I.D. Pacific Durachrome Dies Please.

[ricksgtx]

Hi, I have a three die set of Hornady Pacific Durachrome series II in .45 Colt. Each die has the name, (pacific durachrome) caliber, (45 colt) and a number ie:

NO. 1 E

NO. 3 E

and the last one is listed as EXPANDER DECAP F

I understand what the expander decap does, and the die NO. 3 will seat the bullet and crimp if adjusted properly. So what is the die NO. 1 for and why are (is this the Sizing? and use it before the Decap) these dies marked with the letter E after the number and a F on the Decap?

Thanks
Ricksgtx

 

[rcmodel]

Well, the die that isn't the deprime/expander, or the seater/ crimper, has to be the Sizing die.

You size the cases first.
Then expand & decap.
Then seat & crimp.

I have no idea what the E or F mean, but it matters not anyway.

rc

 

[ranger335v]

Yep, you use them by what they are, not what they are marked. Many old dies weren't marked for function at all. Anything with a Pacific label is good stuff but they are old.

 

[ricksgtx]

Thanks Guys. Just checking
Ricksgtx

 

[ReloaderFred]

That was pretty standard with a lot of pistol dies when those were made. The first die sized, the second flared the case mouth and decapped, and the third die seated the bullet and formed the crimp.

Hope this helps.

Fred