why are the lee 350 legend dies steel instead of carbide?

[GooseGestapo]

The Lee carbide sizer actually has two carbide rings. And still requires a lube. I have one! Use it extensively. But my ancient Lyman I was given may actually load more accurate ammo.
I DO like the little carbine cartridge!

 

[jmorris]

Worth noting that it’s not like one can’t create a complex shape out of solid carbide.





If you could sell as many dies as they sell carbide tooling they would be a lot less expensive, that’s for sure.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

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RCBS or Redding should make a long tapered carbide ring sizer for 9MM. I'd pay extra for that as well as recommend it to people.

I wish they would also and I would also have one. I'm not afraid to pay $100.00 for a single die, I have Redding dual ring dies and really like them. But I doubt I could afford one for a case as long as the Legend.

 

[jmorris]

The Legend is a few thousandths shorter then the .223 and popularly of the 300 blk expanded enough Dillon started making carbide dies for it as well ($164.30).

They even have a carbide die for 30-06 ($230.30).

 

[mcb]

The question is for what application are you shooting 350 Legend enough to need carbide dies. Most of my pistol dies are carbide because they have to support a bad USPSA/IDPA habit. My poor 40S&W die probably has had 30,000 rds through it. My 450 Bushmaster die on the other hand after three years of playing, plinking, and working up and testing a variety of hunting loads probably only has about 500 rounds through it. Even if I never hunt deer with any other gun but my 450 BM these dies are likely going to last me a life time. Is there another reason to need carbide for low volume reloading/shooting?

 

[jmorris]

Not really, you still need lube with them and even they don't last forever.

My carbide .223 die is about at the end of its life and dies don't have the lifetime warranty, I suppose if they did, there would be no reason for carbide in the first place.

 

[mdi]

I have a limited amount of experience with carbide, as in cutting tools. Carbide is extremely hard and tough, and can be ground to a very smooth finish, all of which makes carbide inserts for sizing dies nearly perfect. Any machining (or sharpening) is done with diamond impregnated cutting tools, special methods and coolants for cutting/machining. All the carbide I've seen comes in chunks of varying sizes and shapes and are "drilled", shaped, and finished ground with diamond tools, much like glass. My guess for a 9mm full length, tapered sizing die of carbide would cost several hundred dollars to produce.

Not arguing, just sharing my ideas...

 

[mdi]

"The Lee carbide sizer actually has two carbide rings."
I only own a dozen or so Lee carbide sizing dies and maybe their newer one have two rings but none of mine do..

Just went out and checked my 38/357, 44 Magnum, 380 (new), 45 ACP and 9mm Lee sizing dies, just to make sure. I looked inside them under a 100 watt desk lamp wearing my magnifying visor. All had one ring approx. 1/4" in length, except the 9mm sizing die which was approx. 3/8" (.375"). Measuring a wall "length" in a small ID needs some more specialized tools than I have, but I got rough measurements with my dial calipers measuring depth.

Not arguing, just sharing my ideas in an interesting thread...

 

[Walkalong]

Just checked to insert in my Lee 9MM sizer and it is .5+ and tapered. If there is a seem I can't see it. It does a great job. My RCBS & Redding 9MM sizers "work" just fine, but leave a bulged look down low near the case head where the insert is tighter than needed, but of course it has to be that tight for the neck of the case where the bullet seats.