Peter M. Eick
Member
I just got done loading 500 rnds of 357 Mag with the new RCBS expander dies in my pro2000. I really like them!
I cleaned them up like the instructions and then pulled out my hornady/rcbs dispenser setup out of station 2. I put the original RCBS unit back in and pulled the RCBS universal dispenser out. Next I setup the new expander die per the instructions and tweaked it around a bit.
Once I got it all setup and into production it worked really well. It gives you that Lyman "M" expander die type expansion so you have the two steps and this makes it really easy to seat lead bullets straight in the case. This was very nice! I had forgotten why I used to like the Lyman dies before I decided a powder check die was better than a nice expander.
I did have to reset my Redding profile crimp die a hair to take out the extra expansion properly. It took about 1/8th of a turn back to get it just the way I wanted the crimp. I try to go for about 8 thousands roll into the bullet crimp groove so when you look at it under good light it is obvious that you have a good roll crimp.
I am using WSPM primers, 14.5 grns of 2400, Starline brass and MBC 158 SWC Action bullets to 1.600. Good overall load and has worked well for me. This is my basic plinker 357 Magnum load with CCI primer normally. I found a few thousand Winchester primers in the pile so I am loading them up to burn the off.
Of my various attempts at expansion, this is the best combination so far. Just for the record:
1) RCBS original dies worked out OK
2) Lyman M dies worked well but no room for a powder check die
3) Hornday expanders do not allow enough control of the flare
4) RCBS dispense die gives too much of a wedge expansion
5) PTX expander dies occasionally clip and crush the brass.
I probably missed one or two experiments in that listbut that is the bulk of them.
I cleaned them up like the instructions and then pulled out my hornady/rcbs dispenser setup out of station 2. I put the original RCBS unit back in and pulled the RCBS universal dispenser out. Next I setup the new expander die per the instructions and tweaked it around a bit.
Once I got it all setup and into production it worked really well. It gives you that Lyman "M" expander die type expansion so you have the two steps and this makes it really easy to seat lead bullets straight in the case. This was very nice! I had forgotten why I used to like the Lyman dies before I decided a powder check die was better than a nice expander.
I did have to reset my Redding profile crimp die a hair to take out the extra expansion properly. It took about 1/8th of a turn back to get it just the way I wanted the crimp. I try to go for about 8 thousands roll into the bullet crimp groove so when you look at it under good light it is obvious that you have a good roll crimp.
I am using WSPM primers, 14.5 grns of 2400, Starline brass and MBC 158 SWC Action bullets to 1.600. Good overall load and has worked well for me. This is my basic plinker 357 Magnum load with CCI primer normally. I found a few thousand Winchester primers in the pile so I am loading them up to burn the off.
Of my various attempts at expansion, this is the best combination so far. Just for the record:
1) RCBS original dies worked out OK
2) Lyman M dies worked well but no room for a powder check die
3) Hornday expanders do not allow enough control of the flare
4) RCBS dispense die gives too much of a wedge expansion
5) PTX expander dies occasionally clip and crush the brass.
I probably missed one or two experiments in that listbut that is the bulk of them.
