Dies for S&W 32 long

[LostintheOzone]

I just bought a S&W 31-1 and need dies. I have all kinds of dies for various straight wall cartridges. I have RCBS, Hornady, Lee and they all seem to work. I like RCBS the best however.

I'm just going to reload lead because I have no reason to load jacketed bullets. I've noticed that RCBS has "Cowboy" dies. I guess they're strictly for lead bullets which should work.

Has anyone used these dies? If so what do you think about them?

 

[rockquarry]

I don't know anything about the Cowboy dies. I used regular RCBS .32 S&W Long dies without problem. I loaded cast bullets only.

 

[2152hq]

The Cowboy Dies from RCBS use an expander that is usually a .001 or 2 bigger in dia than that found in their regular die set. That's supposed to make loading lead bullets easier w/less of a chance of shaving the sides of the bullet or crumpling the case as lead bullets are often used a couple .000 over groove dia as opposed to jacketed.

The dies are color case hardened I believe and have brass (?) locking rings as opposed to the shiny polished surface of the hardened regular dies and rings. Looks only but some people like the looks.

I load plenty of cast bullets with 40 or so sets of regular dies. None of them are 'Cowboy Dies' and many of the sets are old.
Size, expand, flare the mouth. Seat the bullet. The seating will elliminate the case flare. Add a crimp if you want one.
Any decent set of dies will do that,,even my Hollywood Gunshop set of 44spcl steel dies still do that for loading LSWC.
I load 32SWL w/lead WC and SWC on a regular set of RCBS dies

IIRC the Cowboy Die sets cost more than the regular sets, but maybe that's changed now.
LEE carbide pistol die sets can usually be bought reasonably and I've had no problems with them. I know some hate them but I don't know why. They work fine.You get a S/H. Change the lock rings if they bother you that much.

 

[HKSmith]

I've been using a set of Lee dies for .32 S&W Long since 1994. No problems whatsoever with lead bullets from 75 grains to 115 grains. Currently using Lapua 83 grain HBWC, pricey but great performance in my Colt Officers Model Target.

 

[oddshooter]

RCBS seems to be the one company that recognizes the expander plug/stem needs to be different sizes for different diameter bullets.
They will work you to get it right when they can.

The Lyman M die comes with one stem size and they don't make others and they will not substitute from other calibers that are close to size.

I love the Redding micrometer adjustments as I switch bullets a lot.
However RCBS has won my general business because of their willingness to listen and respond accordingly.
Having said all this, I just bought another Lee FCD Factory Crimp Die.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

32 S&W L

I have used Lee in the past- upgraded most of my dies to REDDING several years ago-- dont know about the cowboy dies ?? I find just a tad of flaring does just fine for me. Except of course for the snake rounds I make.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

RCBS Cowboy dies are very expensive compared to standard or even carbide! It is mostly a marketing gimmick!

My best friend has a set of 1960's Lyman All American (7/8-14) standard (roll crimp) dies that we loaded 32 S&W Long, Short, and 32 ACP with and those worked in every gun we made ammo for!

My set of Lyman 32 ACP dies, I bought for $10, brand new 4 months ago, Because they sat on the shelf since 1986. The FL die is marked 32 S&W Long from (83), the seating die is marked 32 ACP (83). and the M-1 Die is marked 32 (86). I have used them on ACP, Long, and 6 rounds of H&R Mag. I also load 32 Colt New Police (Same case as S&W Long with 115/117 gr 32-20 bullet)

When I had a Model 30-1, I shot 90 gr SWC and the 117 New Police loaded from it. with Unique and WW231 loads. I also have two of the Davis derringers in 32 ACP and load 71 gr RN bullets with WW231 for SASS belly gun shoots (I loaded 250 in 1996 and still have around 100, because you use 2 to 5 shots for a match!)

Ivan

 

[Beemer-mark]

Awhile ago I had to buy dies for a new caliber and decided to try the Cowboy dies. I load only lead bullets in my pistols and accuracy was much improved. Thee dies were the idea of Dave Scovill who got RCBS to make the special dies. After the first set I've converted all my revolver dies to RCBS Cowboy. The main function is that they change the "pull" on the bullet when firing. They also eliminate bulged cases with oversized bullets like .454 in 45 Colt. Dies last a life time. You have a fortune in guns and reloading equipment. Why try to safe a few dollars on dies.

 

[Green Frog]

A nice thing about the 32 S&W Long is that it is easy to load with just about any kind of dies you happen to use. I’ve successfully loaded them with Lee, RCBS, and Lyman (both “modern” full size with TC sizer and 310/TruLine Jr.) I haven’t tried the RCBS Cowboy dies because I haven’t felt the need. If I were starting to load 32 S&W L now, I’d probably get the Lyman TC set with seating stems for whatever bullets I would load and add the through-the-die expander powder die. Three stations, FL size and decap in the first, mouth expand and add powder (I prime off press) on the second station, then seat and crimp on the third. If necessary, I can taper crimp or use a Lee Factory Crimp die in the fourth station.

IIRC Lee makes a die that holds your powder measure and allows through-the-die powder insertion and they make that nice factory crimp die, and you have had good experience with RCBS, but they don’t have the powder through the die option... it all comes down to your personal loading technique and what you’re comfortable with,

One beauty of using my Lyman system in my All American turret press is that I can back out the dies in stations two and three (and four if I use it) to load 32 H&R or 327 FM if I want to. BTW, there seems to be a cottage industry arising to convert 32 S&W L revolvers to 32 H&R for a little more versatility. It might be worth your while to look into this.

Froggie

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The RCBS Cowboy dies are nice but they are also very expensive for a cartridge you probably won't be using to load hundreds of rounds a week.

I have always used RCBS for rifle cartridges and mostly Lee for handgun ammo loading but I have become a fan of the Hornady dies with the Titanium Nitride ring. They make sizing cases smooth as butter and with very little effort. I know it's not bad sizing the 32 S&W Long cases but you really feel the difference with 45 ACP or Colt cases.

The die set runs $48 including the sure-loc die rings which would cost you $15 if bought separately.

Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension Nitride 3-Die Set 32 S&W Long 32

 

[H Richard]

I use a set of Hornady 327/32 mag/32L/32 S&W dies. The one set will handle all the various sizes. The dies are Titanium Nitrite coated but you still have to use a little lube about every 4th or 5th round to keep things going smoothly. I get by with them but would never buy them again and wouldn't recommend in a progressive loader.

 

[Drm50]

I've got standard RCBS 32 S&W Long and load cast only, no problems. I'm one who doesn't like Lee products. I've got over 100 sets of dies. Several different makes. Lyman, C&H, Redding, Bonanza, Texan, Herters and Pacific. The only trouble I've had is Lee and Hornady New Dimension. More than half are RCBS and more than half were bought used. I load a lot of Revolver ammo with cast Wadcutters and straight wall rifle cartridges and
standard dies work fine. If I decided I needed more bell, I would just order the expander stem for cowboy die as a part instead of buying the set. I don't think that is necessary because you can get to much bell with standard die.

 

[Psweigle]

I use the lee 32 s&w long dies. Does just fine with cast, as that is all I use.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I've just finished 150 rounds using RCBS Cowboy dies. I purchased them because they were cheaper than the regular RCBS dies.

They work fine for both Hornady XTP and coated lead. I get excellent results with the Acme coated 100 gr bullet which is what I will continue to use.

Just thought I would relate my experience here. I would be a buyer of these "Cowboy" dies for any lead revolver bullets that use a roll crimp. Excellent product.