Vintage RCBS dies--were die bodies for the decap/bell die made of aluminum?

[15meter]

As the title states, were there vintage RCBS dies with the die bodies for the decap/bell die made of aluminum?

I recently bought a whole batch of reloading stuff, included were ~two dozen die sets, some going back into the sixties.

In the mix are 2 sets of 30 Carbine dies. The first die is steel, size only, no way to have a de-capper installed on the die.

Second die is an aluminum body with a de-prime/bell plug in it that says RCBS 30 Cal. stamped on the top of the steel threaded de-prime/bell plug.

Third die appears to be a standard steel seater die.

Loaded up a handful of 30 carbine loads this evening just to try it out. Appears to function just fine.

Aluminum body? New one on me.

[j4570]

Yes. Some of them were. The first one is just a smooth hole in the sized right? I have 44 mag set like that

[rbuck351]

Yep early ones were like that. My first press ( about 1968) was a RCBS reloader special with dies in 38spl for $29. #1 die was sizer only #2 an aluminum body with deprimer and expander and #3 was seater crimper. Still have that set but don't use it any more.

[ReloaderFred]

I still have several sets like that. The sizer and seater dies probably have a two digit number on them, indicating the year of manufacture.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[EDG]

I bought a set of 44 Mag dies in about 1970 and they were all steel but I have seen many pistol die sets with the aluminium expander die body.

[lightman]

Thats a new one on me. But I traded most of my older RCBS dies off when I got my first Dillon. The older dies had a more square mouth, where the newer ones had more radius, making it easier to load on a progressive press.

[mdi]

Wow, ya learn something every day. I started reloading in '69, stopped in '75 because of a messy divorce and sold my reloading stuff for food, and started again in the early eighties. First I've heard of an aluminum body die. I wonder how much reloading stuff there is out there I've not heard of...

[Pressman]

Wow, ya learn something every day. I wonder how much reloading stuff there is out there I've not heard of...

MDI, I keep asking myself the same question. Seems like there is always something new and often unidentified turning up.

[Bazoo]

I've not heard of it till now. Like to see some pictures of them.

[David2011]

I have at least one; not readily available right now because it’s still packed from moving or I would post a picture.

[15meter]

Finally got around to taking a photo:

Attachment 249914

Steel sizer die on the left, smooth through hole, no threads for a de-capping stem. Center is the aluminum body that has the thread in de-cap/bell assembly next to it. Right is what appears to be very similar to today's steel seater die.

Used this set yesterday to load ~100 30 carbine rounds, worked great. Problem is now I have 4 30 carbine die sets. I see a S&S ad in my future

[KenT7021]

There is currently a set of those dies in 30 carbine on EBay.

[Bazoo]

That is real neat. Thank you for going to the trouble to post a picture.

[15meter]

As I stated in a different thread about old dies, I think this may actually be a better design. If you get a stuck case while resizing it is simply a matter of sliding a punch through the hole and tapping it out. The belling/deprime is done on the second die. It is clearly the better way to go on straight wall cartridges.

Wonder why they changed, on a three die set I don't see a cost advantage, should be less expensive.

But most bean counters have confused me

[mortyg]

The ones that I have from the sixties are all steel. I have never seen Aluminum ones. Neat