Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

[ColColt]

I'm having a problem with some Cowboy dies in 38-55. During the expanding process I'm getting a bulge on one side of the case. The dies came with a .375" and .377" expander and it does it with both. The brass is Winchester...all I could find. I rotated the shell holder 180 degrees and got the bulge on the opposite side. I don't know what that tells you but that's what happened. This is with an RCBS #2 shell holder which is the right one for this caliber. i even tried another press and got the same results. Any ideas?

[Chuck 100 yd]

Asuming the die is centered over the shell holder and the press is accurate, a case will expand more on the thin side and very little on the thicker side. a very accurate tube mike will tell you how to predict which side the bulge will be on. Also your re sizer die may be taking the case down far beyond the size needed.
Several things to check there.
I have a set of RCBS .38-55 Cowboy dies and they work great. Give RCBS a call. They give great customer service. They will take care of the issue.

[Shasta]

It's possible the expander plug is not centered in the die. With the die screwed into the press, loosen the locking nut on top of the die so the expander plug is loose in its threads, put a case into the shell holder and run it up into the die. Leaving the press handle down, tighten the expander's locking nut. That hopefully will at least square the expander plug to the brass. If that doesn't help, try another shell holder. If all else fails, call RCBS. They back their stuff 100%, even if you are not the original purchaser. I bet they would be willing to exchange the die for you if it proves defective.

SHASTA

[AJMD429]

Someone will come along who actually knows what they are talking about (unlike me ), but in the meantime, might some extra 'lube' be of help...???

[Blaine]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

[ColColt]

I've written RCBS two days ago and haven't hear anything back. Looks like I'll have to call instead. I did try running a case up in the die with the expander nut loose, ram arm down and then tighten the nut...did no good. Still bulging on one side. I have tried two shell holders and two different presses to no avail.

I just tried a bit more lube and no change.

[Thunder50]

I find I have the same problem with some 30-30 cowboy dies. It seems that it sized the case mouth down quite a bit, about .006" more than my lee dies.

try backing off the size die so you don't size the case mouth down so much and see what happens

[ColColt]

These are new cases and not run though the size die. I've loaded lot of 45-70 cases which are straight wall like these and never had this problem with them.

[El Chivo]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

My first thought also - I guess we think alike.

Never been so frightened in my life.

[Borregos]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

My first thought also - I guess we think alike.

Never been so frightened in my life.

Add me to the list

[Old Savage]

And here I thought what problem could a dead cowboy cause?

[Eye-Bite!]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

Eye-Agree! That's Funny!

[Griff]

Blaine, that was funny, but not helpful...

The only "Cowboy" dies I have are the 12ga set... er, die, as it uses different inserts to perform the different functions of reloading the brass shotshell. So, I have to ask, "what is the difference between their regular 3-die set for a MSRP or $62.95 and the "Cowboy" 3-die set for MSRP of $69.95?"

I tried looking at their website, and they don't say... or at least I didn't find it. Since I don't have any of their "Cowboy" die sets and don't, from the looks of things, see any increased functionality over their regular die sets. The .30-30 Cowboy set for instance, is a 3-die set, while their regular dies is a 2-die set like their other bottleneck sets. I'm left to assume that the extra die will bell the case mouth for lead bullets.

Let me phrase it this way, I'm not sure you always get more value when you spend more. I remember when they introduced the "Cowboy" dies, but I already had all the dies for "cowboy shootin'" I needed, so I pretty much ignored the sales pitches.

IMO, there are only 4 causes for your expander to bell, er, expand your case on one side; the 1st 3 that come to mind are that the shell holder, the die or the press ram are off-center from each other. The 4th would be the case rims are not square to the centerline of the case. By trying different shell holders & presses, I would think you'd have eliminated those two as the possible source. Thereby leaving the die itself and the cases as potential suspects. To eliminate the die, either try an expander die from another known good set, or get out the full kit of measuring devices. I would first take a look at the expander plug with a dial indicator and see if there's some run-out on it. One of the machinist types should be able to chime in and tell you exactly how to do this... I'm far to "shade-tree" to try!

