RCBS dies for 38/357

[Parks2055]

I picked up as set of RCBS dies today for my 38 & 357 loading.
I have read that they are good sizing dies - hopefully good seaters as well.
Question is: it came with a separate bag with two seater plugs and a large washer. What is the large washer for?
Is it to give the die a little more height for 357 seating?
Thx,

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, it can be used on the seating/crimping die and expander die so you don't have to readjust the dies all the time. Redding sells them as well. I used them for years until I bought a second set of dies.

 

[Parks2055]

Ah - I see.
I couldn't find anything in the instructions about it.
Neat feature.
Thanks.

 

[joneb]

I have read that they are good sizing dies - hopefully good seaters as well.

Does the sizing die have a carbide sizing ring ?
When applying a heavy roll crimp on a soft nosed HP I will seat and crimp in two different steps.

 

[Walkalong]

If a jacketed bullet has a good deep cannelure, and not just roll marks, you can easily seat and crimp in two steps. The same goes for a good crimp groove on lead bullets. Naturally it is a little easier to set up separately, and at times this will do a better job, depending on the bullet/die/cannelure/crimp groove. It never does a bad job if set up right.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7699828&postcount=14

 

[JLDickmon]

Does the sizing die have a carbide sizing ring ?

if it came in a grey box, it does..

 

[moxie]

Parks,
Your instruction sheet should have a highlighted area called "Special Notes (older versions say Instructions) for Certain Calibers." The washer will be mentioned there. If your instructions have wandered off, look here on pg. 4:
http://www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/ReloadingDieInstructions.pdf

 

[oneounceload]

Mine came in a green box and is carbide -it also came with three seating stems for WC, SWC, and RN, but then again the set is about 35 years old and still going strong.

To add a +1 about the washer - use it with the expanding die and the seating die

 

[BYJO4]

Assuming you are loading both 38 and 357 and using the same bullet, you first adjust and lock your dies for the 38. For 357, all you have to do is use the washer as a spacer with the expanding die and the seating/crimp die. The washer is used to offset the difference in case length of the 357 over the shorter 38.

 

[GP100man]

I use 1 sizer & 2expander/seaters set up in a turret press.

My problem is I use too many different Boolits !!! Wadcutters to 187gr. WNFP