I tried a dual-ring carbide die. With the upper ring, it resizes the neck of the case for tension, but the second lower ring sizes the body of the case to a larger diameter that is still sufficient for chambering. Aesthetically, it prevents the waisted look of the loaded cartridge wherein the brass looks like it's been shrink-wrapped around the bullet. Functionally, this seals the chamber better, and Redding claims it offers greater accuracy. It also results in working the brass less. Redding claims, "... all traditional carbide dies resize the remainder [below the neck] of your cases excessively. The price of this compromise is shortened case life of your overworked brass, unsightly appearance and less than ideal chamber fit which may lead to an adverse effect on accuracy."
In their catalog, I read, "This compromise has been tolerated for years by handloaders for the sake of convenience, the convenience of not lubricating cases. Our accuracy tests involving the 44 magnum @ 200 meters for Handgun Silhouette had long ago proven that our properly dimensioned steel sizing dies would always outperform traditional single ring carbide dies in the accuracy department with much better case life. Our new Dual Ring Carbide Dies are able to replicate the advantages of our steel dies without the need for lubrication."
So I understand that steel (non-carbide) dies have long accomplished similar results by being tapered so the case neck is sized down for proper tension while the body is a larger diameter. They simply required the inconvenience of lubricating the cases.
Redding explains in their literature that it is possible to create tapered carbide dies, but the cost would make them unattractive. Furthermore, because of the tapering, lubrication would be needed to ensure extraction and that defeats the main purpose of using carbide.
The more I reload, I increasingly see the desirability of case lube whether carbide dies are used or not. Resizing with lube is smoother even when using carbide dies. What's more, after I resize, I expand the case mouth (for 357). I use a Redding Special Expander Die. Guess what? It takes lube. Since I decap, resize, expand, and then wash the cases, I see little downside to lubricating the cases beforehand.
Because the steel dies only come in a 3 die set with other dies I won't use, the cost savings of a steel die versus a dual-ring carbide die is diminished somewhat. But the real question is which produces the finest finished cartridges? Dual-ring carbide, or steel?
In their catalog, I read, "This compromise has been tolerated for years by handloaders for the sake of convenience, the convenience of not lubricating cases. Our accuracy tests involving the 44 magnum @ 200 meters for Handgun Silhouette had long ago proven that our properly dimensioned steel sizing dies would always outperform traditional single ring carbide dies in the accuracy department with much better case life. Our new Dual Ring Carbide Dies are able to replicate the advantages of our steel dies without the need for lubrication."
So I understand that steel (non-carbide) dies have long accomplished similar results by being tapered so the case neck is sized down for proper tension while the body is a larger diameter. They simply required the inconvenience of lubricating the cases.
Redding explains in their literature that it is possible to create tapered carbide dies, but the cost would make them unattractive. Furthermore, because of the tapering, lubrication would be needed to ensure extraction and that defeats the main purpose of using carbide.
The more I reload, I increasingly see the desirability of case lube whether carbide dies are used or not. Resizing with lube is smoother even when using carbide dies. What's more, after I resize, I expand the case mouth (for 357). I use a Redding Special Expander Die. Guess what? It takes lube. Since I decap, resize, expand, and then wash the cases, I see little downside to lubricating the cases beforehand.
Because the steel dies only come in a 3 die set with other dies I won't use, the cost savings of a steel die versus a dual-ring carbide die is diminished somewhat. But the real question is which produces the finest finished cartridges? Dual-ring carbide, or steel?