Old .38 Special RCBS die set

Status
Not open for further replies.
V

Vodoun da Vinci

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
1,685
Location
Illinois
Used to reload a lot of .38 back in the day using round nosed lead bullets. I have been inactive and recently started reloading and shooting again. I'm wanting to load RNFP bullets and the old seater die in my RCBS set absolutely mangles flat nose bullets.

I think it time for a new set of dies and started shopping. I always like my RCBS die sets in carbide but I'm looking for recommendations for a .38 Special die set and a 9mm die set.

I wanna load primarily flat nose bullets and hollow points as well as wadcutters for the .38's. Do most new dies seat a variety if bullet types or do I have to buy specific seating stems? I recently bought .32 ACP dies from CH4D and love them....the seat die seats flat noses right out of the box without modification.

I'd order dies from CH4D but don't wanna wait for delivery of up to 6 weeks if I can buy .38 Special and 9mm dies "off the shelf" or in stock.

Thanks in advance for nay help you might offer as I have been largely inactive in reloading for over 30 years but my .32 ACP loads are awesome and cracking.

VooDoo
 
Back in the day, many die sets came with several seater stems. I do not think that is the case as much today.

But, at least for RCBS, I believe alternate seater stems are available for different bullets.

Do some research at the companies web site and at vendor's web sites.

My favorite die sets are Redding followed by RCBS. For me, Hornady dies are a love/hate relationship. they have some good features but I have had problems with them as well.

Dillon dies have some interesting features but I have never tried a set. Maybe someday.

Keep your old die set, you could remove the seater stem and use it as a crimp die, crimping in a separate step.
 
I've had good luck using Lee dies for 9mm and flat nose bullets.

You might take another look at your seater die. Could be some trash or something caught up in it. If that doesn't work, send it back to RCBS and see if they can make it serviceable.
 
I don't think it's trash in the seater die....the seater stem is built to seat round nose and when seating a flat nose the sharp edge of the bottom of the seater plug cuts a ring around part of the flat nose.

I might just pull that sucker out of there and maybe glue a washer or fill it up with epoxy. I don't see myself loading round noses again...probably be easier/cheaper to fix this seater stem and buy a new die set if I ever wanna seat round noses now that I think about it. Everything else works like new 'cept the seater cuts a sharp ring around the bullet.

Maybe I'll just shoot 'em with the cut 'round the top.

So, if I buy a 9mm die set do I have to shop/specify that I'm gonna seat flat noses or hollow points to avoid this issue?

VooDoo
 
I can only speak for the Lee dies I've been using, but I load both flat nose cast, and RN jacketed (so far). No issues loading either one.
 
I have a set of Dillon .38/.357 dies that came with three different seater stems. Rn,SWC and WC. Very easy to change seaters. Pull the clip to allow the stem to drop out of the body of the die and then change to the seater you need.
 
If your current RCBS die set is carbide then there's little reason to get a complete die set just for a flat nose seating stem. Contact RCBS and order a seating stem or stems for your existing die set with the bullet nose type(s) you intend to load.
 
My first set of dies were the RCBS 38spec swc 3-die set purchased in the early 80's.They came with 2 seater stems(round nose/wad cutter).They took some care to set up but made good cartridges for many years.I still have them,but I don't use them anymore.I found the modern Lee 4 die sets to be much easier to use and make factory spec rounds.I have replaced all my pistol/revolver dies with the Lee 4 die sets because of ease of use and reliability of function in all my handguns.For general purposes you can't go wrong with Lee dies.
 
My best results with RCBS is to drop them a question on their website. They might have you send a couple of bullets, but they will certainly be able get you a seating stem that fits your bullet profile. If they charge anything, it will be very nominal. I wouldn't scrap your set when a simple seating plug swap will fix it.

http://rcbs.com/general/ask.aspx
 
I had a similar problem with my .223 rifle die from RCBS. The die loads all bullets in the HP, or SP configuration, but then I went to load some of Hornady's new Amax bullets, with the colored tips, I kept mashing the tips. I took a drill bit in a small hand held powered screwdriver, gently started drilling out a small portion in the center of the die, just enough to allow not mashing the tip, now I can load any and all styles of bullets.
 
I upgraded my old RCBS 38/357 die set with a new one about 4 or 5 yrs. ago and it came with two seating stems. I don't think the Lee set does though? I've seen the RCBS sets at just about every shop I walk into, today in fact at two different LGS's. I think they were $45.

GS
 
I have mostly Lee handgun dies because back when I bought them they cost a lot less than RCBS. I use RCBS dies for most of my rifle cartridge loading with a set of Hornady thrown in. I also like the Lee hadngun dies because I use a Lee 4 hole turret press and the powder through die comes in handy.
 
