Straight-wall cartridges typically require three-die sets. The stubby die is for flaring case mouths so bullets can be seated without collapsing the thin-walled brass.
Straight-wall cartridges are trendy. Whether you’re a purist with a lever-action .45-70 or a modern hunter armed with Winchester’s new .350 Legend, you can open a world of possibility by handloading for your shooting tool. However, loading straight-wall cartridge cases is a bit more complex than loading typical bottleneck rifle cartridges. Seems counterintuitive, but it’s a fact.
Most of the special techniques involve installing bullets, but there are some unique aspects to resizing, too. Here’s a step-by-step guide to several techniques...