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How to Tell if a Die set is Carbide or Not

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:35 pm
by newguy
I picked up a old Lyman All-American 3 die set for 38/357 today. They don't say if they are carbide or not. I have looked online and it doesn't seem like Lyman sold a set of these that weren't. So was wondering if there a way to check other then pulling down the handle and seeing if i get a stuck case.

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:38 pm
by Mike_Diako
If you look up inside the die I believe there is a carbine ring in there. The whole die isn't made of carbide steel. There's an insert in there.

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:45 pm
by newguy
Not sure if there a ring in these unscrewed the decapping pin so i could see inside and looks like there maybe some left over case lube inside. So i think they may be steel. Hmm makes me wonder

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:17 pm
by mu2bdriver
All of my straight wall cases get a quick shot of Hornady dry lube just so that the carbide doesn't get stressed unnecessarily. I don't know if it makes much of a difference, but it doesn't take much time and the stroke seems much smoother. Here is what MD was talking about with the steel exterior and carbide insert:

Image

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 8:20 pm
by newguy
Thanks I guess mine are just straight up steel. I will just lube the cases. Your right not much of a big deal to roll them on the pad before i size them.

Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:34 am
by mu2bdriver
newguy wrote:Thanks I guess mine are just straight up steel. I will just lube the cases. Your right not much of a big deal to roll them on the pad before i size them.
I used to roll them on the pad also but one I found Hornady One Shot lube, I stopped using the old method. It's much faster, cleaner, easier to just hit it with a spray.