Yet another Die Question

[GameHauler]

In my gathering of loading equipment i have 2 RCBS 2 die sets for 30-30W.
One of the cases has the RCBS logo molded into the box while the other has it painted on.
I am sure they are from a different era with a new bean counter.

Is there any difference in the two? is one better than the other?

How should I look at the dies to tell which is the better of the two?

 >:(Quit laughing At us nubies We are trying

[Savage]

Don't think RCBS dies have changed much since the 60s. If the old dies are not scratched or rusted on the inside, they should be just as good as the newer ones. Go aheand and order some spare depriming pins tho---------
Savage

[LaOtto222]

The printed ones are older (with a little plastic snap on the side), believe it or not. I think the newer boxes are actually better. As Savage has pointed out - If they are not scratched or rusty, either one will get the job done. I had a set of RCBS for the 44 Mag (old style box). An acquaintance had a friend pass away. He asked me if I wanted a set of 44 Mag dies, I said yes. When they showed up they were exactly like the ones I had and in good shape except in the newer style box. I ended up making a custom nose punch for one of the bullet seater dies. Now I have one bullet seater set up for cast semi-wadcutters and another for jacketed hollow points. You could use the dies that way too. Have one set up for round nose bullets and another for spitzers or hollow points or even different weight bullets. Then when you switch bullets, you do not have to reset the dies. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[wncchester]

"How should I look at the dies to tell which is the better of the two?

 >:(Quit laughing At us nubies  We are trying"

Ok, ok, now that I've got my breath back....     Actually, I understand your question but it's been maybe 35-40 years since I asked myself the same sort of question.  None of us were born knowing much about either shooting or reloading so we gotta learn.

One die set will be "better", or maybe one die out of each set will be better.  But not by much.  Both sets were made to the same SAMMI specifications, regardless of when they were made.  But, you can't tell anything about them at all by just looking.  Qualifing any differences between the dies will take both range work experimentation and some critical measurements of a good chamber cast of each die. 

And, actually, for a .30-30, it really won't make a big difference on target.  It would take a rifle and an excellant reload capabile of perhaps 3/4" or better to see any differences and few, if any, .30-30s are up to that.  That's not a slam at the reliable old deer killer at all, just a recognition of facts.  The old rounds are still excellant for their purpose but they were never intended to be precision long range rigs. 

I would want to keep the sizer with the largest chamber and the seater with the smallest chamber.  That would work the fired brass the least and seat new bullets the straightest. 

I'm sure either set will do you a fine job.

Have fun!