[Old Savage]

It the die out of round?

[ColColt]

The Cowboy dies are primarily for those who want to use cast bullets. These come with two expander plugs, one .375" and the other .377"...think I mentioned that before. Some bores are .375 while others are larger in this caliber.

I've tried different presses, different shell holders, including a new #2 RCBS which is the one for this caliber, I've tried both expander plugs and still get the same results. I've also tried a different lot of brass. I've written RCBS but it appears I'll have to call them today since they haven't responded. Something's out of whack and I can't find the problem. I can't measure run out of the plug as I don't have that kind of equipment.

[gak]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

My first thought also - I guess we think alike.

Never been so frightened in my life.

Add me to the list

And here I thought what problem could a dead cowboy cause?

+1 same here!

[J35]

You might try tweaking or removing the snap ring that holds the shell holder in the press ram so the shell holder can float most are much to tight and automatically force the case off center.

Also make certain the case is not binding in the shell holder and the shell holder recess is clean and lubricated.

---J

[Steelbanger]

ColColt,

PM your address to me and I'll send you a copy of the instruction sheet that Mid-Kansas Bullets provided with their 38-55 bullets. It is the most factual information I have ever found for the 38-55. They describe the bulge as like a catfish belly.

I would scan and attach it but the scanner on my HP isn't working. If you've got a scanner you can do a favor for the rest of these interested folks and put it up for them.

[J Miller]

I thought maybe the cowboy died rustling somebodies women folk, or even worse his cattle .....

As for the actual problem my suggest was already made, contact RCBS, something don't sound right with those dies.

Joe

[awp101]

Cowboy Dies Causing Problem

I first thought of probate problems.....Who gets the horse....

My first thought also - I guess we think alike.

Never been so frightened in my life.

Add me to the list

You folks ain't right...which is why I fit right in and like y'all so much!

[Shasta]

I'm very interested to hear if you find what is causing the problem. Any word from RCBS concerning your Cowboy Dies?

SHASTA

[ColColt]

I can't seem to get notified when a new response is made to a thread so, I didn't know all these post were made. At any rate, I've conversed with RCBS via email and by phone and the last message was for me to send the die to them for analysis. They even sent me a new shell holder some days ago thinking the one I had may have been milled a little too much on one side at the bottom causing the case to set cock eyed. I tried the one they sent but got the same results as before so, that's when they recommended sending it back. It goes back to them tomorrow.

[Blaine]

I can't seem to get notified when a new response is made to a thread

I didn't know that you could do that....

[olyinaz]

I keep seeing this notice about a cowboy who died while causing a problem and it's causing ME stress! I don't ever like to hear that a cowboy has died! Enough already!!

[Blaine]

I keep seeing this notice about a cowboy who died while causing a problem and it's causing ME stress! I don't ever like to hear that a cowboy has died! Enough already!!

Don't feel bad...Evidently, on this thread, it was a comma mistake....

[olyinaz]

I keep seeing this notice about a cowboy who died while causing a problem and it's causing ME stress! I don't ever like to hear that a cowboy has died! Enough already!!

Don't feel bad...Evidently, on this thread, it was a comma mistake....

One should always be punctual to the punctuation party. After all, you can help your Uncle Jack, off his horse, or.....

[Charles]

I don't think there is any mystery here. Either the die body or the top hole in it is off center. I have had that happen once and there is no fix for it. The good news is RCBS will make it right.

[ColColt]

It's going back to RCBS in the morning. I'm sure they'll make things right.

[JimT]

More than one cowboy has died causing a problem .. and understood the possibility when it started.

[gcburt]

I'm with the group that centered on a Cowboy dying - not "dies"

[Les Staley]

So....when's the funeral? Should we all go and pay our respects?