and some in yellow and the RGB and some rifle sets in the green.

Like Ron, I like the RCBS boxes as they stack well.
 
Rubbermaid (different other brands as well)tubs from Wally World. 6 for about $3. I store the dies in my Lee turret heads in them.
If you look you can find them with Red, Green or Blue lids, for those who must have things be the right color. :neener:
 
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This is nothing new but I did not see it mentioned. I use a Lee Classic Turret press. After I have the dies set up on the turret for a specific caliber. I put the entire assembly in a small Folgers plastic coffee container. They stow nicely.
 
I have both styles of Lee, but the rectangle box has limited space for those additional tools that are caliber specific, and they are quite fragile and prone to breaking if you unintentionally snap the lid closed against something. Where as my RCBS boxes are stuffed full of caliber specific odds and ends, with room to spare.

But the lid on the Lee round box has come in handy for scooping media from my buckets.

It's all good!

GS
 
gamestalker makes a good point i9n mentioning caliber specific odds and ends. I try real hard to keep all that stuff with the dies they belong with. RCBS for example uses a special extended shell holder with some of their competition dies and then there's the seater plugs with some dies. When I let that stuff escape I generally play hell trying to find it again. :)

Ron
 
gamestalker said:
But the lid on the Lee round box has come in handy for scooping media from my buckets.
Click to expand...
Good idea.

I use a rectangular Lee die box lid as a bullet tray for loading on the single stage.

I also store extra cartridge specific stuff in the RCBS boxes to keep it all in one place.
 
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