I have both the standard die sets and the cowboy die sets made by RCBS in 357 and 45-70. If there is a difference other than cosmetic my calipers cannot find it.
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I have both the standard die sets and the cowboy die sets made by RCBS in 357 and 45-70. If there is a difference other than cosmetic my calipers cannot find it.
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"I don't want men who miss." -Capt. Leander H. McNelly
The Cowboys dies that I own have a larger expander, and a larger seating die. The larger seater allows a larger bullet to slide up into the seating section of the die.
Most people will never find the seating die difference without a small hole gauge or a set of .001 increment pin gages.
EDG
I wanted another set of .38/357 dies anyway and since I cast my own, jumped on the Cowboy dies when I saw them in sale a year or so ago I got a set. They are very pretty and do the job as expected.
Sometimes life taps you on the shoulder and reminds you it's a one way street. Jim Morris
As stated, the RCBS "Cowboy" dies are same as the regular RCBS dies except for the expander. For example, the standard expander for a .45 Colt is ~ .495. The Cowboy expander die comes with 2 expanders. One is labeled .452, which is actually ~ .4502" and made for jacketed bullets. The other expander is labeled as .454, which is actually .4525 and made for lead bullets.
If you already have an M die (.45 Colt as an example), that will also measure ~ .495 but the larger RCBS expander will work in the M die and can be purchased for around $6.00.
If you have oversized throats and want to go to a larger expander, Buffalo Arms can make whatever size you want that will fit the M die. It is about a 4 week turn-around to order one.
If you have a Lee expander die then NOE sells the expander buttons that work in the Lee die and are in stock. Personally I much prefer the M die.
Take into account spring back on newer brass. Personally I shoot for .003 - .005 neck tension especially when using slow powder.
I have been reloading cast lead 30 years before cowboy dies came out. never had a problem. so I say just a p.r. trick.
Not really.
You can measure the dies and find definite differences. The average reloader will not care much but they are definitely different and accomadate a larger bullet in the seater that you cannot seat in the standard RCBS die. This is based on measuring multiple sets in 40-65, a set of 38-55, 32-20 and 32-40. For jacketed bullet shooters they don't do much for you.
The really can make a difference in the 38-55. Some 38-55s have .380 to .383 groove diameters and the larger bullets required will not fit in a standard seater die.
EDG
^^^ Yes, the seaters and expanders are for cast bullets
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |