CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Is it me or is the Dillon die a true carbide sizing die while the Lyman just uses a carbide expander ball???
Do your RCBS carbide dies need case lube?
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rcmodel
Member in memoriam
No, you are quite correct.
Lots of companys use or sell carbide expanding balls.
But the OP's question was about needing to use sizing lube with his "RCBS carbide dies including 270, 35 rem...."
RCBS doesn't make carbide rifle sizing dies, and neither does anyone else except Dillion.
rc
Lots of companys use or sell carbide expanding balls.
But the OP's question was about needing to use sizing lube with his "RCBS carbide dies including 270, 35 rem...."
RCBS doesn't make carbide rifle sizing dies, and neither does anyone else except Dillion.
rc
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Then I reckon "nobody but Dillon" was a correct statement and we can return to our normal programming. 
dickttx
Member
When I first started reloading in the late 60's the revolutionary carbide pistol dies were relatively new. I bought the Lyman All American carbide dies in 38/357, with the top half of the sizing die gold colored, to show how good they were. Also added RCBS in 45 Colt and 45 ACP as I acquired those calibers.
Then the rifle dies started being available with the carbide expander. Mostly the expanders were available from a third party at a cost of about $6. Pretty expensive in relation to a set of dies then. The ones I bought were a carbide ring, less than 1/8" in width pressed onto an expander. They were very brittle and several of them broke, but IIRC they would replace them free. This allowed you to not lube the inside of the neck.
At the time the 9mm was kind of an oddball cartridge and most of the manuals has a comment about the tapered case being difficult to reload because you could not use a carbide die.
When I started reloading again about three years ago, of course the 9mm was king. I wondered what was different. I inspected my Lee 9mm carbide die and saw that rather than being a small ring at the bottom of the die, it was about 1/2" and tapered. Guess they figured out how to make it with a taper.
In Lee's reloading book he talks about the development of the carbide die.
Then the rifle dies started being available with the carbide expander. Mostly the expanders were available from a third party at a cost of about $6. Pretty expensive in relation to a set of dies then. The ones I bought were a carbide ring, less than 1/8" in width pressed onto an expander. They were very brittle and several of them broke, but IIRC they would replace them free. This allowed you to not lube the inside of the neck.
At the time the 9mm was kind of an oddball cartridge and most of the manuals has a comment about the tapered case being difficult to reload because you could not use a carbide die.
When I started reloading again about three years ago, of course the 9mm was king. I wondered what was different. I inspected my Lee 9mm carbide die and saw that rather than being a small ring at the bottom of the die, it was about 1/2" and tapered. Guess they figured out how to make it with a taper.
In Lee's reloading book he talks about the development of the carbide die.
buck460XVR
Member
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I lightly lube .460S&W cases even with carbide dies so I don't have to stand on the press handle to size them. I've yet to talk to anyone else that reloads .460S&W that doesn't. RCBS suggests it also with the instructions that came with their carbide dies. I don't consider it a waste of time, just something that makes the job go easier. Just the smallest touch of lube and they size like .38s. Seems to me it would be easier on the brass also. Like RC I tumble the rounds after loaded briefly to remove any lube left on the brass.
That is the way my old Lee 9MM sizer is. After trying a couple of other sizers, I went back to the Lee. It leaves the case looking much more like new factory brass vs the others which can leave a shoulder near the bottom due to the carbide insert not being tapered.
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