Doh! The things we forget

[Iunnrais]

My latest care package from Midway arrived today with some partial supplies (and a new scope for said .45-70) for me to add .45-70 to my reloading bench. I pull out my nice new dies and go to at least do some case prep while I continue the hunt for rifle primers & powder and what do I notice.... I forgot (since these dies came in a brown box instead of red) to order a shell holder.

Doh!

At least the new scope is pretty and I can drool over the cowboy dies.

[Don2]

YEP...!!

I did that years ago, got into the reloading process and did not have a shell holder.
%&#$@@( Shucks...)

Had a $100 bill burning a hole in my wallet, so went to my LGS and picked up a new rcbs shell holder for every caliber I loaded plus some I didn't.
That meant I had extras of some which came in handy also.

The Lee shell holders are cheaper than the others, and I have several of them now.
Has anyone had any problem with them pulling apart/breaking? I read of this happening to others using Lee SH's.
Mine have had a pretty good work out with no problems......

Maybe sizing large caliber brass on a steel sizing die with no lube may break one, if you have a press with the leverage to do so?

Don2

[mr surveyor]

I bought the full set of Lee shell holders when I first started reloading, as well as getting free shell holders with every set of Lee dies. My RCBS .30-30 dies came with no shell holder, but I already had that covered with the full Lee set.

As for Lee shell holders breaking.... never heard of it or had any issues personally.


surv


edit to add: Anyone considering ordering/buying the set of Lee shell holders should be aware of what you're choosing. Lee makes the set of standard "universal" shell holders (in green box) for the press as well as specialized shell holders (in red box) for their hand primer tools. These are NOT interchangeable.

[aggie67]

Down through the years, I have collected lots of shell holders (started loading in '59) in RCBS, Pacific, Herters, Redding, Lyman, and of course, Lee. I have never had a problem with any of them, but find some are closer tolerance fit than others. With bench rest rifle, you want it close--pistol you can just accept a little slop in the fit. I have never seen a shell holder pulled apart--internet legend maybe. Most Lee equipment is good for the money. I do not like their new hand priming tool as it hurts my hand and does not fit well, but I broke the frame on my 20 year old one. I do most priming on a bench mounted RCBS primer now and it is "FINE". I also discovered it will use Dillon primer tubes with no adaptation.

[Iunnrais]

I've got the Ergo-Prime (and the red box of shell holders for it) and actually like it. Not a bad feel for seating the primers once I got used to it. I probably should just invest in the full set of press shell holders since I tend to go with the RCBS dies. (it's been what's in stock when I've looked more than an actual preference).

[Justinbhutto]

The RCBS dies seem to be pretty good. I use them for everything except for some of my Dillon dies...