RCBS Cowboy dies

[BobC]

Just because I needed another toy, I picked up a set of RCBS' cowboy dies in 44 russian/special and in 45 schofield/colt.

Does anyone have experience/knowledge of these dies? There must be some dimensional differences from regular dies, or is this just marketing hype about optimization for lead bullets?

Only difference I noticed was the expander/belling die expands the length of the cartridge case, vice flaring just the mouth. (The 45 colt dies came with 2 sizing plugs: 452 and 454 inches) This expansion makes seating lead bullets much easier and eliminates the brass distortion I sometimes got when, I suspect, a bullet was slightly tilted as it was forced into the case. The expander die turns out to be a worthwhile acquisition for me, but I'm wondering what other difference there might be.

- BobC

P.S. Quickly discovered that Schofield brass requires a 44-40 shellholder, not a 44 spec/mag shellholder.

 

[moxie]

Those RCBS cowboy dies are the purtiest gold thangs I've seen! Yippee ki ay!

 

[griz]

I've never used them, but your description makes me want to get some in 38. Yes I shoot SASS.

 

[Warren]

Sorry to intrude, but I thought we had lost another member. Somebody with the handle RCBS Cowboy.


Gave me a bit of a start.

 

[Bad Flynch]

You have discovered most of the differences already.

1-The inside expanders are different sizes so that you are not forced to put a death grip on soft lead bullets and distort them when they are seated. Use the expander that is the same size as your bullet.

2-The carbide ring may not size the body of the case as much, because the bullet holding area does not need to be as small when used with the enclosed expanders. Gotta think on that one, as I only size the cases as far down as what the bullet needs to bear. Then I use a Lee carbide crimp die to crimp with and that sizes less on the body than the regular sizer, it just does it when you crimp.

3-The real nice looks are more apt to get your money.

 

[Wil Terry]

THE RCBS COWBOY DIES WORK JUST FINE, BUT,

They have some features that are a pain in the butt.
First off are the beautiful brass lock rings with no way to lock them to the dies so all the die settings are lost everytime you remove them from the press. I replaced all of mine with the black steel RCBS locking die rings.
Secondly, the decapping pin, the expanding plug, and the seating plug are all held with knurled brass lock rings instead of hex rings you can wrench solidly in place...what in the world was RCBS thinking??????????
I own the RCBS COWBOY DIE SETS in eight calibers. All of them load excellent ammunition and are a damsite handier after I made the changes in the lock rings.