Pit Bull Tex Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) Is one shell holder better than the other?I know I need one that fits the press but some say they will fit different presses.I have a Lee box of shell holder but it did not come with one that fits 44-40 . Edited December 12, 2016 by Pit Bull Tex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 You have to have the one that fits the cartridge. The shell holder ensure the cartridge is properly centered to the die. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pit Bull Tex Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 There are at least 3 different #s. Lee-#14-----Rcbs- #35--- Lyman-#14B was wondering if one was better than the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunger Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I normally have the brand of shell holder that matches my die set. I'm not sure this is necessary, but I know its gonna work out right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackson Rose, SASS #45478 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Years ago, RCBS, Lyman, Lee and others standardized shell holders. I find that all of mine from the 3 mentioned brands all work in my old Lyman press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assassin Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Do you have on that fits 45Colt or 38-40? They are the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan Disorderly Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I use the shell holder that is for the press and cartridge..so lee shell holder on a lee press, dillon on a dillon...never had one break or wear out so can't say any one brand of shellholder is any different than any other. Â i use lee dies in a dillon 650 because i had the dies from my loadmaster..i make accurate ammo and have no issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Years ago, RCBS, Lyman, Lee and others standardized shell holders. I find that all of mine from the 3 mentioned brands all work in my old Lyman press. +10 Â Except for the manufacturers marks you probably cannot tell the difference between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pit Bull Tex Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 My Lee chart in the box say #11 or #14 for 45 colt.The #11 will not work with 44-40.I am guessing that the 38-40 will fit the #11 or the #14 but don't have a 38-40 to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widder, SASS #59054 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) Howdy Pit. Â If you are wanting a shell holder to use with the LEE hand primer, then NO, they are not the same, unless Lee has changed their design. Â BUT, if you are wanting a shell holder to use with a reloading press, the appropriate shell holder for that caliber is 'BASICALLY' the same. Â The reason I say 'Basically' is because some shell holders might set your cartridge higher/lower than another shell holder. In other words, if you set your die up for a particular bullet seating depth OR crimp using a particular brand of shell holder, switching brands of shell holder could possibly change the bullet seating depth and crimp by a few thousandths. Maybe not enough to make much difference but still something to consider. Â Hope I explained this well enough. Â MERRY CHRISTMAS Â Â ..........Widder Edited December 12, 2016 by Widowmaker Hill SASS #59054 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunger Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Its a lee 14, or rcbs 35 according to crossreferance chart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunger Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 The final option I found was a lyman 14b, if you have any Lyman shell holders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie Dawg, SASS #50329 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Pit Bull: Lee #14 for 44-40 & 38-40, Lee #11 for 45 Colt is what I have used for the last 15 years --Dawg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I have shell-holders from Lyman, RCBS, Lee, Pacific & Redding... all fit my RCBS Rockchucker. and yes, it does get confusing sometimes as to which fits what case. In addition, some brands are held to tighter tolerances than others... the only explanation I can come up with as to why my .40-90SBN from Bertram won't fit in my Pacific #14 shell-holder, but does fit my RCBS #14. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Rich Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 38-40 and 44-40 use a Lee #14. 45 Colt will use a #11 or a #14. It will be a little loose in a #14. 38-40 and 44-40 will not work in a #11. kR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackey Cole Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 I'm thinking that they might be a difference in the thickness of the holder not much but some so some size the brass further down than others iirc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yusta B. Posted December 14, 2016 Share Posted December 14, 2016 I learned the importance of always using the exact shell holder that was used to setup the reloading dies. In other words don't setup your dies with a shell holder & expect to get the same seating depth, etc. with different brand shell holders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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