Dating RCBS dies

[bb07]

Hi guys. I'm new here but am sure someone here will know the answer to my question. I recently got a set of RCBS dies. There are no year/date markings. Instead there's the letter J.
The sizing die is stamped on top: RCBS 30-30 J
The seater is stamped on top: RCBS 30-30 SEAT J
The lock rings are solid aluminum, not split and use a hex head screw to tighten to the die threads.
Any other RCBS set I've seen is stamped with the year, not a letter.
Does anyone have an idea what the J means?
Thanks very much.

 

[murf]

i'm too old to date! suggest you call rcbs and ask.

murf

 

[Otto]

The letter J is the date. Around 1967 or so RCBS changed to numerical dating. Before that they used a single letter.
I'm guessing your dies were made around 1961 but I could be way off. Maybe RCBS can give you an exact date or better yet the code table.

 

[fguffey]

Dies and dates?. I do not know, many year ago I ask RCBS a few questions, they did not know the answers, they suggested I call ‘next door, down the street? across the street and ask Huntington, I did, Huntington did not know.

I have RCBS dies in lime fiber boxes, no dates, just codes, I have RCBS dies in Green fiber boxes with dates, I have RCBS light green plastic boxes that go back to the 60s then there are the dark green plastic boxes.

I have one set of RCBS dies that are different with codes, the different dies do not have locking nuts on the seater plug stem or lock nuts on the primer punch/sizer plug stem, both dies have set screws, the up, side the knurling on the die bodies looks expensive, point? I will dig through my dies and check the markings, most are stamped ‘M’, a few are stamped ‘S’, the S could be a date or it could indicate ‘Special’, the top of the die is polished like a forming die.

F. Guffey

 

[Certaindeaf]

Reload like it's 1999!

 

[ranger335v]

SAMMI has not changed standards, use the dies,.

 

[oneounceload]

What's the big deal with the dates? It isn't like milk where it's spoiled in a week or two

 

[bb07]

What's the big deal with the dates? It isn't like milk where it's spoiled in a week or two

Thanks for the replies guys. The dies look to be in excellent condition and I will use them. I was just curious as to their age since they didn't have the usual date stamp.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

dinner and a movie should do the trick. be sure to have em back by curfew!

 

[fguffey]

Otto, thank you for taking the time to respond to bb07’s request for information, I am sure your effort made him feel welcome.

F. Guffey

 

[Otto]

I like old tools. It's kind of cool using a press or dies that were made 50+ years ago...or perhaps I'm just nostalgic.

 

[bb07]

Yes it did, and thank you both for that.

 

[noylj]

The only "problem" with old dies, including RCBS, is that before progressive presses (say, pre-'80), the three die pistol sets had a sizing die (all steel), an expander die with the depriming punch, and a bullet seating/crimp die.
Progressive presses force the sizing dies to also include depriming. Just after this change, the change to carbide began.
For rifle dies, old is as good as new unless they have worn out from loading 50000 or more rounds.

 

[morcey2]

I picked up a set of 8MM Mauser RCBS dies at a local pawn shop for a couple of bucks. They came in a green fiber box, complete with instructions, return-for-service slip, and a price list. The copyright date on the price list was 1962. Same non-split lock rings as the OP described.

The dies were marked "RCBS 8MM SEAT <some character I still can't make out>" and "RCBS 8MM <same character>". The box was simply labeled "8 M/M". The only real choices at that point were 8x57 Mauser or 8mm-06. The 8MM rem mag hadn't been standardized yet and I don't think it would have been anything like an 8x64 Brenneke.

The only thing that worried me about the set was that the depriming pin was almost flush w/ the bottom of the die. When I got it home, I disassembled the sizing die and cleaned it. The priming pin was adjusted way too high, almost like someone had been using it to neck-size berdan primed cases. Regardless, after it was put back together and adjusted correctly, it works great.

Matt

 

[Otto]

Hi guys. I'm new here but am sure someone here will know the answer to my question. I recently got a set of RCBS dies. There are no year/date markings. Instead there's the letter J.

My guess was that they were made in 1961 but RCBS customer service told me it's 1959.

 

[fguffey]

Green Fiber boxes, 300 Win Mag, 7mm57, 270 Winchester , 270 Weatherby, 270 Weatherby neck sizer (single box), 300 Winchester neck die, 264 Winchester (Mag) stamped from 63 to 66.

Lime colored fiber boxs, 7mm Mag M, 8mm06 K, 270 Winchester K, 264 Winchester Mag M&N, 7.65 Belgium M

30 Gibbs XS hand stamped single green fiber box.

Lime green boxes with instructions and order blanks with small catalog dated 1961 and 1962, that puts the date for dies from 1961 to 1962 with codes K, L M and N.

Dies without boxes are not included. The older C&H dies came in a fiber box with a pop up top for counter display.

Fiber boxes do not last as long as plastic boxes.

F. Guffey