your thoughts/experiences with carbide dies?

[cleardatum]

i am very interested in reloading, and am currently in the information gathering phase of this undertaking (one of my favorite parts of most new endeavors). i have lyman's pistol reloading manual, and they make mention of the advantages of using carbide dies. what say ye, oh wise ones?

 

[WIL TERRY]

THEY ARE AMONG THE GREATEST DIE INVENTIONS IN HISTORY, PERIOD !!!
Been using them for 50+ years now

 

[6gun]

Carbide is the only way to go no lubing needed, .... steel dies work if you like to deal with rubbing every case on a lube pad then cleaning the lube off after sizing, Lyman also makes exellent dies and reloading equipment if your looking at their brand.

All my pistol dies are carbide wouldn't waste my money buying anything else.

 

[Snake45]

Carbide is the only way to go no lubing needed, .... steel dies work if you like to deal with rubbing every case on a lube pad then cleaning the lube off after sizing, Lyman also makes exellent dies and reloading equipment if your looking at their brand.

All my pistol dies are carbide wouldn't waste my money buying anything else.

Just saved me some typing.

If carbide dies are available in your chosen caliber(s), buy them. You will NEVER regret it.

I have been loading since the late '70s and to this day I do not know HOW to lube a case. :shock:

 

[6gun]

Carbide is the only way to go no lubing needed, .... steel dies work if you like to deal with rubbing every case on a lube pad then cleaning the lube off after sizing, Lyman also makes exellent dies and reloading equipment if your looking at their brand.

All my pistol dies are carbide wouldn't waste my money buying anything else.

Just saved me some typing.

If carbide dies are available in your chosen caliber(s), buy them. You will NEVER regret it.

I have been loading since the late '70s and to this day I do not know HOW to lube a case. :shock:

I know how to use case lube quite well since they don't make bottle necked rifle dies in carbide, and let me tell you if aint any fun to deal with, at least I don't have to lube pistol rounds.

 

[cleardatum]

this is glad news, as the whole lube thing looks to be an incredible p.i.t.a. to me. my calibers are all popular. .45 acp, .357 mag, and .44 mag. thanks for the input, all. i appreciate it greatly.

 

[6gun]

this is glad news, as the whole lube thing looks to be an incredible p.i.t.a. to me. my calibers are all popular. .45 acp, .357 mag, and .44 mag. thanks for the input, all. i appreciate it greatly.

I have all three of those and all carbide, all straight walled case die's are available in carbide unless it's such a old cal. no one makes it any more.

 

[anachronism]

A "must have" item. Steel dies are the wrong place to try to save a buck.

 

[contender]

I can't add much except to say that there are some bottleneck carbide dies,,, but they are seriously expensive!
I do not own any straight walled non-carbide dies.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Get carbide.

 

[WIL TERRY]

LUBING CASES IS NOT---NOT!!!---A PITA !!! As a matter of fact I do lube brass going through the carbide dies as it cuts the work load pressures by right around 75%; NO FOOLING !!
The brass is then tumbled a second time to clean it again and for final inspection. NO ammunition in ANY ammunition company EVER goes through the process unlubricated.

 

[Jim Puke]

THEY ARE AMONG THE GREATEST DIE INVENTIONS IN HISTORY, PERIOD !!!
Been using them for 50+ years now

X 2

Nothing more to be said.

 

[6gun]

I can't add much except to say that there are some bottleneck carbide dies,,, but they are seriously expensive!
I do not own any straight walled non-carbide dies.

I know they make carbide neck sizers for bottle necked cases, after reading your post I looked at Dillions site they show carbide dies for 223 Rem. and say they are full length sizing dies, but say lubing is still required so that defeats the purpose and don't justifie the expence for my use.

If anyone makes a lube free 223 Rem. or other bottle neck sizer dies I would like to know about them, I load lots of 223 and 30-30 it would be a big time saver and well worth paying a high price.

 

[Divernhunter]

Just buy them. You will regret it if you do not.

 

[gmartinnc]

I can't add much except to say that there are some bottleneck carbide dies,,, but they are seriously expensive!
I do not own any straight walled non-carbide dies.

I know they make carbide neck sizers for bottle necked cases, after reading your post I looked at Dillions site they show carbide dies for 223 Rem. and say they are full length sizing dies, but say lubing is still required so that defeats the purpose and don't justifie the expence for my use.

If anyone makes a lube free 223 Rem. or other bottle neck sizer dies I would like to know about them, I load lots of 223 and 30-30 it would be a big time saver and well worth paying a high price.

