RCBS 38/357 COWBOY DIES ARE CUTTING LRN

[Shifty Bob 4]

Hi I have a set of RCBS 38/357 COWBOY DIES. The seater stem works fine with 125gr TCFP bullets buts scores 158gr RN. The stem cuts a ring in to the RN. Has anyone else had this situation?

[Griff 746]

Yes, the seater stem simply has the wrong shape to it.  Either buy one made for RN, or modify the one you have.  JB Weld works great.

[Red Cent 400]

 

 

At our distance to targets, you really shouldn't worry about it. 

[Tyrel Cody 2,000]

I'm with Red Cent...

 

 

But, if you're using those RN's in a levergun, you probably shouldn't.

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L 1,180]

some folks use hot glue to make a new shape in the seater. 

 

put a 'perfect' cartridge in the seating station.  Smear the bullet with some grease, oil, plastic wrap--something to keep the hot glue from sticking.

 

put a dab of hot glue in the seater stem where it meets the bullet

 

allow to bullet to come up to the hot glue and sit--usually the pressure of the handle is enough

 

after a couple of minutes you should have a mirrror image of the bullet on the stem and a bit of trimming, if needed, is all that you need to do from there.

 

with hot glue you can always go back and it only takes a couple of minutes to do.

 

I live with the ring on mine

 

see next post for another way to go

 

 

[Cheyenne Ranger, 48747L 1,180]

I have also chucked the stem in a drill press and used finer and finer grades of garent/wet & dry paper to flare out the edges of the stem.  I usually do this in multiple steps ass in sand and try, etc.

 

I understand some use a dremel tool while the drill press is running but I don't have any first-hand experience with that method

 

good luck

[Shifty Bob 4]

thanks. wasn't sure if I was missing something. RCBS says they can make a stem to fit. I sent them 3 bullets and will see what they return. I will post my results.

 

and yes close range this isn't an issue. I would just like the bullets to be seated without the cuts. I do reload rifles for distance and this goes against the grain.

 

thanks for the feedback

[Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219 9]

ARE you using a true Round Nose bullet, or the Round nose Flat Point bullet in common use?  I noted the same problem with the RNFP ; took to using the semiwadcutter  seating stem . Worked fine.  Would not help with true round nose bullets, obviously.

[Shifty Bob 4]

You are correct it is a RNFP

[Walks Fletcher SASS#375 5]

Call RCBS, ask for a RN seating stem. They'll send it to you free

[Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219 9]

Shifty- try the flat semi-wadcutter/wadcutter seating stem. Worked fine for me with the RNFP bullet I used in my .38 lever actions. the only contact is the flat face of the seater to the flat point ( hah!) of the bullet nose.

 

 

Edited May 26 by Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219
additional clarification

[Shifty Bob 4]

On 5/26/2019 at 12:47 AM, Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219 said:

Shifty- try the flat semi-wadcutter/wadcutter seating stem. Worked fine for me with the RNFP bullet I used in my .38 lever actions. the only contact is the flat face of the seater to the flat point ( hah!) of the bullet nose.

 

 

Is that a special order or is it available on line somewhere?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz 4,144]

13 hours ago, Shifty Bob said:

Is that a special order or is it available on line somewhere?

Call RCBS and ask'em.........

OLG

[Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219 9]

2 hours ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Call RCBS and ask'em.........

OLG

 Definitely!  The standard and carbide dies sets all come with the two seating stems, one for round nose, and one for flat nose such as semiwadcutter , wadcutter, and RNFP.  Should be the same thread for all their current production dies.

 

 

Edited June 1 by Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219

[Shifty Bob 4]

I sent them bullets to make one or supply one that fits.

 

(Cowboy dies only come with one seating stem)

 

Thanks

[Shifty Bob 4]

Only because I bought these RCBS Cowboy dies am I doing this. I should have bought Dillon like my other calibers. Dillon are really the best for handgun calibers in my opinion.

 

I like the 357 cases better than 38 because the bullet is seated deeper on the 357. Makes for a cleaner crimp and just seems to work better for me getting the right OAL for the 1873. Again just my personal choice.

Edited June 3 by Shifty Bob
adding info

[The Original Lumpy Gritz 4,144]

You should seat and crimp in 2 separate operations.

Both calibers, you should seat to the crimp groove, if you have one.

OLG

[Shifty Bob 4]

On 6/3/2019 at 10:19 AM, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

You should seat and crimp in 2 separate operations.

Both calibers, you should seat to the crimp groove, if you have one.

OLG

I agree. Only the RCBS die set has only 3 dies. Size/Decap, Expand, Seat/Crimp.

 

I ordered some more Dillon dies.

[Stony Lane 21]

As Walks Fletcher said, if you will call RCBS you will have one in no time at no cost 

Edited June 8 by Stony Lane
left out word

[Boggus Deal #64218 145]

On 6/3/2019 at 6:29 AM, Shifty Bob said:

Dillon are really the best for handgun calibers in my opinion.

 

 

Try Redding.