Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: MtnMuley on August 12, 2009, 11:08:33 AM
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I recently purchased the new RCBS "X" Die set. I chose this die set to save the step of having to size my cases. Apparently, in the same motion as I pop the primer in my press, it sizes the case. Hence, saving the step of using the case trimmer. Seemed to work okay. I was wondering if anyone had ever used these before and liked or disliked them for any reason. Thanks
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I was not aware there was an instance where cases didn't need to be trimmed, especially new brass. All new bras that I have ever bought had irregularities on the case end. There is no sizer I know of that will make the neck opening a consistent even face. I'll have to check this out.
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Here is what I see,
This is what you have been waiting for! This is a single die that eliminates the need to trim. RCBS X DIE limits the growth of overall length of your cases. This is a real plus to the reloader with progressive machines. It is a full-length sizing die and more. Just size your cases and trim them all to the same length. From that point on, your cases will stop “growing”.
Yes a full length sizing die will eliminate repeated trimming but you still have to trim them at least once.
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I don't see how that can possibly work unless you Cerosafe your gun chamber and set the die to that particular chamber dimmension. A case stretches in the chamber, then you resize it. This die keeps from allowing brass buildup in the neck. OK, great, but this will not 'eliminate' trimming. Significantly reduce, but no eliminate.
I also like to use my trimmer to square the case face. -Then use the RCBS case guage measuring tool to check runnout of the case at the shoulder and neck.
Cases also become more britle over time with too many reloadings. I use the fact that a case has gotten too short to be a guage of when to toss it if there are no other indicators of failure.
The concept of the X-die is cool, but I won't be running out to buy any any time soon. -Maybe for a new caliber I pick up, but not to replace what I have for reloading dies right now.
Apparently, in the same motion as I pop the primer in my press, it sizes the case.
Uh, almost all sizing dies have a decapping pin in them. This is nothing new.
-Steve
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Thanks for the info. I bought this die for a new gun I'm reloading and thought for a few more bucks I'd give the "X" die a shot. Also, I was referring to the case being sized (and whatever kind of 'trimming' the die does) during the decapping process, not that there was a decapper in my die.
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Personally, if you bought a die for that one gun, then a neck sizing die is the way to go. When you fire a cartridge, the case expands to fill the chamber. This is called 'Fireforming'. If you keep all the brass 'just for that rifle' and reload them, you're actually making the potential most accurate rounds for it. And, you won't be full length resizing moving all that brass back to ansi spec every time you reload. You'll end up with much less case stretch when only neck sizing, thus you need to trim less often.
I am curious what RCBS has to say about the comparison of only neck sizing to this new X-die.
-Steve
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Everyone I know that has used the X dies love them to death. I am considering some for one of my rifles as soon as I can afford them.
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Thanks for the info. I'm not a great reloader yet, but try to be absolutely perfect on every round I produce. It sounds like I should have went with the neck die.
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Neck dies are always the way to go if you are loading for one rifle only. Less stress on the brass, so it lasts longer. Less lube on the case as well.
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A statement was made about trimming with this die,you still trim to recomended length,then set the die after you have trimmed,i have neck dies for everything plus x die, i use neck die and then go to x die when cases get to tight to chamber.
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I think it is what you are shooting. If you like to go out and fire a few hundred rounds, then you want to reload as fast as possible. I have been reloading for over 40 years. I like to make each and every case the same and spend extra time in doing so. I decap, tumble, resize and trim each case. I add the primer, then add powder grain by tenth of a grain. I check the overall length of each and every cartridge.
Having said that, it all comes down to confidence in your reload. I saw my moose 30 minutes before the season end for my one chance in a life time. I had 30 seconds to shoot 300 yards at my 160 class bighorn sheep. The next largest sheep, a 140 class was taken the next day by the other permit holder. My 28" mule deer only gave me seconds to shoot.
These were all one shot kills and I would not have had a second shot.
The bottom line is as long as you have confidence in your reloads, do what you think is best.
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Be careful with neck sizing only. You will eventually need to full length size or partially full length size. A factory chamber is not perfectly round. This is where you will run into problems. You want that body of the brass to fit in the chamber with little or no slop. Once you get to a point where the bolt is hard to close you want to partial or full length size.
Furthermore. When hunting in the field, take ammo that has one fireforming on it with a neck size. That will reduce the odds of getting a stuck case.
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I use small base X-dies for my M1A .308. All cases intended for autoloaders should be full length sized, so the X-die is able to do that (while the small base feature squeezes them a little more for an additional safety margin against slamfires) and reduce the trimming. As stated, you do need to initially trim them. I believe RCBS recommends .020" under max case length for that first trimming.
