Shell Holder

jimp · Aug 1, 2010

Question - Do you that have been reloading for awhile match shell holders to dies? The reason I asked, I use Lee, Reding, Hunington, and some old Herters dies. Some of my issues maybe the fact I don't switch. Relatively new at this, had the toys for a long while but retirement is a blessing!

thanks
JimP

Please excuse misspellings.

Greg Nolan · Aug 1, 2010

jimp
From my personal experience with a lot of calibers and brands I have mixed and matched pretty sucessfully with shell holders. I havn't had a problem I can speak to. I had a couple of old shell holders from 60+ years ago I took out of action about 20 years ago but no problems. Maybe some of the other folks on the forum will share their thoughts.
Greg

DrMike · Aug 1, 2010

No worry, jimp. Unlike hand-held primers, shell holders are interchangeable with the various presses that require shell holders. In my experience, fwiw, I have found that Redding shell holders allow the most slop in the resizing process. The only time I ever broke/bent a decapping rod was when using Redding shell holders. Generally, I find RCBS to be held to the tightest tolerance. Surprisingly, Lyman shell holders seem to have tighter tolerances than do Redding shell holders. Whether late in life or early, it is always a good thing to jump into hand loading. Welcome aboard.

Desert Fox · Aug 2, 2010

I only use either RCBS or Hornady. Never tried anything else.

1Shot · Aug 2, 2010

I have never had any problem switching different brands. I use mostly Lee shell holders because I came across one of their box sets for almost nothing years ago. I have used them with just about every make of die.

YoteSmoker · Aug 2, 2010

I use RCBS, Lee, and Redding. The RCBS shell holder fits my RCBS handprimer best and the Redding has very tight tollerance on the reloading press which will let me know if a primer wasn't seated completely when I go to seat the bullet.

Elkman · Aug 2, 2010

As a proud owner and user of three Herters C-type presses the Herters shell holders are not interchangable with all other presses nor will many interchange with the Herters press. The base of the Herters shell holder is quite a bit larger than the RCBS holders for example, and will not fit a RCBS press nor will the RCBS holder fit the Herters. RCBS does make an adapter that will allow the use of their shell holders in the Herters press but it is a bit clumsy in that it position's the shell holder about 1" above the ram. The herters dies are interchangable but not the shell holders.