Dies for a 40 S&W

Down South · 03-27-2007, 09:25 AM

Since I'm getting my first 40 I'll be needing dies for it. My press and most of the rest of my equipment is RCBS. What dies do you fellows think I should get? I think carbide would be best but what brand?

toolman · 03-27-2007, 10:02 AM

For handgun dies, I like Hornady. They have a floating seater that helps the bullet enter the case straighter and are just good dies in general. I've loaded thousands of rounds of .38 Super with mine and they show no signs of wear at all.

Mooseman684 · 03-27-2007, 10:10 AM

I use Lyman and RCBS Dies for all my calibers and they all seem to hold up very well and I do Thousands of rounds in both Rifle and pistol.
Rich

okami515 · 03-27-2007, 11:44 AM

Mooseman is right rcbs or lymann are great. I like the rcbs decapping die much better set up than most. I have a bunch of lee stuff also though and it works fine but would have prefered the rcbs if the pocket book would have allowed it at the time. And you are also right that carbide is the way to go.

DWARREN123 · 03-27-2007, 03:52 PM

Carbide any brand.

lefty o · 03-27-2007, 06:57 PM

definately carbide. my preference is RCBS or Redding.

Pumpkinheaver · 03-27-2007, 07:32 PM

Carbide for sure. I have dies by RCBS, Hornady and Lee. I can't tell a difference in ammo quality from any of these brands.

Down South · 03-28-2007, 08:12 AM

Has anyone tried the carbide 4-die Lee set?

robertbank · 03-28-2007, 10:25 AM

Just make sure the resizing die you choose will size to the base of the case. You are going to run into Glock shot .40cal brass with the "Glock Bulge". I use a Lee sizing die with my Dillon set. The Dillon won't get down to the bulge.

Take Care

Bob

Down South · 04-05-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robertbank

Just make sure the resizing die you choose will size to the base of the case. You are going to run into Glock shot .40cal brass with the "Glock Bulge". I use a Lee sizing die with my Dillon set. The Dillon won't get down to the bulge.

Take Care

Bob

That's interesting. I know about the Glock bulge and I would think the Dillon would get down to it. Anyway, I haven't bought my dies yet. I'm having to focus all of my funds for taxes till next week. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the Lee 4-die set.

gandog56 · 04-05-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down South

Has anyone tried the carbide 4-die Lee set?

Yep, works great, even though it does separate the bullet seating and crimping operations. And not too expensive either. I have reloaded thousands of 40 S&W's and have yet to have a failure that wasn't caused by me.

Down South · 04-08-2007, 05:36 PM

Gandog. I've been reading a lot of stuff on the dangers of loading the 40 since it's already considered a high-pressure load. It seems that the 40 has more of a chance for a KP due to lack of full case support when chambered. I was just wondering since you have loaded a lot of 40 ammo if you have had a KB. What brand/model pistol are you using? I know the Glocks have the famous bulge due to lack of case support but I'm shooting a S&W 4006. I haven't started loading the 40 yet. I'm still collecting Dies, new measure and such. Also I need a new manual. Only one of mine even list the 40 data. My other manuals are older than the S&W 40 I guess. I like to compare different manuals for any load I make then I never go max. Right now my mind is made up to use the Lee carbide 4-die set with a Lee Auto Disk powder measure. The Lee powder measure appears to be able to meter well with the small charges that a 40 case would need. Since overpressure is a major concern then consistent metering will be too. Another thing that I liked about this setup is the meter attaches to the expander die and automatically charges the case.

lefty o · 04-08-2007, 06:18 PM

ive loaded many,many thousands of rounds of 40S&W. just pay attention to what your doing, and you will have no problems.

Down South · 04-09-2007, 11:08 AM

Yup, my thoughts exactly. The 9MM is another round in the danger zone just under the 40 S&W and I've reloaded many of those with no problems.

gandog56 · 04-26-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down South

Has anyone tried the carbide 4-die Lee set?

All my die sets for pistol are the Lee 4 die sets. And I reload 10 different pistol calibers. I like Lee as they are generally cheaper than all the others and do just as good a job as them. The only thing I don't like about them is the cheesy red plastic box they come in. The plastic hinge tends to break off.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down South

Gandog. I've been reading a lot of stuff on the dangers of loading the 40 since it's already considered a high-pressure load. It seems that the 40 has more of a chance for a KP due to lack of full case support when chambered. I was just wondering since you have loaded a lot of 40 ammo if you have had a KB. What brand/model pistol are you using? I know the Glocks have the famous bulge due to lack of case support but I'm shooting a S&W 4006. I haven't started loading the 40 yet. I'm still collecting Dies, new measure and such. Also I need a new manual. Only one of mine even list the 40 data. My other manuals are older than the S&W 40 I guess. I like to compare different manuals for any load I make then I never go max. Right now my mind is made up to use the Lee carbide 4-die set with a Lee Auto Disk powder measure. The Lee powder measure appears to be able to meter well with the small charges that a 40 case would need. Since overpressure is a major concern then consistent metering will be too. Another thing that I liked about this setup is the meter attaches to the expander die and automatically charges the case.

