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Old 08-24-2020, 10:34 PM
BMur BMur is offline
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Default 41 Magnum Die identification?

I'm getting up in years now. Shot my 44 Mag for over 30 years and it takes just about any game out there but I'm not able to control recoil anymore. It's part of getting old I guess. The bones can't handle the recoil.

Anyway, I tried my friends 41 Mag and I like it a lot. So, since I always load my own? I found an auction lot of 10 RCBS dies for the 41 Mag very cheap. However, I'm confused as to what the markings mean on these dies. I have many RCBS dies but never repeats of the same caliber and manufacturer? This lot has 3 different sizing dies? What is up with that? Anybody know what the different dies and numbers represent? I was wondering why this guy had 10 dies for the same caliber? They are not worn out. I mic'd them. It's pretty hard to wear out RCBS dies. I've never done it.

I know on early loaders and molds the numbers can represent when the die was manufactured? What series etc. but it doesn't make sense to me that they would be different lengths for the same caliber pistol?

Any input would be appreciated.

Murph
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Last edited by BMur; 08-24-2020 at 10:41 PM.
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Old 08-24-2020, 10:47 PM
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It's going to be hard to answer without some pictures. RCBS originally stamped the dies with a letter code for the year, then switched to a 2 digit numeric marking for the year. But they continued to use letters on special order dies even after they started the 2 digit system.

Not all the old dies have the decapping pin in the sizing die. They decapped in the expanding die. The sizing dies were more often plain steel than carbide. If you call RCBS they can tell you what they all mean.
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Old 08-25-2020, 09:37 AM
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The auction lot may have just been an accumulation of several 41 Magnum reloading dies,,not just one individuals collection of them.

Not being a hot seller, they may have decided to throw all the 41Mag dies into one lot and get them gone instead of struggling thru several different lots and having a difficult time selling each one.

The #'s should be the yr mfg'd.
If they mic out OK and are not scratched or otherwise damaged,,it looks like you have the corner on 41Mag sizers.

The subtle differences in the length is in the knurled portion. I'd guess that was just a mfg'g change back and forth over the yrs as the factory markings on the tops are still there. No shortening of the dies is evident.

They are threaded for a decaper but many do that operation in the expanding die as glenwolde said.
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Old 08-25-2020, 09:52 AM
SuperMan SuperMan is offline
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The two that are not threaded are the early Size Only style of die that the expander die had the decapping assembly.

The threaded sizing die is one of the later ones but is missing the decapping assembly...

All are standard steel dies without the carbide insert so case lube has to be use....

AS to the different size of the checkered rings, just from different eras...

Have fun with your new .41...what did you buy?



Bob

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Old 08-25-2020, 10:37 AM
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Not trying to rain on your parade...but if you like the 41 get yourself a set of newer RCBS carbide dies. Nothing wrong with steel dies...but the carbide do work a bit easier and won't(usually) scratch cases. And I even lube cases with carbides too. Heck the last set of RCBS carbides I bought for my 41s only cost 25 bucks at a gun show...and they looked new. What others have told you is correct about those dies...do you have the rest of the sets? seater and expanders too?
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Old 08-25-2020, 10:57 AM
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Some dies are for roll crimps and some are for taper crimps. Depending on the bullet and the purpose of the load, determines which type one would use. .........
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Old 08-25-2020, 11:29 AM
Ivan the Butcher Ivan the Butcher is offline
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A couple of years ago, I was in an Eastern Pa. gun shop. The inventory looked to be 25 to 30 years old! Like the place had been shuttered for all that time and re-opened. Everything "new" had a fresh price tag with MSRP amounts on it. Over in the reloading area was the same on unused stuff. BUT the used dies had not been marked up. I took every die they had at 25 cents each! One of which was a very early carbide 38/357 marked die. Since it decaps on the second die, I can size 357 Max, or use it on some wildcats as a forming die. But If you don't mind lubing you cases those older dies are usually the intended case shape, complete with the 2 or 3 1/1000ths of taper (that you don't get in carbide dies!)

You sound like single stage production will meet all your needs, so don't worry about the rounded/radii die mouths that progressive presses require.

