Unlock Precision and Value: The RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set for .35 Remington

Are you an avid hunter, a dedicated marksman, or a self-sufficiency enthusiast looking to take control of your ammunition supply? If you're a proud owner of a .35 Remington firearm – perhaps a classic lever-action rifle like a Marlin 336 or a Winchester Model 94 – then you understand the unique appeal and versatility of this venerable cartridge. While factory ammunition for the .35 Remington can sometimes be costly or hard to find in specific loads, the world of handloading offers a powerful solution. This is where the RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set Group A .35 Rem becomes an indispensable tool, empowering you to craft custom ammunition with unparalleled precision, consistency, and significant cost savings.

Why Handload Your Own Ammunition? The Transformative Benefits

Many reloaders begin their journey seeking to save money, and while this is certainly a major advantage, the benefits of handloading extend far beyond your wallet.

• Cost Efficiency: Factory ammunition prices can fluctuate wildly and quickly deplete your budget, especially for less common calibers like the .35 Remington. By reloading your spent brass, you dramatically reduce the per-round cost, often by 50% or more, allowing you to enjoy more time at the range or in the field without breaking the bank.
• Unmatched Precision and Accuracy: Factory ammo is produced to meet general specifications. Handloading allows you to tailor every aspect of the cartridge – from bullet type and weight to powder charge and seating depth – to your specific firearm. This optimization can unlock your rifle's true accuracy potential, leading to tighter groups and more confident shots.
• Optimized Performance for Specific Applications: Whether you need a specific bullet for deer hunting in dense brush, a load tuned for long-range accuracy, or a reduced recoil load for training, handloading provides the flexibility to create ammunition perfectly suited for your needs, which is often unavailable on store shelves.
• Extending Brass Life: Full-length resizing, as offered by this RCBS die set, carefully reforms spent cases, allowing them to be reloaded multiple times. This not only saves money but also ensures a consistent supply of brass for your future reloading projects.
• Self-Sufficiency and Control: In times of ammunition shortages or limited availability, handloading provides peace of mind. You are no longer reliant on external supply chains, giving you direct control over your shooting activities.

For those asking, "What's the best way to get started reloading .35 Remington?" or "How can I improve my rifle's accuracy with custom loads?", the answer often begins with a reliable die set like the RCBS 16501.

Demystifying the RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set: Your Path to Perfect Cartridges

The RCBS 16501 set is specifically designed for bottleneck rifle cases, making it ideal for the .35 Remington. This two-die configuration is a cornerstone for any serious reloader and includes:

1. Full-Length Sizer Die with Expander-Decapping Unit: This is the workhorse of the set. Its primary function is to return your fired brass to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) minimum cartridge dimensions. This is crucial for reliable feeding and extraction in any firearm chambered for .35 Remington, ensuring that your reloaded ammunition performs just like new.
   • Resizing the Case Body: After firing, a cartridge case expands to fit the chamber of your firearm. The sizer die reforms the outside of the case, returning it to its original, standardized dimensions. This ensures that the reloaded round will reliably chamber in any rifle of the correct caliber, not just the one it was fired from.
   • Decapping (Primer Removal): Integrated into the sizer die is an expander-decapping unit. As the case is pushed into the die, a decapping pin punches out the spent primer from the primer pocket, preparing the case for a new primer.
   • Neck Expansion: After resizing, the case neck is expanded to the correct internal diameter. This is a critical step, as it prepares the neck to securely hold a new bullet with proper tension. Too loose, and the bullet can move; too tight, and it can deform the bullet or damage the case.
   • Vented Design for Optimal Performance: A standout feature of the RCBS sizer die is its strategically placed vents. These vents serve two vital purposes:
     • Preventing Trapped Air: When a case is forced into the die, air can become trapped, potentially causing damage to the case or the die itself. The vents allow this air to escape, ensuring smooth operation.
     • Excess Lubricant Management: Reloaders use case lubricant to prevent cases from sticking in the sizer die. The vents provide an escape route for any excess lubricant, preventing dimpling or other cosmetic and structural issues on the resized brass.
   • Precise Headspace Control: RCBS engineers their full-length sizer dies to hold headspace to minimum tolerances. This meticulous design prevents unintended changes to the case body length during the sizing process, which is essential for consistent ignition, reliable feeding, and extending the life of your brass. It's a key factor in achieving repeatable accuracy.
2. Seater Die with Bullet Seater Plug: Once the case is prepared (resized, decapped, primed, and charged with powder), the seater die comes into play.
   • Bullet Seating: This die accurately seats the new bullet into the expanded case neck to your desired overall cartridge length (OAL). Consistent OAL is paramount for accuracy and reliable feeding in your firearm's magazine and chamber. The included bullet seater plug is designed to cradle the specific bullet profile, preventing deformation during the seating process.
   • Built-in Roll Crimper: A significant advantage of this RCBS seater die is its integrated roll crimper. This allows you to perform two critical steps simultaneously: seating the bullet and applying a consistent roll crimp.
     • What is Crimping? Crimping involves slightly reforming the case mouth to hold the bullet more securely.
     • Why a Roll Crimp for .35 Rem? For rifle cartridges, particularly those used in tubular magazines like many .35 Rem lever-actions, a roll crimp is vital. It firmly secures the bullet, preventing it from being pushed back into the case under recoil (a phenomenon known as bullet setback), which can dangerously increase chamber pressure. It also ensures consistent bullet pull, contributing to more uniform ignition and accuracy.

Why Choose RCBS? A Legacy of Reloading Excellence

For decades, RCBS has been a name synonymous with quality, durability, and innovation in the reloading community. When you invest in an RCBS die set, you're not just buying tools; you're acquiring precision instruments built to last for generations.

