BEST .30 Carbine Die Set

[Catpop]

Spin off of kski’s thread. Lots of great info there! And not trying to high jack and detract from that!!!
Just would like to have threads experienced opinion of the best .30 Carbine die set to buy.
I’ve heard wasp cases, single carbide, double carbide, tapered steel, etc!
I’m getting ready to start reloading .30 Carbine and want to buy what others have determined best die through their personal hands on experience!
Thanks to all!

 

[Jimster]

I use Lee without any trouble.

 

[Blue68f100]

My set is an old steel RCBS dies set from the early 70's. Requires lube but never a problem.

 

[dredd]

I also use Lee and have no complaints.

I would recommend lubing the cases regardless of which dies you end up using.

 

[tcoz]

Lee dies produce great ammo for me. 30 carbine isn’t precision ammo so I didn’t feel the need to buy the most expensive dies.

 

[hdwhit]

RCBS. Steel. 1978 vintage. First set of dies I ever bought.

 

[greyling22]

Unless they have changed something in the last 6 years, Lee sends the wrong Shell holder for the 30 carbine. Or at least they did for mine. I wish i could remember the details, but At the time Lee included 30 carbine with a different set of calibers than everybody else's Shell holder. I bought a Hornady holder and called Lee on it. But researching g it now, it appears they have fixed it. Other than that 1 issue, I've loved Lee dies for a long time.

30 carbine knd of sucks to reload because it's not a straight walled case like a 38 or 45, it's tapered like a 9mm, but exaggerated because it is longer. At lease with my Lee dies, I think the carbide sizing ring is either narrow or something, whatever the case, instead of a tapered, it looks to be resizing pretty close to the same diameter as the mouth all the way down the case. Then you jam a bullet in the top and it swells the case giving that waspy look.
They work fine, they just look a little funny. Be sure you get carbide, as it requires less case lube. Unlike a straight case, you will need to use case lube on the 30 carbine. Not a lot but some. It's the only use i have ever really found for spray lube.

I guess I love the Lee powder through die with a Lee powder drop, I like their bullet seater and crimp dies, I like the collet decapping part of the sizing die, but I'm not really sold on their actual sizing die for 30 carbine or 9mm.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

There is no "best" of anything.

I use Dillon dies on my 550 when I crank-out .30 Carbine by the thousand; they work just fine.

 

[cfullgraf]

My 30 Carbine dies are steel, RCBS if I remember correctly but they could be Redding (I’m 50 miles from my dies at the present time).

Since I had to use lubricant anyway, I decided why spend the extra money on carbide dies.

Besides, I got into 30 Carbine mid to late 2009 and reloading tools and components were in short supply. Buying steel dies were a bit of an expedience as everyone else were waiting on the carbide dies to get back in stock.

I have not been disappointed with the steel dies and I do not miss the carbide ring.

 

[Ken T]

I've used steel carbine dies since the late 50's with complete satisfaction.I believe mine are Herter's .If I had to replace them I'd still go with steel dies.I only use carbide dies for some pistol calibers.

 

[FROGO207]

I happened to walk into a LGS and they had the Lee Carbide dies on the wall so I got them. Have used them for ~15 years or so with good results. I do lube them anyway as it is way easier to run the press handle that way, but the first few I tried without and they were some tight.

 

[Ironicaintit]

My steel dies are RCBS, are older than dirt, and they do just fine.

 

[jski]

Catpop, funny you should open this thread. I called RCBS yesterday and ask what is the length of the carbide sleeve in their resizing die. He could give me the smaller and larger diameters of the sleeve but not its length. But, he did say the RCBS resizing die does preserve its taper.

As best as I can determine, the length of the sleeve is 13/16". He did say that "seems right" but didn't have any engineering specs to verify it.

BTW, I also called Lee and asked the same question, their quality engineer said it's that same length as a .30 Carbine case.

I do believe I will order a complete Lee .30 Carbine die set. Their .45 Colt die works well and, since I've started using Starline's .45 Special brass, I also use Lee's carbide factory crimp die.

 

[Catpop]

RCBS steel, Lee carbide, and herters.
Good comment on long tapered lee.
I’m tilted slightly toward Lee, but not ready to commit yet!
I’m enjoying the recommendations!

 

[Offfhand]

There is no "best" of anything.

How do you know?

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

How do you know?

Because, as everyone answers that question w/ their personal choice, there can be no "best", other than in the eye of the individual.

 

[Ireload2]

Not true.
Use all brands and there is going to be a set that is preferred for specific reasons. If you only try one brand you know nothing about the rest.

Because, as everyone answers that question w/ their personal choice, there can be no "best", other than in the eye of the individual.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Not true.
Use all brands and there is going to be a set that is preferred for specific reasons. If you only try one brand you know nothing about the rest.

Thanks for supporting my point.