JC49ae Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Was wondering if the carbide RCBS are just fine in a 650. How about standard RCBS dies in a 650? Has anyone had any problems or pros/cons to this set up compared to to other mfr's carbide dies? Any input is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braxton1 Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 Standard dies? With the caveat "if you use a good case lube", SURE! The RCBS carbide dies will work also, within limitations. The disadvantage of using standard manufacturers dies in a progressive machine is that the mouth of the die is not radiused much on the offerings from RCBS, Lee, Lyman, etc. Dillon's dies are radiused to allow a slightly off-kilter case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow patrol Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 I had Redding dies before buying my 650, so all of my tool heads are filled with Redding carbide dies (.40 S&W, .223, and .357 Mag). I've never had any die related problems loading with them. I did however have to buy a few 5-packs of Dillon lock rings for the Redding die sets. Nowhere near enough room to tighten up the Redding lock rings with the dies in the Dillon tool head. You'll run into the same lock ring issue with the RCBS dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misterbrooks Posted February 11, 2012 Share Posted February 11, 2012 I have all my tool stands set up with Dillon Decap / Size Die, Dillon Powder Drop, Redding precision Bullet Seater and finish each using a Lee Factory Crimp Sizing Die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 When I got my first Dillon just a few short years ago I went with all Dillon dies. I have since learned there are better options in other die brands depending on your needs. I now use EGW Udie and Redding seater dies with my Dillon crimp die being the loan holdout. If you take the time to align the dies properly at set up they will run just as fast and problem free as the Dillon widemouth dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC49ae Posted February 12, 2012 Author Share Posted February 12, 2012 Okay great input. Thanks. I was wanting to reload some .50AE on a soon to be purchased 550 or 650. I found some RCBS dies locally for .50AE but didn't want to take the plunge if there would be major issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braxton1 Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I think that the Dillon Powder Drop die will be an issue with .50AE. They sell a Magnum Powder Die that has an opening big enough for the large calibers and I think you're gonna need that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalaur Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 One of the big things with using other manufacturers dies in a dillon, its not really worth it if you buy the 'sets' of dies. Other manufacturers sets are generally 3 die sets, size/deprime, flare, and bullet seat/crimp. You wont use the flare die, and you should seat and crimp in separate steps. Dillon die sets you get size/deprime, bullet seat, and separate crimp die. Flaring/expanding is done at the powder drop station. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Standard dies? With the caveat "if you use a good case lube", SURE! The RCBS carbide dies will work also, within limitations. The disadvantage of using standard manufacturers dies in a progressive machine is that the mouth of the die is not radiused much on the offerings from RCBS, Lee, Lyman, etc. Dillon's dies are radiused to allow a slightly off-kilter case. One of the big things with using other manufacturers dies in a dillon, its not really worth it if you buy the 'sets' of dies. Other manufacturers sets are generally 3 die sets, size/deprime, flare, and bullet seat/crimp. You wont use the flare die, and you should seat and crimp in separate steps. Dillon die sets you get size/deprime, bullet seat, and separate crimp die. Flaring/expanding is done at the powder drop station. IMO those two post sum it up. The RCBS dies will "work," but they won't "work as good" as the Dillon pistol dies. be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC49ae Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Thanks for all the info. I'm assuming that Dillon does not make .50AE dies, so I'm stuck with another mfr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Thanks for all the info. I'm assuming that Dillon does not make .50AE dies, so I'm stuck with another mfr. Dillon sells RCBS dies for that caliber: RCBS 50 AE 3-Die Set, Steel, Steel 49.95 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC49ae Posted February 17, 2012 Author Share Posted February 17, 2012 (edited) Thanks for all the info. I'm assuming that Dillon does not make .50AE dies, so I'm stuck with another mfr. Dillon sells RCBS dies for that caliber: RCBS 50 AE 3-Die Set, Steel, Steel 49.95 Are these dies specially made for Dillon machines by RCBS for that calibre, or are they just RCBS dies for .50AE? The product description on the Dillon link says "RCBS .50 AE Custom Die Set" Custom leads me to believe that they are different RCBS dies made for Dillon. Edited February 17, 2012 by JC49ae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow patrol Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 One of the big things with using other manufacturers dies in a dillon, its not really worth it if you buy the 'sets' of dies. Other manufacturers sets are generally 3 die sets, size/deprime, flare, and bullet seat/crimp. You wont use the flare die, and you should seat and crimp in separate steps. Dillon die sets you get size/deprime, bullet seat, and separate crimp die. Flaring/expanding is done at the powder drop station. Redding sells handgun die sets for progressive machines. Knowing that the flare is done by the powder measure station, they omit the expander die, and you get a sizing die, seating die, and taper crimp die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 Thanks for all the info. I'm assuming that Dillon does not make .50AE dies, so I'm stuck with another mfr. Dillon sells RCBS dies for that caliber: RCBS 50 AE 3-Die Set, Steel, Steel 49.95 are they just RCBS dies for .50AE? Yes. There's nothing "custom" about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngeyes Posted February 17, 2012 Share Posted February 17, 2012 I have just had a great deal of experience(not all good) with loading 50AE. The sizing die is steel. NOONE makes a carbide die. You cannot use a die for a 500S&W. That being said, you need to lubricate. I tried my favorite Hornady one shot and had a stuck case. The RCBS die doesn't size as tight as the Lee die. The Lee is on it's way back with the stuck case. I've started to use lube pads. Also, be very carefull when crimping. Too much and the bullet can be easily pushed back in the case. I purchased a second die to use as an exclusive crimp die. This is what Dillon does with their dies and is another reason they have such a good product. Don't use the Speer deep curl bullets. They still try to pass them off as Gold Dot but they aren't. The profile is different and caused many FTF. I'm using Speer FMJ 300 gr. and it works well as do the HP 325GR. You will also need the larger Dillon powder die to accomodate the powder funnel. Sorry to be so long winded but it's been a long haul to get the 50AE dialed in. PM if you have any questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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