• Uncompromising Quality: RCBS dies are crafted from high-grade steel, precision-machined, and then heat-treated for exceptional hardness and wear resistance. This ensures they maintain their critical dimensions and perform reliably through tens of thousands of reloading cycles.
• Designed for Consistency: Every aspect of RCBS dies is engineered for consistent, repeatable results. From the polished internal surfaces that minimize friction during sizing to the precise tolerances, their products help you produce uniform ammunition, shot after shot.
• Industry Standard: RCBS die sets are compatible with virtually all standard reloading presses, making them a versatile choice for both new and experienced reloaders.
• Trusted by Experts: From competitive shooters to professional ammunition manufacturers, RCBS tools are a preferred choice, a testament to their reliability and performance. When you ask experienced reloaders, "Which brand of dies should I buy?", RCBS is almost always at the top of the list.

The .35 Remington: A Caliber Worth Reloading

The .35 Remington, introduced in 1906, holds a special place in American sporting history. It's a potent, medium-power cartridge often associated with lever-action rifles and is renowned for its effectiveness on deer and black bear at moderate ranges.

• Versatile Hunting Cartridge: With its larger bullet diameter (nominally .358 inches), the .35 Remington delivers excellent energy transfer for humane kills on medium-sized game.
• Ideal for Brush Country: Its performance at ranges typically encountered in dense woods makes it a favorite among eastern U.S. and Canadian hunters.
• Lever-Action Compatibility: Its rimless, bottleneck design and often blunt-nosed bullet options make it perfectly suited for tubular magazine rifles, ensuring safe feeding.
• The Reloading Advantage: For .35 Remington enthusiasts, reloading is particularly rewarding. It allows access to a wider array of bullet types and weights (e.g. .358" diameter handgun bullets can sometimes be adapted for reduced loads, though caution and proper load data are always necessary) and enables fine-tuning loads to extract maximum performance from these classic rifles. Many lever-action owners appreciate the ability to create consistent loads that cycle flawlessly through their treasured firearms.

Integrating the RCBS 16501 into Your Reloading Workflow

The RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set is designed for use on any standard single-stage, turret, or progressive reloading press. While a single-stage press offers the most control and is often recommended for beginners, these dies will seamlessly integrate into any setup.

The typical reloading process using these dies involves:

1. Case Preparation: Cleaning fired brass.
2. Sizing and Decapping: Using the Full-Length Sizer Die (RCBS 16501) to reform the case and remove the spent primer.
3. Primer Seating: Inserting a new primer into the primer pocket.
4. Powder Charging: Dispensing a precise amount of powder into the case.
5. Bullet Seating and Crimping: Using the Seater Die (RCBS 16501) to seat the bullet and apply the crucial roll crimp.

Following these steps with the consistent performance offered by RCBS dies helps ensure every round you produce is safe, reliable, and accurate.

Maintaining Your RCBS Dies for Generations of Use

To ensure your RCBS 16501 dies last for decades and continue to produce high-quality ammunition, proper maintenance is key:

• Clean Regularly: After each reloading session or periodically during long sessions, wipe down the dies with a clean cloth. Use a solvent specifically designed for reloading tools to remove carbon, lubricant residue, and powder fouling.
• Lubrication: Apply a thin film of gun oil or specialized die lubricant to the exterior of the dies for rust prevention, especially in humid environments. Ensure internal surfaces are clean and dry, or very lightly lubed if recommended by the manufacturer.
• Storage: Store dies in their original protective case or a dedicated die box in a dry, temperate environment to prevent corrosion.
• Inspect Components: Periodically check the decapping pin for straightness and wear. Replacement decapping pins are readily available from RCBS if needed.

By adhering to these simple maintenance practices, your RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set will remain a trusted companion on your reloading bench for years to come.

Safety First: The Golden Rule of Reloading

While handloading is a rewarding hobby, it involves handling potentially dangerous components. Strict adherence to safety protocols is non-negotiable.

• Always Consult Reloading Manuals: Never guess. Always use published load data from reputable sources (e.g., Speer, Hornady, Nosler, Lyman, Sierra) that specifically covers the .35 Remington, your chosen bullet, and powder. Start with minimum loads and work up incrementally.
• Wear Safety Glasses: Eye protection is essential to guard against primer flashes, flying debris, or spilled powder.
• Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Ensure adequate ventilation, especially when handling powders and primers.
• Keep Your Workspace Clean: Prevent contamination and cross-mixing of components.
• Store Components Safely: Store primers and powders in their original containers, away from heat, open flames, and moisture. Keep them inaccessible to children and unauthorized individuals.
• No Distractions: Give your full attention to the reloading process. Avoid multi-tasking.

The RCBS 16501 dies are precision instruments, but their safe operation depends entirely on the user's diligence and adherence to established reloading practices.

Your Journey into Custom .35 Remington Ammunition Starts Here

The RCBS 16501 Full-Length 2-Die Set Group A .35 Rem represents an investment in precision, value, and self-reliance. It equips you with the fundamental tools to take control of your ammunition, tailoring loads to your specific firearm and shooting needs. Whether your goal is to achieve sub-MOA groups with your treasured lever-action, ensure a consistent supply of hunting rounds, or simply enjoy the immense satisfaction of crafting your own cartridges, this RCBS die set is an essential component. Trust in RCBS's legacy of quality to empower your reloading endeavors for the .35 Remington.

This indispensable reloading tool, along with a comprehensive selection of other RCBS products and reloading components, is available for your convenience at DEGuns. Take the first step towards mastering your ammunition today.

Product Specifications

Feature	Detail
Brand	RCBS
Series	Group A
Model	Full-Length 2-Die Set
Caliber	.35 Remington
Die Type	Sizer / Seater
Gun Type	Rifle
Dies in Set	2
UPC	076683165015
MPN	16501