My shellholders collection

[oldman10mm]

I got quite a few, the pic is RCBS shellholders.
#1-4, #2, #3, #4, #6, #7-2, #9-2, #10-2, #11, #12-3, #14, #15, #16, #17-2, #18-2, #20, #23, #27-2, #28, #30-2, #32-2,
#38, #43, #44.
Acquired over 50 years. Some bought new, some re-bought due to mis-placed then found, some acquired as a bulk bag at shows.
I also have a selection of Lyman J-type and Tru-Line shellholders for my Lyman All American turret presses.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I count 38 in the photo. I have a bunch more, but when I lose a common one, I just buy another Lee shell holder kit of 11 same for primer tool shell holders. I just throw them in one big box.

When you have a bunch like this and I want to load some oddball round, I just dig in until I find what works. (Th list in the back of Lyman's manual hasn't changed since the 50's but shell holders have!)

The super oddball shell holders (like 43 Spanish or 450 Nitro Express) I leave in the die box.

Ivan

 

[Green Frog]

Well, if you have old Lyman presses with J type shell holders, and Herter’s presses with their proprietary shell holders, and the RCBS “universal” shell holders, they add up fast. Then come the old screw in style and current flat type shell holders for Lee priming tools, things start to get messy. We won’t get into the older presses like the Echo and Red Head and others that each had their proprietary shell holders, and the screw type shell holders for early Herter’s presses, and.......
Froggie

 

[Skeet 028]

I leave many(most) in the die boxes and if I find a set of dies I can use with the shell holder in the box...I buy them. At most shows they sell for 20 dollars or less. Shellholders new these days are 10 bucks. at the last auction I bought a set of RCBS carbide dies for 32 S&W L H&R mag and 327 Federal with the shellholder and a cal conversion shell plate with powder funnel for a Dillon 550 for 40 bucks. Nothing looks used

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I've been organizing my bullet sizer dies and top punches in divided, clear boxes. I thought about that for shell holders in the past. I can't reconcile the space waste to the functional utility of this type off index. Maybe something like the "board" RCBS used to sell.

Ivan

 

[SMSgt]

I ditched Lee hand primers because Lee decided to change proprietary shell holders with every new "upgraded" model of it hand primer. The RCBS hand primer uses standard shell holders. I bought one and never looked back. I do buy a shell holder for each set of dies, regardless of brands, because each has its own dimensions.

 

[Green Frog]

I ditched Lee hand primers because Lee decided to change proprietary shell holders with every new "upgraded" model of it hand primer. The RCBS hand primer uses standard shell holders. I bought one and never looked back. I do buy a shell holder for each set of dies, regardless of brands, because each has its own dimensions.

I’m not aware of multiple changes in lee shell holders for the priming tools. The old original shell holders in screw style came from Lee Custom/Mequon. When Lee Precision came out with the first of their priming tools, they used the “flat” shell holders that, AFAIK, they are still using. Are there others I’ve missed?
Froggie

 

[BE Mike]

The old lee shell holder kit works very well with my RCBS Jr. press and Hornady hand primer. I almost exclusively use the shell holders for pistol calibers. Natchez

 

[mtgianni]

I had a mix of them along with a couple of Lee boxes. I bought a Hornaday hand primer and found it needed Hornady dies but RCBS might work. I have slowly been adding Hornaday to the cases I hand prime.

 

[Drm50]

I had about 120 die sets. Never had the guns for all of them at the same time. After selling a gun with dies and then ending up with another gun for same cartridge I started a new policy, sell no tools unless you have multiples. I’ve been selling off my loading stuff and down to 30-35 sets. Have been putting shell holder in box with dies but still have many left. I have simple box to keep mine organized. I’ve got plastic boxes full that require digging around to find anything.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I’m not aware of multiple changes in lee shell holders for the priming tools. The old original shell holders in screw style came from Lee Custom/Mequon. When Lee Precision came out with the first of their priming tools, they used the “flat” shell holders that, AFAIK, they are still using. Are there others I’ve missed?
Froggie

Not that I'm aware of.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I had a mix of them along with a couple of Lee boxes. I bought a Hornaday hand primer and found it needed Hornady dies but RCBS might work. I have slowly been adding Hornaday to the cases I hand prime.

I bought a Hornady about 20 years ago and was only able to use Hornady shell holders unless I was willing to mod Lee or RCBS holders . I fit one Lee to it and used it a time or two then quit cause I couldn't get used to the primer tray spinning.

 

[Alk8944]

I always buy a new shell holder for any die set I buy and keep it in the die box. Even where I have more than one die set, (like different vintage .38 Spl/.38-357 or .357 dies) for a caliber I still buy a shell holder for the new die set just for the convenience of it.

 

[rpf2000]

I always buy a new shell holder for any die set I buy and keep it in the die box.

That's exactly how I do it. I have a holder in every die box.

 

[Green Frog]

That's exactly how I do it. I have a holder in every die box.

This is what I aspired to, but I still found it a good backup plan to have a green box with a set of the Lee shell holders “just in case” and of course my Herter’s and early Lyman presses require their own proprietary shell holders. It seems the exceptions often outnumber the rules!
Froggie

ETA: I have found, usually when in a hurry, that some priming punches on some presses don’t “play well together” with the generic Lee shell holders. Fortunately I usually hand prime off press, so this is seldom an issue for me.

 

[ggibson511960]

This proliferation of shell holders is why I favor Forster Coax presses and priming tools. All my Lyman, RCBS, Redding and Lee shell holders are rusting in the scrap metal parts box.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

This proliferation of shell holders is why I favor Forster Coax presses and priming tools. All my Lyman, RCBS, Redding and Lee shell holders are rusting in the scrap metal parts box.

I'll give you scrap metal prices for them, and pay for shipping too!

John

 

[AJ]

I seem to end up collecting stuff and shell holders are one of many. I have the RCBS style and the Lee style for their Auto Prime. I have two "Stations" that I use the RCBS style shell holders at, one is my loading press and the other is my bench mount RCBS Priming Tool. I have sets of shell holders at each. Do not use the Lee style anymore as I gave the Auto Prime Tool to a friend. Will give him those shell holders the next time I see him.