Topic: RCBS X-Dies

[Jeff]

I thought I'd pass this on.  I recently bought a .308 RCBS full length X-Die.  I've used it as a standard sizing die and of course that works fine.  But the real reason for the X-Die is to limit case stretching so you don't have to trim your brass.

The directions say to first full length size, then trim to .020 less than minimum, and then to X size.  The reason for trimming so short seems to be to reduce the chance of crushing the shoulder. 

Well, today I pulled some brass out of my tumbler and decided to run a case through without trimming .020 below minumum.  Most of the cases I measured were about 2.015.  They have been loaded before and have been trimmed a couple of times so I wasn't too worried.  The first case X sized to 2.0115.  So, did the second and third.  So did all of them.  They vary only about .0005.  In other words, between 2.011 and 2.012.  The shoulders look good and they feed fine in my rifle.

So, at least at this point it looks like I won't have to trim this batch.  I'd call that a win.

[EDGE]

Well that's cool to know.  I may have to get me one now.

[Jeff]

I tried the X-Die on some once fired (never trimmed) Lapua brass.  While the sizing looked OK i was a little concerned with crushing the shoulder. So, I ended up regular full length sizing and trimming this batch to 2.005.  I'll probably use the X-Die on all this batch next time though.

I'll be ordering an X-Die for .223 as soon as they are available (Grafs is out of stock).

[Idaho_Gun_Nut]

I thought I'd pass this on.  I recently bought a .308 RCBS full length X-Die.  I've used it as a standard sizing die and of course that works fine.  But the real reason for the X-Die is to limit case stretching so you don't have to trim your brass.

The directions say to first full length size, then trim to .020 less than minimum, and then to X size.  The reason for trimming so short seems to be to reduce the chance of crushing the shoulder. 

Well, today I pulled some brass out of my tumbler and decided to run a case through without trimming .020 below minumum.  Most of the cases I measured were about 2.015.  They have been loaded before and have been trimmed a couple of times so I wasn't too worried.  The first case X sized to 2.0115.  So, did the second and third.  So did all of them.  They vary only about .0005.  In other words, between 2.011 and 2.012.  The shoulders look good and they feed fine in my rifle.

So, at least at this point it looks like I won't have to trim this batch.  I'd call that a win.

What does the X die do to the brass that the full length sizing die doesn't?  I guess I'm confused?

[Jeff]

It's a full length sizing die with an extra part that stops the brass from being stretched.  At least that's my understanding.