Help with a RCBS 3-die .44mag set

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SARuger

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I bought this die set used and cheap. The sizing/decapping die seems to be missing the carbide insert. It also has another sizing die marked #1 that doesn't have a decapping pin/ball sizer with it and the decapper pin/ball sizer from the first die I explained will not fit the other die. The seater/crimp die seems to work fine.

What is going on here, am I missing something? I read the instructions and the dies do not match the instructions? The die with the decapping pin, seems to be the flaring die, but with a decapping pin. The die that is missing the decapping pin/ball sizer, appears to be the sizing die.

I'm all confused

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" I bought this die set used and cheap "
Yes you got what you payed for, sometimes a good deal is more costly.
The RCBS green box non carbide, the grey box has the carbide sizing ring. So you will need lube.
 
" I bought this die set used and cheap "
Yes you got what you payed for, sometimes a good deal is more costly.
The RCBS green box non carbide, the grey box has the carbide sizing ring. So you will need lube.

I get that already, but for $10, I wont be hurt much.

So it seems with this particular set of dies, die #1 is the sizing die, die #2 decaps and flares. But why is die #1 threaded for a center pin? Is it missing something?
 
RCBS dies have evolved over time. I would call them they have great customer service.
I have a RCBS cardibe die set 44spl/44mag.I bought over twenty years ago, yours maybe older.
 
You heard right. That set was not carbide. I have plenty of old dies sets just like that one.
My old .45 Colt set is just as you describe.
I finally bough the new carbide set and am happy.
 
I have the matching .357 die set as well.

Oh well, I guess someone was cleaning out the old unused dies. I ran some shells through them and got both sets set up for my old Rock Chucker. They ran fine, with lube of course. I like the flaring die better than the LEE set up.
 
Yep, they're 1979 dies, and the carbide ring isn't missing. That's a steel sizing die and it never had carbide in it.

Those dies are newer than a lot of my die sets.................

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Thanks everyone! I bought these for my portable reloading bench but will probably source some newer dies with carbide. I set these up to work on my Chucker but will most likely spend time on my Pacific C as a novelty/trip down memory lane, kind of thing.

I just bought a Pacific Super Deluxe last night, they would work well and look good on top of that press too
 
Both die sets are getting a good cleaning today too. Those sizing dies are full of black tar looking stuff
 
I produced ammo with both die sets tonight. They work well. Its a little different to size then decap in two different stations. You old guys had it rough!

A good cleaning and they look new again. I used Unique case lube and rolled the cases on the RCBS lube pad, just like I would my rifle rounds.

And just to add a little red to an otherwise green situation, I added LEE dippers to the boxes :)

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