RCBS die users- What does your expander look like?

[stilly]

I got a .45 ACP die set and it had an expander (I THINK that was what it was) and I took a photo and sent it to the RCBS and one of their reps told me they would get me a new one. I told them that was not necessary unless something was broken or wrong.

My expander looked like it had something screwed into the middle of part that goes into the shell and expands, and it had been sheared off.

Does anyone else have an RCBS expander for .45 acp or any calibers? What do they look like? I did not understand why the little nubbin was on it so I asked.

[romukom]

I think I found your answer. See post #7. Since I am new in reloading, half the the discussion I do not understand. Sorry.

https://www.shootersforum.com/handloading-equipment/36123-die-identification-help-please.html

Edit: Apparently it is a decapper expander die combo. It looks like the threaded part where the decapping pin thread into broke off. Post #4 in the link.

[BigBronco]

Yes your expander has the decapping stud broken off. Older dies not suitable for a progressive press. these dies decapped after sizing, when flaring in the second die. If you have a carbide sizing die with a decapping pin then it is perfectly useable as is.

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

This is what it's supposed to look like.


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[stilly]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Thank you everyone.

So then it is an older die set. The guy broke off this piece prolly because he added a carbide sizer die because when I looked, I can swear that I had a decapper/resizer and there sure looked like a carbide ring inside. Okay cool. He included a plastic RCBS box too though. Or maybe he added the carbide sizer after this die tip broke off... :\

heh. People...

[fguffey]

Stilly, it goes back to the beginning before the primer punch was used on the sizing die. In the beginning the primer got punched when the case was expanded. Problem, that did not work on a progressive press. The primer is punched on station one when the ram is raised and the primer is seated on the same station when the ram is lowered.

There are a few reloaders that modify the expander/primer punch for expanding case necks when loading lead bullets. There was a time when a reloader could get one die body with different expanders. And some reloaders made their own.

F. Guffey

[stilly]

So this die set is really old and the guy updated it by buying a carbide sizer and nubbing off the nubbin.

Heh. Cool. Well I think in this case they will work for the loadmaster since they have a regular carbide sizing die. Of course if I want to load up any dardas I will need to switch to my Lee die or have RCBS make a new plug for me.

I imagine that I have a handle on it at this point. (figuratively speaking of course)