Thread: Shell holders ?

I was fooling around with my reloading toys, as you do ( well I do anyway ) and
I wondered, who has shellholders for each set of dies ?
I mean obviously 223/222 308/243/7mm08, etc use the same shell holders
But I’m thinking it’s probably easier to chuck the relevant one into each set of dies
Otherwise I’m scrambling through 7-8 trying to find the right one
Which is always the last one I check.
As an aside, other than a shellholder for each set, anyone got any bright ideas on storing them?
Because my little plastic bag is a real PITA.
Thanks

Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

I was fooling around with my reloading toys, as you do ( well I do anyway ) and
I wondered, who has shellholders for each set of dies ?
I mean obviously 223/222 308/243/7mm08, etc use the same shell holders
But I’m thinking it’s probably easier to chuck the relevant one into each set of dies
Otherwise I’m scrambling through 7-8 trying to find the right one
Which is always the last one I check.
As an aside, other than a shellholder for each set, anyone got any bright ideas on storing them?
Because my little plastic bag is a real PITA.
Thanks

Yip keep what ever one you use to set the dies up with in the case with the dies.
You will hear from Andy Animal soon about competition shell holders.

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I try and keep a shellholder in any set of dies I use.

I also have a tray of Lee shellholders as spares.

Yes, I have separate shell holders for each set of dies. Like you I used to find it a pain in the ass going through each set of dies to find the one I needed.
I simply drop the shell holder in the box with the dies.

I have series of screws into the bookend of my shelf,just above eye level when I'm sitting at loading bench. Top row is shell holers for press,next row shell holders for priming tool,third row is for trimming tool. Each cartridge family has Thier own vertical row so to speak.

Originally Posted by Kimber 84M

Yes, I have separate shell holders for each set of dies. Like you I used to find it a pain in the ass going through each set of dies to find the one I needed.
I simply drop the shell holder in the box with the dies.

Yes, along with a sample trimmed case, and inert cases with bullet seated to correct OAL.

Actually just two rows!!! Haven't done third yet lol

@Micky Duck
Looks very technical. Lol

I like it.

There can be a smidge of variation in the length of the shellholder between different brands - probably have to be particularly anal for it to be a problem but...

Originally Posted by No.3

There can be a smidge of variation in the length of the shellholder between different brands - probably have to be particularly anal for it to be a problem but...

Yep, I’ve noticed the Lee is a fraction sloppier than the Hornady

Originally Posted by Frogfeatures

Yep, I’ve noticed the Lee is a fraction sloppier than the Hornady

Yes, my Lee for the 223 is pretty sloppy.
Last week ordered a Hornady replacement.

Following another thread I noticed something.
If you look at the various lists from companies Lee uses about 20 shell holders to cover all the various chamberings.

Hornady, rcbs and Lyman all use over 40 shell holders. Tells you something.

Gees, some brad's aren't cheap. And prices are all over the place

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Yip keep what ever one you use to set the dies up with in the case with the dies.
You will hear from Andy Animal soon about competition shell holders.

Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk

Thanks 25/08!
Yes I do use comp shell holders but just for resizing.
I just hang my other ones on nails with the number above them so quite organised for me.
I have 2 or 3 of my common ones hanging on one nail.

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I use one for each head size. That way I don’t have to deal with mix ups.
Common sizes, I leave them in the spent primer catcher on the press. Never have to look for them.
Odd euro sizes that are cartridge, die specific stay in the die box.


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Just a follow up.
My Hornady Shell Holder arrived for the 223.
Well, it's like chalk and cheese. The Hornady is a much nicer fit.
Seems it's one area lee needs a bit of improvement.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Just a follow up.
My Hornady Shell Holder arrived for the 223.
Well, it's like chalk and cheese. The Hornady is a much nicer fit.
Seems it's one area lee needs a bit of improvement.

If you compare shellholders on one of tha various charts online looking at Lee, Horandy, RCBS, Lyman, and Redding you will see Lee covers all cartridges with less shellholders than the other brands. ie where Lee for example will use one shellholder for 2 particular cartridges the other manufacturers will have individual an shellholder for each cartridge. This must mean better fitting.

Over the last few years I have converted all my mixed bag shellholders to Redding E-Z Feed shellholders. These I believe are the primo shellholders available.