Ivan
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Old 08-25-2020, 12:02 PM
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The only difference in the dies is the manufacture date, 65, 71, 74. All are steel, non carbide, sizing dies. Possibly the original owner replaced them if they started scratching the brass, a problem with steel dies.
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Old 08-25-2020, 12:21 PM
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Or it could have happened like this ...
1.) 1970 buy a set of steel 41 magnum dies from Herters and use for three decades . Set #1

2.) 2000 Midway has a sale on Lee Carbide dies 41 magnum ...not just the carbide sizer but the whole set ...buy Set #2

3.) 2010 E-bay auction 41 magnum dies ...people are running up the price on a set of RCBS into the stratosphere ...BUT nobody is bidding on a set of Bonanza dies , still in factory box, with instructions ...they appear unused ...No Bids. So ...I place a $10.00 bid and low and behold no one else wants the Bonanza Dies and I get them for $10.00
41 mag. die set #3

See ...it's not hard to accumulate 3 sets .

I wanted to load some 41 special and between the 3 sets one should have a short enough seat/crimp die for 41 special loading ...now if Midway would only get the cases in ( I have a $50.00 Midway Gift Card or I would order from Starline) See... three sets of dies can be useful ... it just goes to show you never can tell !
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Old 08-25-2020, 01:35 PM
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Default Auction lot

Thanks guys,
Actually, I won the lot at a gun show in the Valley in the back of a Barn. Great show! First show I'd been to this year since all the others being canceled due to this virus.

I really like my 44 mag model 29 with 8 3/8" barrel. I'm use to it and its a very accurate hand gun out to 100 yards open sights. I had a scope on it initially but found it to basically get in the way. It's filled my freezer every year with deer meat and also piggy. My wife makes the best Chile Verde on the planet! Every pig I take? My mouth starts watering. Very upsetting when I don't have pig meat in the freezer!

My favorite load was always the heavy load of 22 grains of 2400 with several types of 240 grain bullets. Be it soft point, hollow point or star point or even the Black Tallon bullet. Outlawed? BS! Great hunting bullet. Most of the time the game would drop right where they were shot. That's the way I like it.

I don't like chasing game into brush. Hot loads of 44 Mag have always come through for me but I just can't seem to control them anymore. Pisses me off.

My friends model 57 is extremely comfortable for me with full loads. So that's what I intend to purchase once this virus BS goes away.

My mind is wide open regarding models? but I'm very comfortable with that frame and its basically the same as my 44 Mag. Maybe a little heavier but seems to be a much more controllable recoil for me now.

Here is a photo of the lot. I was the only bidder. 10 bucks. There are a few Carbide dies in the mix also.
It's all there and very serviceable. Thanks for the input on the dies. My only real decision now is the stainless frame or blued. My 44 Mag is blued and it has suffered many a hunt. I'd always touch it up and it looks very nice still but I've often thought about a stainless frame?

Murph
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Old 08-25-2020, 09:24 PM
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I woulda bought 'em too
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Old 08-25-2020, 09:47 PM
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Great for you...nice haul...

As to which .41...all of them work...

For hunting with a DA revolver I have a S&W Classic Hunter with 6.5" barrel and two 57s with the long 8 3/8" barrels...one is a 64 with open sights and the other a 70s vintage with a 2-6 Bushnell scope...

There is also a 7.5" Hunter out there with full underlug...dampens a lot of the recoil...

Bob

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Old 08-25-2020, 10:50 PM
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Cool..............
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Old 08-26-2020, 08:30 AM
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Let's look at some numbers according to Nosler .
44 magnum bullet dia. = .429"
41 magnum bullet dia. = .410"

Difference = .019" ... I don't believe the hog will ever know the difference . Pigs don't use Calipers very well and that would be the only way he would know the difference .

My 41 magnum is a model 58 and does an excellent job on hogs .

Get the Chile Verde Recipe ready ... the 41 will do nicely .
Gary
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Old 08-26-2020, 04:01 PM
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Default Caliber comparison

Thanks Gary,
That’s what I’m expecting from the 41 Mag. I always pass on the larger Hogs anyway. 70lb to 150lb seem to harvest the best meat and that’s what I’m after. The wife insists on the smaller pigs. Kicks me out of the kitchen when she’s cooking the stew.
My younger sister is a Doctor and she claims as we get older bone mass is reduced considerably. That must be what is impacting my accuracy with the 44 Mag. At this rate I’ll be down to a 22 Mag in about 10 years.
I’d of had a 41 Mag by now if it weren’t for this virus causing lines out the door in all gun shops here and minimal availability of handguns! I’ve never seen anything like it.
I can also have my FFL assist with purchasing off the internet but he is A diabetic so he is laying low til they come up with a vaccine. I don’t blame him. We lost a few Vets at the VA center from this nasty virus, so I’m just gonna have to be patient and wait a bit. No reason why I can’t load up some ammo to get ready though.

Murph
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