old .357 mag RCBS dies

[tomg303]

So I'm new to reloading and bought an old set of RCBS dies in .357 magnum. I started reloading and ran into this problem. The 2nd die expands and deprimes. It is labeled 38 spec on top and over belled my case. Is there anyway to extend the depriming rod to cause it to bell less? Thanks in advance

 

[rcmodel]

Only solution I can think of is a longer de-primer pin, so you can back out the expander and still knock out the old primers.

You can make longer ones out of spring steel music wire from any hardware store.

Or, you could get a friend with a metal lathe to set back the shoulder taper of the expander .135" to .357 case length.

rc

 

[murf]

or you could get a pin punch and a hammer. put the case in the correct shell holder and wack away.

murf

 

[rcmodel]

Or, you could buy a set of new .38/.357 dies to load both calibers.
Like you should have in the first place.

I see a lot of new reloaders making themselves unnecessary problems right off the bat by buying used equipment that was somebody else's problem.

Before they sold it to an unsuspecting customer with no experience so they could buy what they should have in the first place.

rc

 

[tomg303]

Well I have a rifle die that I can decap in so its not a big deal. Thanks for the help

 

[moxie]

Some of the old RCBS die sets are set up that way, with the sizer just sizing, and the expander doing double duty as a decapper. Nothing wrong, just different. Just have to follow the directions in the old owner's manual. Basically, you just screw the expander in or out of the die, the part in your pic, until you get the amount of belling you want. Really the same as the newer. Just forget about the decapper.

 

[medalguy]

Buy an RCBS Universal Depriming Die and you will never ever again have the problem of depriming brass, any caliber, even makes crimped primers easy to deprime, and no broken pins. FYI there are two different dies, one covers up to .27 caliber and the other from .27 to .45 or better. Does every caliber I reload.

 

[moxie]

He didn't say he has a problem depriming. He has too much flare.

 

[tomg303]

Yea thanks guys I figured it out I deprime using a rifle deprimer and then use the expander. Its just when I try to use them together I have to over expand to reach the primer.

 

[moxie]

Ah! In that case it would appear your depriming pin is too short. Probably broke off at some time. It does look pretty short in the pic. So, call RCBS and ask for a new pin. They will likely send one for free or possibly a nominal charge. The number is 1-800-533-5000.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, give RCBS a call and see if they still have the pins for that die.

tomg303, you did some good detective work. I'm glad you are on your way to fixing the problem, well done.