Accidentally bought cowboy dies

[Justincase]

A couple months ago I bought a set of 3 Hornady 38 special/357 dies from Optics Planet. I never noticed that they’re the cowboy version supposedly for lead cast bullets. I checked the website and in the main description, there’s nothing noting these as cowboy dies. Oh well. Anyway, I can’t find any definitive info online as to whether these will work for jacketed bullets. Some people say they’re actually better than the standard ones, others say no. Honestly, I’ll be using them to load lead wadcutter or semi wadcutter bullets for PPC most of the time anyway, but I bought a ton of jacketed bullets a while back. Anyone have experience either way?

 

[Deplorable Me]

Call Hornady Tech. Are they carbide? If carbide, no lube. If not carbide then lube, which may have been the reload technique of the day. The seater die determines the bullet you can seat. Basically you have round nose or flat nose; it should matter if lead or copper. I load all with my RCBS modern.38/.357 dies.

 

[Russ Woody]

I'm no expert in the reloading field but I would say try them to see if they work for your needs. Is it just the seating die you're concerned about?

My dies don't put much pressure on seating the bullets for handgun because they brass is expanded to receive the projectile.

You could always buy just the regular seating die if you have to

 

[Robin]

I didn't even know cowboys had special dies!
Robin

 

[Uninformed and Compliant]

I didn't even know cowboys had special dies!
Robin

TBH, the only real difference is the "old tyme" color scheme.

 

[Pale Rider]

What is an accidentally bought cowboy, and how did he die?