Excess dies, where to store them?

[Peter M. Eick]

I have been slowly sort of modifying my collection of dies for each caliber I load for and I have hit an impasse. Normally I just keep all of the dies for one caliber in an RCBS box they came from or I buy a box if I have lee dies (hate the circle thing, so hard to stack).

My problem is I have now filled the boxs. For example. If you take 38 special, add in a redding profile crimper, lyman m die, a case gauge, lee primer shell holder and an rcbs shell holder the box is now full if you keep the seating plugs in there also. If you happen to have taper and roll crimpers from rcbs also you have a problem. If you look at 45acp and add in a FCD die (no longer used) and a redding crimper then you are full again. This is the problem. I have just filled up the die boxes with prior experiments. This just propagates around my die collection.

I have been trying to come up with a storage method that keeps everything from rusting but is easily accessible if needed. I was thinking about a metal or plastic box and just pile them in and hose the excess dies with oil. This just does not seem very smart to treat dies that way.

Any suggestions?

 

[Walkalong]

I have "extras" in boxes all piled up in two compartments in my reloading bench.

I keep all the Redding Taper Crimp Dies in their individual boxes and not in the box with the sets, be they RCBS, Redding, or Lee, with some Hornady Seaters thrown in as far as pistol dies go.(4th die in the box) I have a set for .38 and a set for .357, despite the thread we had going about how that is a waste of money and one set will load both.

I wish someone made a box that would hold 5 nicely without being overly big. I would buy a bunch of them.

 

[45ACPUSER]

MTM makes a die box you could buy. Then again I can give a lead to buy some empty Redding or RCBS die boxes if you PM me.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I could probably dump them in the extra RCBS boxes (if you buy single dies from them like a Taper crimp for the 38 special you get a box).

I do like the idea of a 5 die box. I will have to search for one.

 

[taliv]

i don't have THAT many dies because i limit myself to only about 6 calibers (223, 45acp, 220 swift, 308win, 6xc, 50bmg). however, i saw something once in a picture thread and i think it may have even been this forum, that looked pretty schnazzy.

i think if you took a sheet of metal 1.5" wide and as long as necessary, and folded 2" down on each side, to create a table 2" high... then drilled and tapped 7/8th inch holes in it, you could just screw all your dies into it a couple turns.

 

[Walkalong]

MTM makes a box that holds 12 dies. I thought about getting one or two.

I do like the idea of a 5 die box. I will have to search for one.

Good luck. I have searched high and low. Let us know if you find some.

 

[koja48]

A cheap tackle box/plastic storage box works well . . . put a piece of tape in the bottom of the tray compartment with pertinent info, die size, etc. The storage boxes are stackable.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I store mine far and away from the reloading bench. 1 set of dies out at a time. The rest is stored separately.

 

[Linear Thinker]

I have a similar dilemma, but with a twist.

I am fond of Lee Deluxe die sets with both full-size and neck sizers, which I store mounted on Hornady Lock-n-load bushings.
For most calibers I load (about 15 of them for rifles), I also get a Lyman M-die, Redding comp seater, and Lee factory crimp die.

Any thoughts on proper storage of dies when mounted in Hornady Lock-n-load bayonet mounts? They don't fit any factory die case.

I am toying with the idea of taking nice pieces of wood, 4x4 or so, and drilling
them so that they would hold both the plain dies, shellholders and LNL-mounted dies. But, that would take me away from reloading...
LT

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The problem with exposure is rust.

I keep only one set on the bench at a time, but it can be 6 months to a year before I load a caliber again (I tend to shoot them completely out then load them all up again). So I need to keep the rust down. What I have been doing is when I am done, is just spray down the dies in the box with like triflow and I toss used oil patches in each box so they have a mop to keep the dies oily.

It has worked perfect, but how do I replicate that on a larger scale for all of the spares.

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

IINM, Hornady die boxes will hold the dies w/ or w/o LNL bushings. 4-die box, plus a post for the shell holder, and a spot for one or two extra seating plugs. And they fit the hornady seating dies with the micrometer head on them. They are well made, and stack very well too.

Andy

 

[davinci]

I've got a lee turret. I take leave the dies set up in the turret and switch them out between calibers. I keep my dies w/turret in Midstates bullet boxes which happen to be the perfect size. I just remark them "Was 'midstates 45acp 230 grain, Now 45acp DIES, w/ shellholder"

 

[BAT1]

Die storage

I'm with davinci, I use the factory enclosures. with the base turned around. The mid states boxes sound interesting.

 

[Walkalong]

The mid states boxes sound interesting.

Gotta link?

 

[HuskerTanker]

+1 on the MTM die storage box. It comes with a plastic molding with holes for the dies and pegs I put the shellholer on. I have Hornady LNL bsuhings on my dies, but they fit fine.

 

[jmorris]

I found a cabinet and desk at a local surplus store that’s perfect for all of my reloading stuff. The wife liked it because everything is put away out of sight and I like it because I can find everything in an instant. Both lock to keep the kidos out.

 

[Walkalong]

The one on the right is what we call a "C" locker here at the hospital. They make great storage. I have one out back in my shed. Got my eye on another one that may get thrown away.