I was reloading for a Ruger KP944DC, but traded that in and got a Sig Sauer P229 with both a .40 cal and .357 Sig barrel. The only problem I ever had was 2 squib loads, never a KB, and those were a long. long, time ago. And the squibs were from me not using the old mark one eyeball test before I seated the bullets. But Rugers are known to be tough guns. The only gun I ever hear a steady stream of KB stories is Glocks. I've also never heard one single KB story about a Sig. I think most KBs are caused by improper crimps and bullet setbacks in the mag, which can cause a BIG pressure spike. As a matter of fact,, the only gun I ever KB'ed was a Springfield Armory 1911A1 GI. Probably caused by a double charge of powder. So now I use powders that fill the case at least 1/2 way so a double charge should be obvious. It did no harm to my gun except the barrel bulged and the bottom of the mag blow out. IT actually did me a favor as I replaced the factory barrel with a Wilson Combat Match grade barrel and suddenly my groups were about 1/2 the size they with the factory barrel. I also got a Pact High Speed Powder Dispensor and digital Scale set, so I always get charges within +/- 0.1 grain.

03-27-2007, 09:25 AM	#1
Down South Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jonesville La Posts: 49	Dies for a 40 S&W Since I'm getting my first 40 I'll be needing dies for it. My press and most of the rest of my equipment is RCBS. What dies do you fellows think I should get? I think carbide would be best but what brand?

03-27-2007, 10:02 AM	#2
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,582 Blog Entries: 22	For handgun dies, I like Hornady. They have a floating seater that helps the bullet enter the case straighter and are just good dies in general. I've loaded thousands of rounds of .38 Super with mine and they show no signs of wear at all. __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

03-27-2007, 10:10 AM	#3
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness Posts: 9,691 Images: 2	I use Lyman and RCBS Dies for all my calibers and they all seem to hold up very well and I do Thousands of rounds in both Rifle and pistol. Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

03-27-2007, 03:52 PM	#5
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 774	Carbide any brand. __________________ Have a nice day!

03-27-2007, 07:32 PM	#7
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,340	Carbide for sure. I have dies by RCBS, Hornady and Lee. I can't tell a difference in ammo quality from any of these brands. __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

03-27-2007, 11:44 AM	#4
okami515 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 174	Mooseman is right rcbs or lymann are great. I like the rcbs decapping die much better set up than most. I have a bunch of lee stuff also though and it works fine but would have prefered the rcbs if the pocket book would have allowed it at the time. And you are also right that carbide is the way to go.

03-27-2007, 06:57 PM	#6
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,812	definately carbide. my preference is RCBS or Redding.

03-28-2007, 08:12 AM	#8
Down South Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jonesville La Posts: 49	Has anyone tried the carbide 4-die Lee set?

03-28-2007, 10:25 AM	#9
robertbank Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 3	Just make sure the resizing die you choose will size to the base of the case. You are going to run into Glock shot .40cal brass with the "Glock Bulge". I use a Lee sizing die with my Dillon set. The Dillon won't get down to the bulge. Take Care Bob

04-08-2007, 05:36 PM	#12
Down South Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jonesville La Posts: 49	Gandog. I've been reading a lot of stuff on the dangers of loading the 40 since it's already considered a high-pressure load. It seems that the 40 has more of a chance for a KP due to lack of full case support when chambered. I was just wondering since you have loaded a lot of 40 ammo if you have had a KB. What brand/model pistol are you using? I know the Glocks have the famous bulge due to lack of case support but I'm shooting a S&W 4006. I haven't started loading the 40 yet. I'm still collecting Dies, new measure and such. Also I need a new manual. Only one of mine even list the 40 data. My other manuals are older than the S&W 40 I guess. I like to compare different manuals for any load I make then I never go max. Right now my mind is made up to use the Lee carbide 4-die set with a Lee Auto Disk powder measure. The Lee powder measure appears to be able to meter well with the small charges that a 40 case would need. Since overpressure is a major concern then consistent metering will be too. Another thing that I liked about this setup is the meter attaches to the expander die and automatically charges the case. Last edited by Down South; 04-08-2007 at 05:40 PM. Reason: Dang Spelling.

04-08-2007, 06:18 PM	#13
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,812	ive loaded many,many thousands of rounds of 40S&W. just pay attention to what your doing, and you will have no problems.

04-09-2007, 11:08 AM	#14
Down South Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jonesville La Posts: 49	Yup, my thoughts exactly. The 9MM is another round in the danger zone just under the 40 S&W and I've reloaded many of those with no problems.