I solved the issue last night by filling in the "cup" of the seating stem with solder. Took me about 20 minutes and it now pushes flat noses down and seats without cutting notch around the bullet.....I kinda need it for this weekend as my Wife has a brand new Ruger LCR and she's gonna wanna shoot that a lot this weekend.

And the price and availability of factory .38's freaks me out right now since I have like 2000 rounds of good brass, Unique, 500 158 gr. lead flat noses, and 2K primers. I can build 50 rounds of .38 for $7.50....buying them for $22 a box + shipping makes my teeth grind. This fix worked great and I thank you guys for the suggestion. I'll buy another seating stem or get RCBS to send me one if I need to load round noses again.

Still need a set of 9mm dies and all the reading is giving me a head ache. Maybe I'll just order a CH4D 9mm set as the .32 ACP dies and taper crimp (4 die set) I have are outstanding. I'll have to wait for them *but* I have exhausted my supply of 115 gr. 9mm bullets and want to restock with 124 gr. flat noses but there don't seem to be any 124 gr. 9mm to beg, borrow, or steal. So, I might as well wait for dies while I'm waiting for bullets to become available again.

VooDoo
 
Vodoun da Vinci,
There is nothing wrong with CH4D dies except for the price. They are extremely expensive and IMO without reason because you are making 9mm ammo, not benchrest grade rifle ammo. I feel the money could be better spent and RCBS dies are very high quality and will do just fine. (as will several others) I think the CH4D dies are over $60 each while a set of RCBS dies will run you under $50. If you want a separate crimp die that would bring the total to $70, just a hair over the price of 1 CH4D die.
 
Can't argue with the fact that RCBS dies are just fine and dandy....my .38 Special dies are RCBS and have reloaded thousands of rounds, sat in a box for 30+ years, and are back to reloading again. The only issue is the problem with seating RNFP's and that has been solved pretty easily.

Still, I think the CH4D dies are pretty well made and worth the extra $. Which I buy at this point will depend on availability as we are shooting fools right now and I really need to start loading and stop paying factory ammo prices for target practice. :)

Still reading/researching....can't seem to find truncated, jacketed flat nose 9mm bullets in 124 grain which is what I want to load so I have time left to continue shopping for 9mm dies.

VooDoo
 
If you think the CH4D dies are worth the price, they are worth the price.

I just wonder how long it will take you to recoup $240 for the dies compared to only $70.
I just thought since you liked the RCBS dies already you might just replace them with newer Carbide RCBS dies. Hey, I'm happy with Lee dies for my handgun loading so what do I know? LOL
 
Vodoun da Vinci said:
Can't argue with the fact that RCBS dies are just fine and dandy....my .38 Special dies are RCBS and have reloaded thousands of rounds, sat in a box for 30+ years, and are back to reloading again. The only issue is the problem with seating RNFP's and that has been solved pretty easily.

Still, I think the CH4D dies are pretty well made and worth the extra $. Which I buy at this point will depend on availability as we are shooting fools right now and I really need to start loading and stop paying factory ammo prices for target practice. :)

Still reading/researching....can't seem to find truncated, jacketed flat nose 9mm bullets in 124 grain which is what I want to load so I have time left to continue shopping for 9mm dies.

VooDoo
Click to expand...
You're loading lead for your revolver right? No reason you can't do the same for the 9mm unless you just don't want to. http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=93&category=5&secondary=&keywords=

And for dies, count another vote for RCBS. I have a set of their .45acp and 9mm dies and both produce the most consistent COLs of any dies I have, no matter what style of bullets I use. And they both came with seating stems for round nose and flat nose bullets.
 
Wasn't that long ago that you could buy .38 dies at the gun show for 10-15 bucks a set. Non carbide. I have a separate seater die set up for all of my different pistol bullets. That way I don't have to readjust each time for a different bullet.
 
Call RCBS and tell them your problem. I'm sure they will send you a new seater stem at no cost. I use nothing but RCBS dies and their customer service is excellent.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

M
  • Locked
Seater die question
Replies
2
Views
540
birdshooter
B
**Brian19**
  • Locked
RCBS 9mm die set up question
Replies
8
Views
463
lordpaxman
L
mikemyers
  • Locked
Old RCBS Dies
2 3
Replies
64
Views
9K
Walkalong
Walkalong
74man
  • Locked
I THINK I AM RIGHT
Replies
11
Views
612
PWC
PWC
Coltdriver
  • Locked
Seating Die For SWC??
Replies
6
Views
753
Norm Lee
N
Back
Top