Mike,
Answers in context below:
"Now that I have the basic setup I'm searching for dies and other components."
I would advise that you first read through the sticky at the top of the forum for new reloaders and get an idea of what "extras" you might want or need. The sticky was written with some attempt at not prejudicing anyone towards a particular brand. It'll help you put a list together.
"I want to start by loading .38 special and have chosen the Lee 4 die carbon set. That seems a no-brainer."
When it comes to pistol dies, the Lee 4 - die sets are about impossible to beat. I'm extremely happy with mine. Good choice. BTW, I also have RCBS and Hornady dies - the Lees are just as good to better and cost way less. You could also take them as they come and put them immediately onto a Lee Classic Turret or the progressive ofyour choice and begin reloading and have the option of powder through case expansion using a Lee Pro Auto Disk, which is a pretty darn good powder measure for pistol I've found.
"The only centerfire rifle I own is a Bushmaster 223, but the die choices are confusing me (perhaps it's the small vices or is that vises? - good one Mal).
The cost differences aren't much but the 3 that I'm looking at are all Lee:
RGBS 2 die + shellholder
Deluxe 3 die
Pacesetter 3 die"
Rather than offer a specific opinion, I'm going to give you some things to think about. If your Bushmaster has a 5.56 chamber, I'd definately go with a Lee die set. I wouldn't go with the RGB sets, because there other two sets aren't that much more and offer a couple of things you may be interested in.
Unfortunately, Lee doesn't offer a rifle die set as well "loaded" as they do with their pistol sets. I would like to see them with a rifle die set that contains both the collet neck sizing die and the Factory crimp die. So a choice has to be made. For a bolt action, I would recommend the Deluxe die set, because it includes a collet neck sizer, but you are reloading for an automatic. This moves my choice to the Pacesetter three die set, because it contains the Factory Crimp Die. Why the Pacesetter? Because the factory crimp die MAY and I want to emphasis May, offer a bit of post sizing that will aid in your rounds chambering. If you'll hold off on the purchase a day or so, I'll let you know how the FCD works in a case where the standard full length resizer doesn't get the brass down small enough for the chamber, as I have one with that issue I'm working with and will likely try out the Lee FCD today. I can post back in this thread and let you know.
The collet die would be nice if you had a bolt gun, but you don't. If you are considering a .223 bolt gun, I would definately look at the Deluxe die set.
Final thoughts are that you may have an issue, even after using the Lee set, in getting your rounds to chamber. But I doubt it, based on a buddy's experience with his Bushmaster and standard dies vs. small base.
Other potential issues are trimming, so you may also want to look at an RCBS X-die or an RCBS small base X-die. But because the small base works the brass harder, I would NOT explore the X-die or the small base die until AFTER I found out the Lee dies did not work in my application. The reason I suggest that is the Lee dies are inexpensive and give you a lot for the price you pay and even if they don't work for your gun. They can pretty easily be sold on ebay.
"95% of the brass I have was fired from my gun. The other 5 % was fired from a friends identical gun. I have no idea which is which."
No two guns are alike, even ones cut on the same reamer, because of wear on the reamer. Full length resize.
"From the Web descriptions it APPEARS that you may not have to lube the cases with the higher priced dies if you are just neck-sizing. I do have the case lube/roller setup, but from what I've read I should just discard that and buy the spray stuff if needed."
If you already have a lube pad, I suggest you hang onto it and use it. If the pad hasn't been used before, buy and use Gardner Bender Wire Aide wire pulling lubricant Part #79-006. This stuff is wax based and much less nasty clean up wise than the RCBS lube, which is basically STP oil treatment.
If the pad has been used before, use it with the RCBS lube and clean your cases afterwards. But I'd plan on moving to something better, but you have it and it's paid for, I'd use it until it's gone unless the lube pad is like new/unused, in which case I'd buy and use the Gardner Bender lube with the pad.
You don't have to use lube on pistol cartridges. What I would suggest is buying a tumbler and mixing 50/50 ground walnut and ground corncob, then adding a capful of Nu Finish car polish to each load of brass.
You can get the Nu Finish at your local Dollar General Store for $4.00 a 12 oz. bottle, much cheaper than the reloading polishes and when the cases are done tumbling, the brass has a nice slick finish that's plenty for pistol cases when you're running them through the sizer, no lube needed. Cleans the brass good too.
"I would like to buy all of the components at once to save on shipping and have everything I need arrive simultaneously."
A good idea. Saves on shipping. Be advised that as much as you do that, you still end up wanting or needing something you didn't anticipate, so there'll be another order. Try to find a buddy with a C&R collector's FFL. He can get a discount from Midway that's fairly substantial over retail. Or a buddy with an FFL can order from Jerry's Sports Center, an even bigger discount. This and putting orders together with a buddy can help save money by splitting the shipping.
"Any opinions, and they have all been great so far, would be appreciated."
And there you have it, Dave's opinions. (grin)
Regards,
Dave