These only have a carbide expander in them so lubing inside the neck can be avoided.
The part of the die that re sizes the case is a regular die, so it still has to be lubed.

 

[6gun]

I can't add much except to say that there are some bottleneck carbide dies,,, but they are seriously expensive!
I do not own any straight walled non-carbide dies.

I know they make carbide neck sizers for bottle necked cases, after reading your post I looked at Dillions site they show carbide dies for 223 Rem. and say they are full length sizing dies, but say lubing is still required so that defeats the purpose and don't justifie the expence for my use.

If anyone makes a lube free 223 Rem. or other bottle neck sizer dies I would like to know about them, I load lots of 223 and 30-30 it would be a big time saver and well worth paying a high price.

These only have a carbide expander in them so lubing inside the neck can be avoided.
The part of the die that re sizes the case is a regular die, so it still has to be lubed.

Yeah thats what I figured, wasn't sure.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Well,
I use Dillon Case Lube on everything from 45-70 to 32s. Dillon recommends it even with carbide dies and a Dillon 650. Yes it does make loading easier. Simple to do. Put the brass in a box spry on lube and hand tumble and no need to wipe off. One bottle goes a long way.
Some of my dies are steel some carbide can't tell the difference with the lube.
Also I have been told/read. Do not tumble after loading because it can break down the powder size which changes the pressure of the powder.????

 

[willk]

Lubing cases is not such a problem, it just takes a bit more time. Of course it is still required on bottle necked cases both outside the case and inside the cases neck. Yes you do have to lube it before hand and wipe it off afterwards, but it is doable. I much prefer the RCBS lube pad and lubes. Those lubes are water based, wash right off and after a good handcleaning you can take your contacts out.

The spray on lubes never seemed to work that well for me, made a total mess of the loading blocks and of course, one does not know real pain until you have removed contacts after using the spray on lube or after you have eaten well seasoned crawfish.

NOW, with straight walled cases such as most handgun cartridges, carbide sizing dies rank right up there with sliced bread. Just don't drop them. Extra cost is negligible considering the lifetime of the dies.

 

[Rodfac]

I've used them since the late 60's when they first came out. Wouldn't use anything else for straight walled cartridges. Best Regards, Rod

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

My bottleneck dies are all "steel" and REQUIRE lubing.

My straight wall dies are all carbide, and, while they don't require lubing, a spot of lube on every 5th or 10th case certainly makes the job go FAR easier. You won't hurt anything by taking Wil's approach and lubing every case, but let's just say most of us aren't quite as deep into the loading game as he is... so I'd suggest you try a few approaches, find what works for you, and go from there!

Rick C

 

[6gun]

No lube on any cabide dies works for me, I didn't pay the price of carbide to lube, it's a waste of time and money, if I wanted easy I would buy factory ammo.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

No lube on any cabide dies works for me, I didn't pay the price of carbide to lube, it's a waste of time and money, if I wanted easy I would buy factory ammo.

Guess you don't use a Dillon 650 that loads 800 per Hr. with lube :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

 

[6gun]

No lube on any cabide dies works for me, I didn't pay the price of carbide to lube, it's a waste of time and money, if I wanted easy I would buy factory ammo.

Guess you don't use a Dillon 650 that loads 800 per Hr. with lube :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

Nope, my Orange crusher only does 100 per hour give or take depending on how tired I get :lol:

A Dillion 650 is a horse I can't afford to feed and over kill for my shooting needs.

 

[RSIno1]

Don't know if it's an old wives tale. Heard you shouldn't resize chromed cases as it's hard and can scratch the die.

 

[6gun]

Don't know if it's an old wives tale. Heard you shouldn't resize chromed cases as it's hard and can scratch the die.

It's nickel plating on the case's not chrome, nickel is a soft metal, I use lots of nickel plated brass have never scratched a die yet in all my years resizing them, you'll wear the plating off the case's before you hurt the die.

 

[WIL TERRY]

DO NOT FL size nickle cases in a steel die or you will see a die ruined by being scratched all to heck and gone.

 

[foxtrapper]

LUBING CASES IS NOT---NOT!!!---A PITA !!! As a matter of fact I do lube brass going through the carbide dies as it cuts the work load pressures by right around 75%; NO FOOLING !!
The brass is then tumbled a second time to clean it again and for final inspection. NO ammunition in ANY ammunition company EVER goes through the process unlubricated.

Same here

 

[tom black]

I love mine followed closely by the Lee factory crimp dies.
Tom Black
Cantucky