I just ordered a Lee Deluxe Turret Press and already have 4 die sets. I have the dies for 30-06, .243, .357/38, and 9mm para. The die sets are RCBS, 2 regular and 2 carbide. I have been told that these will work with a Lee press.

When looking at Lee die sets, I noticed that many of them come with 4 components while the RCBS die set only comes with 3. I am thinking the RCBS sets dont have a factory crimp?

Have I messed up big time here? I am totally inexperienced and am having a hard time just getting stuff together.

I feel like I have just made a $150 mistake. I also have the shell holder set which is the LEE brand.

Thanks for any help.

With all of that being said, if anyone has equipment that would be good for a beginner, I would be glad to hear about it.

This is more for a hobby for my Dad...he thinks we will save money, but we probably shoot less than 50 rds a month between us.

Thanks again.

James.

Purchase a good reloading manual. Read it, from the front page to the end of the "Getting started" section, twice. Your questions will have been answered.

Hey James,
Once you get rolling with your reloader, You will be burning up 4 or 5 times as much ammo as you do now.
And having a lot of fun developing loads to boot.

Yes, a good manual or two is a must. No matter how experianced you are.

Cheers, John

Only lee has a factory crimp i dont think you will need one. some manufacturers have a crimp inside the seating die.

quote:

Originally posted by Nordic2:
Only lee has a factory crimp i dont think you will need one. some manufacturers have a crimp inside the seating die.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate this. It is hard to ask questions because so many answers come from people who think I have not used resources wisely. The reason I haven't ordered a manual as of yet is because the 2012 edition of Midway's reloading manual will not be available for purchase until mid January. At the moment I am just piecing materials together.

Getchu a Lyman's manual. It's got clear intro to reloading info and a wealth of reloading data. Actually, the intro to reloading sections of the books change very little so if you can get your hands on a book even if it's a couple of years (or more) out of date, it'll still help you understand the process.

quote:

When looking at Lee die sets, I noticed that many of them come with 4 components while the RCBS die set only comes with 3. I am thinking the RCBS sets dont have a factory crimp?

Correct, as others have said, I have RCBS dies for my 6mm Remington, 270 WCF and 280 Remington. These are two set dies. So I bought Lee Factory Crimp dies also.

Do you need in these and other rifle cartridges a "factory crimp"? Ah! Now that's a debate and discussion in itself. Some do, some don't but if you are going to crimp on a rifle then Lee's Factory Crimp is the best.

For the 9mm Para, just to complicate things you will normally have an extra die. Your third die will just be used to seat the bullet to the correct overall length BUT NO CRIMP. The extra die will be a Taper Crimp Die (often once called "coning" by us Brits) that puts a gentle taper on the case.

So preserving the sharp square end of the case front (the cartridge in a 9mm spaces off that) yet at the same time putting some tension on the bullet so that it stays put at the overall length you seated it at in the seating die.

I'll second (or third) saying by the Lyman 49th Edition reloading manual.
Your RCBS seating dies can be set to crimp or not, as you desire. Usually it is only bullets with a cannelure that are crimped by this method.
I have Lee Factory Crimp Dies & use them pretty much all the time but this is a step you can miss out most of the time, especially when just starting out.

Thanks for the input everyone. I ordered a press this morning and it is being sent to my parents' house. I hope to just begin reloading over Christmas break, starting off very slow. My first loads will definitely be for 9mm just to figure out the process. I will start with a medium load and probably scale down to lighter target loads.

ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! If you are just starting reloading, get the Lyman manual and use nothing else for thhe next one year. Jus read the Lyman manual again & again. You need to undrstand nhow pressure works and understand the relationship between brass, primer, bullet & powder charge before you start experimenting too much. The Lyman manual has pressure test infor which is priceless.

I would also strongly suggest you buy a Chronograph. A basic Shooting Chrony will do.

Be safe & have fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Oddbod:
I'll second (or third) saying by the Lyman 49th Edition reloading manual.
Your RCBS seating dies can be set to crimp or not, as you desire. Usually it is only bullets with a cannelure that are crimped by this method.
I have Lee Factory Crimp Dies & use them pretty much all the time but this is a step you can miss out most of the time, especially when just starting out.

You can crimp with RCBS dies too. Just read the instructions. But FWIW I dont crimp any of my loads except for my cast bullet loads.

It is most important to crimp when you use a tubular magazine like with a lever action or with weapons that produce very high recoil. Otherwise it isnt nesessary.