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.
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.