Queston about Shell Holders

[Griff]

I recently went out to the shop and picked up one of my #2 shell holders to deprime a bunch of .32-40 & .30-30 cases I recently fired during a range trip. Imagine my surprise when neither size case didn't fit. I believe I recently purchased it (still appears quite new), but isn't marked RCBS which is generally what I buy. It also has a machined groove around its outside perimeter, which none of my other RCBS shell holders have. It actually fits either .45ACP or .30-06 shells about the same as my #3 RCBS shellholder. I looked up Lee and they use a "R3" shell holder for the .30-30 family of cases and an "R2" for .30-06. But, this is only marked with a "2".

#2 Shell holder - top view.JPG

#2 Shell holder - top view.JPG

[JimT]

The Lee 2 is for the .45ACP .. .30-06 .. .308 ... .243 etc cases. I just bought a set of Lee Dies to load .243 for my grandkids rifle.

IMG_6360.JPG

IMG_6361.JPG

Note it only has a "2" on it.

Another thing I discovered is the Lee Shellholder is thicker than RCBS or Lyman. I was starting to prime some .243's with my RCBS hand priming tool and I could not seat the primers flush or below. They protruded just a bit. I put an RCBS shellholder in the priming tool and could fully seat the primers below flush.

Measuring them, top to bottom ..
RCBS shellholder .497"
Lee shellholder .504"

Just enough that I can't use it to seat the primers.

[GunnyMack]

Also the hole through Lee and RCBS differ!

[Griff]

Well, I'm going to overstamp it to a #3... Less confusing to me! Thanks. I don't like things that are not marked with the maker... Thanks... I have two RCBS #2s and at least 1 or more #3s, so this one doesn't need being the oddball out.

[GunnyMack]

If it were mine I'd put some kind of visual marker on it, dab of paint , sharpie marker- something to make it stand out just to prevent future confusion.

[Griff]

If it were mine I'd put some kind of visual marker on it, dab of paint , sharpie marker- something to make it stand out just to prevent future confusion.

I think restamping it to the #3 will suffice... But, now that I "know what I know"... I probably don't need to, unless I get in a rush.

[pshort]

Howdy Folks,
That's something that has always irritated me... The different
brands of shellholders have all different numbers ......

Tnx,

Paul

[marlinman93]

Howdy Folks,
That's something that has always irritated me... The different
brands of shellholders have all different numbers ......

Tnx,

Paul

There are shell holder cross reference charts all over the internet, plus in the back of some reloading manuals. I printed out one of the charts and went through all my dozens of shell holders to sort them. I bought plastic storage divided containers and on the inside the lids I made up sheets glued to the lid with the same compartments marked out. Then I marked numbers on each compartment, and on the lid I wrote what each shell holder was for each compartment.
This was a cheap, quick project that's saved me tons of frustration over the years!

[JimT]

I just keep the proper shell holders with their set of dies.
No mixup.
No hassle.
No worries.
I only load for 15 or 16 different calibers so it's not a big deal.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I found that all shell holders are not the same. The Lee shell holder for a .480 won’t work with Hornady brass. The Hornady shell holder works perfectly with the Lee dies.

They seem to be dimensionally identical but they obviously are not.

[marlinman93]

I just keep the proper shell holders with their set of dies.
No mixup.
No hassle.
No worries.
I only load for 15 or 16 different calibers so it's not a big deal.

That doesn't work for me Jim as many shell holders I share usage with various cartridges. Like the one for .30-30, .32-40, .38-55 cases. Same for the .30-06, .270, and others using one shell holder.

[JimT]

I just keep the proper shell holders with their set of dies.
No mixup.
No hassle.
No worries.
I only load for 15 or 16 different calibers so it's not a big deal.

That doesn't work for me Jim as many shell holders I share usage with various cartridges. Like the one for .30-30, .32-40, .38-55 cases. Same for the .30-06, .270, and others using one shell holder.

Every dog has got to scratch his own fleas! I have cartridges that use the same shell holder. But I keep at least one for each particular caliber in that die box. Usually I have 2 for each. Just my way of doing it. And I am not telling anyone else how they should do it.

[piller]

I found that all shell holders are not the same. The Lee shell holder for a .480 won’t work with Hornady brass. The Hornady shell holder works perfectly with the Lee dies.

They seem to be dimensionally identical but they obviously are not.

I have noticed the same issue.