How to Identify Carbide Sizing Die?

[JDinFbg]

A friend loaned me an old set of Lyman 45 Colt dies he has had for a long time. He did not know or remember if the sizing die was carbide or just steel. The sizing die is not marked in anyway to indicate its type.

So the question: how can I identify whether the sizing die is carbide or just steel?

 

[bersaguy]

Should be able to see the carbide insert looking into the business end on the sizing die.
With steel dies, there is no transition of one material to the next, its all just steel

 

[JDinFbg]

Bersaguy, that was the first place I looked, but I could not identify the obvious material transition that is shown in the picture you posted. However, as I look up in the sizing die I see a ridge about 1/2" from the mouth of the die where the internal diameter gets larger. In some RCBS steel dies I have for other straight-wall cartridges, I do not see this ridge. The Lyman die I have does not show the (what looks like) internal threads in your picture. What brand die is shown in your picture?

 

[edwardware]

. . . how can I identify whether the sizing die is carbide or just steel?

By looking for the carbide ring, or the absence of a carbide ring.

The Google can tell you what that looks like.

 

[243winxb]

Lube the brass. Works with both types of sizing dies.

 

[Skgreen]

I could not identify the obvious material transition that is shown in the picture

Sounds like you have a non-carbide die.
No worries.

 

[entropy]

Lube the brass. Works with both types of sizing dies.

Certainly doesn't hurt.

 

[bersaguy]

Yup, sounds like a steel die, lube 'em up and you should be good to go

 

[JDinFbg]

I contacted Lyman and they sent me a picture of what their carbide sizing dies look like. The one I have looks different from what Lyman pictured and what bersaguy pictured in Post #2 above, so I definitely believe what I have is a steel die. So Lube City, here I come!

 

[.308 Norma]

I contacted Lyman and they sent me a picture of what their carbide sizing dies look like. The one I have looks different from what Lyman pictured and what bersaguy pictured in Post #2 above, so I definitely believe what I have is a steel die. So Lube City, here I come!

Hold on there a second, JDinFbh. I'm really not trying to be a wise guy here, but knowing whether or not it's a carbide sizing die is a little more important than deciding whether or not to use lube. And, the die in the picture bersaguy posted looks exactly like my Lyman 38 Special/357 Mag carbide sizing die.
The only part of a carbide sizing die that's actually carbide is the little, about an eight of an inch tall ring in the mouth of the die. It's important to know whether that ring is there or not because of how you adjust the die when you install it in your press. If it's just a regular steel die, you install your shell holder on the ram, and raise the ram all the way up. Then you screw the die into your press until it is touching your shell holder. Next, you lower the ram, and screw the die down about another 1/8 or 1/4 of a turn - so that your press "cams over" when you raise the ram again.
Okay, the steps for adjusting a carbide die are exactly the same except for the last step. After you screw your carbide die in until it comes up against your shell holder, you BACK THE DIE OUT just a little bit - I like about the thickness of a piece of paper between my shell holder and the mouth of my carbide die. If you adjust a carbide die into your press until the press cams over when you raise the ram (like you do with a regular steel pistol sizer die) you'll bust that carbide ring right out of your expensive carbide die - lube or no lube.