mikemyers
Member
I bought a like-new S&W Model 52-2 (38 Special) over the past weekend, and am now switching over my RCBS Pro-2000 press from 45 ACP to 38 Special.
I already purchased a 3-die set of RCBS 38/357 Carbide dies. I read the die instructions twice, until they mostly made sense to me. Among other things they say:
Larry told me several new things. First, that the wording in the instructions is for older dies. The new RCBS Carbide dies are protected from damage now, so the warning is no longer worded correctly. (Larry explained the changes, but I don't think I could properly explain that here....)
I asked Larry what to do about the die holder in the press - when the die hits, the die holder moves upwards, as it's just "floating" in its mounting slot on the press.
Larry told me to raise the shell holder all the way, handle all the way down, then screw in the die until it hits the shell plate, then keep on going until the die holder moves up to take up the play, and to continue screwing the die in until all the spring-space in the shell holder is taken up. At that point, I was to lock the die in place.
During the discussion, I told Larry about my gun, a S&W Model 52. He used to own one himself (now he uses a Clark). He told me that after seating the bullet, it has to be pressed slightly into the shell casing, not flush with the end, and to use a very small amount of crimp. He asked me which bullet seating parts I had - which are the stock ones that come with the die kit. Larry told me that the seating part needs to be modified slightly to work best for an M52. He told me he will modify one tomorrow and send it to me.
I'll take a photo of the new part when it arrives, and post it here.
I have a feeling most of you guys already know all of this backwards and forwards, and I'm just playing "catch-up". I'm posting this anyway, in case it might help someone else.
I already purchased a 3-die set of RCBS 38/357 Carbide dies. I read the die instructions twice, until they mostly made sense to me. Among other things they say:
Screw the Sizer Die into the press until the die touches the top of the Shell Holder when the Shell Holder is brought up to the top of the press stroke. Tighten the die Lock-Ring. DO NOT CAM-OVER on a carbide sizing die.
I wasn't sure about this, as the die mounting plate moves up and down, and to be sure as to what I need to do, I called RCBS and ended up speaking with Larry Meyer.Larry told me several new things. First, that the wording in the instructions is for older dies. The new RCBS Carbide dies are protected from damage now, so the warning is no longer worded correctly. (Larry explained the changes, but I don't think I could properly explain that here....)
I asked Larry what to do about the die holder in the press - when the die hits, the die holder moves upwards, as it's just "floating" in its mounting slot on the press.
Larry told me to raise the shell holder all the way, handle all the way down, then screw in the die until it hits the shell plate, then keep on going until the die holder moves up to take up the play, and to continue screwing the die in until all the spring-space in the shell holder is taken up. At that point, I was to lock the die in place.
During the discussion, I told Larry about my gun, a S&W Model 52. He used to own one himself (now he uses a Clark). He told me that after seating the bullet, it has to be pressed slightly into the shell casing, not flush with the end, and to use a very small amount of crimp. He asked me which bullet seating parts I had - which are the stock ones that come with the die kit. Larry told me that the seating part needs to be modified slightly to work best for an M52. He told me he will modify one tomorrow and send it to me.
I'll take a photo of the new part when it arrives, and post it here.
I have a feeling most of you guys already know all of this backwards and forwards, and I'm just playing "catch-up". I'm posting this anyway, in case it might help someone else.
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