Old set of RCBS 357 mag dies?

[Tom-ADC]

I bought some stuff at a estate sale, included was a set of RCBS dies 357 mag I Think they are from 1974, the size die has a 74 stamped on it but how do I tell if its carbide or not, don't see a marking carbo and not sure if I see the carbide ring or not (old eyes).
Any other marking that might give a hint?
Thanks Tom

[Hickory]

Pass your finger nail on the base of the sizer die you can feel the sizer ring if its there.

[Tom-ADC]

Can't feel a thing and when I use a magnifying glass I pretty sure these aren't carbide.

[W.R.Buchanan]

It probably isn't a Carbide Die. If it's a three die set, it will usually have a Sizing Die, an Expander/Decapping Die and a Bullet Seat /Crimp Die. Things have changed since then and there are better ways to do it.

Sell them and buy a Lee Deluxe 4 die set.

Randy

[tja6435]

The steel dies I have made by RCBS in 1973 taper the case per spec when it's sized. The carbide sizing dies will size it down too much towards the base sometimes. Not using lube is nice, but I tumble my brass with cleaner wax and run them through that steel die with no prob. The mouth opening is smaller than current dies and will crush cases if attention is lacking

[Tom-ADC]

I don't need them I'm all set up on my Dillion but wanted to make sure what I had so I could offer for sale.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Sell them and buy more Dillon Stuff!

Randy

[wrench man]

I picked up a partial set CHEAP solely for the crimp die, in fact it had two seat/crimp dies in the box, so I got one each for my 38Spl and 357 dies sets.

[Ole Joe Clarke]

Since I'm about half blind, I take a paper clip and bend one end of the wire to about a 90° angle. I use it to determine if it is carbide, because the carbide is only about 1/4" wide and small in diameter that the inside diameter of the body of the die. The wire will hang on the inside edge of the carbide ring.

[Mica_Hiebert]

I have an old set and they will not crimp 38 special had to get a separate crimp die for 38s