[Surely]

Which company makes the best quality dies or are they all the same?

[Dave R]

I like Redding better than RCBS. Those are the only two brands I have.

[tc300mag1]

i use lyman rcbs and lee mostly never had a problem with any except a 223 sizing die from lee

[HSMITH]

Redding.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

I could not vote in your poll, cuz the LEE dies were not
included. But, in order of preference this is the way the
dies listed in your poll stack up:

a) R.C.B.S. (simply cuz I have more of their sets)

b) Redding (quality with a Lifetime guarantee)

c) Lyman (probably the easiest to use by a beginner)

d) Dillon (I have absolutely NO experience with them)

*FootNote- I used my first Lee Precision die last Monday.
It is a .45 ACP Factory Crimp Die, and I must say it did a
REMARKABLE job on a batch of .45 ACP handload's. I'm
looking to purchase the same for other caliber's.


Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[warrior23]

Redding goes first then Dillon...

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

I have Lachmiller, Pacific, Lee, RCBS, Hornaday and C-H. I like C-H best as they are heavier duty with a strong central decapping shaft that never breaks like the RCBS. C-H was bought by CH4D and has a lot of unusual dies a lot cheaper than from RCBS.

Fitz

[P95Carry]

Never compared all but ... used a few RCBS here and there .... mainly tho Lee .. and I really do think their dies are exceptional value ..... what they offer now is further improved and their factory crimp dies are extremely useful too.

[larryw]

Redding for rifle, Dillon for pistol.

[Peakbagr]

All Redding dies.

[JimC]

RCBS with Redding a very close second.

I've had very good success with Dillon dies in their handgun calibers in the 550B and XL650 but I use the Redding competition seating die in conjunction with those [9mmx19, .40S&W and .45 ACP]. ;)

[ojibweindian]

Lee.

[BigG]

Lee. Don't let the price fool you. For a regular die, they are equal to any out there. I don't know about progressives because I use single stage. If they use the same 7/8 x 14 dies, I would use Lee in them also. RCBS, LYMAN, REDDING, they all work. I have one or more of each. There probably is not much difference but in RCBS-type you can break a decapping pin whereas Lee you will just push it up and can loosen the jam nut and lower it back down. Back in bidness. Big difference when an occasional berdan case slips into your batch. Ask me how I know. :uhoh: Also, Lees give you the shellholder which is $6 with all the others. And now they include a factory crimp die at no extra charge although I haven't tried one yet. My friend Ala Dan says they work great and he goes back as far as I do so I believe him. YMMV

[kimbernut]

The one full length set of dies I strayed from RCBS on was .243 Win. which I bought a used very nice set of Lyman dies.The Lymans require more lube and seem to be much tighter than the RCBS. Where with RCBS I can lube every 3rd or 4th case with the Lyman I must lube every case to start and then every other case after after about 10 cases. In talking with other friends who reload I have been told this is not unusual in Lyman dies. The neck size only dies that I own and use are RCBS, Dillon, & Redding and they are equal as far as I can tell.

[Mike Irwin]

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I've never had any problems with any dies from any of the major manufacturers.

Ammo I've assembled with RCBS dies has been just as accurate as when assembled with Lee or Lyman dies in the same caliber and for the same gun.

I use Lee dies because they're a great value.

[BigG]

Another bonus about Lee is they have a hex nut with a rubber 'O" ring as a lock. Works far superior to the other type with the knurled round ring with a set screw. I've never had a Lee slip its adjustment. Can't say that about the other type. :uhoh:

[kimbernut]

OK,OK,you've convinced me. I've got to try a set of Lees. Seriously, with all my RCBS dies(they have gone to the hex nut,by the way) before I even set them up for use I swap out the brass set screw with steel set screws and lead shot between set screw and die threads on each die in the set. I will be picking up a set of dies for .30 carbine soon.I will try a set of Lees. This is part of what is so great about THR. So much experience and so much willingness to share it. Thanks.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

In my limited use of Lee dies, I'd have to agree with
my good friend Big G in his comments concerning
their use. The rubber O-ring locks the die to the press,
tighter than "Dick's hat band"! :uhoh: :D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[MoNsTeR]

Only used Lee dies, never really felt the need for anything else.

[Black Snowman]

I mainly use Lee dies because of their value, but for quality of materials and manufacture I think it's pretty hard to beat Redding. For features and quality however, I think Horniday actually may have the best dies for the dollar. I haven't actually used them but they have many excellent features and I really like their clamp style lock rings.

[larryw]

Hmm, my experience with Lee dies is two-fold. Love the factory crimp die, absolute must have for semi pistol. On the flip-side, I bought their collet neck sizing dies for 223 and 30-06: nothing but problems. Had to take them apart, polish the innards and keep them operating room clean and lubed or the collets jammed and collapsed the shoulders. They now occupy space in my "not quite throw-away junk drawer'.

I need a second set of 45 dies for odd-projects, think I'll order some Lees and give them a try.

[444]

I own and have tried a fair variety of dies. Lyman, Dillon, RCBS, Lee, Redding, Hornady, C&H.
My order of preference:
Redding
Hornady
Dillon
Lee
Lyman
RCBS
C&H

The last two, I don't like at all. Lyman and Lee are fine, nothing to complain about, but nothing spectacular. At this point, any new dies I might purchase are going to be Redding Competition Pro Series

[Ala Dan]

Att: 444

Care to explain problems associated with RCBS dies?

Thanks in advance!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[444]

The only dies I have ever had an actual problem with were the C&H dies that were custom made for the .458 Socom cartridge. The rest, worked fine. The thing I don't like about RCBS dies is that they are harder to adjust than the others. The Dillon dies are also hard to adjust but have other features that make up for it.

[P95Carry]

Just remembered .... I posted a WTS a while back ... no bites. I ordered (stoopidly!) a dupe set of Lee factory crimp dies for 45Colt/.454 Casull .. they are surplus to requirments.

Should anyone want any .. let me know. I'll let em go for $13.00 shipped .... not a monster saving I'll admit but ... one way or another I'll take quite a loss on them and no point keeping them!

[John Forsyth]

I like Hornady dies myself.

[Surely]

sorry bout the limited choices, should have done more research before creating the poll I guess. If a mod reads this maybe you could add Lee and Hornady to the poll :)

[swifter]

Redding and Forster make the best.
RCBS have given me some run-out problems, be prepared to send 'em back...
Hornady have been a disappointment...
I buy Lee for rounds I don't expect to load often, recycled beer cans don't do precise well...:what: I do like their lock rings...:D

Tom

[Mike Irwin]

That's funny...

The lock rings are the one thing I do NOT like about Lee dies...

[magnumjim]

I don't like the Lee lock rings and they are to short in some applications.
I tried them in a Dillion press and had to remove the lock ring to make
them reach the shell holder while resizing.

[swifter]

Mike: They DO require some fiddling with, and a couple of witness marks, but I think the Lee rings give just enough flex to allow the die to center itself in use.:cool:

Tom

[RON in PA]

Like the 4 die Lee pistol dies because of the separation of bullet seating and crimping.

[Remi308]

I swear by the Lee Collet neck sizing dies. Have achieved outstanding groups with them, and will not use other dies. I use an RCBS universal decapping die though, for all cases prior to neck sizing. As for full length sizing, have used RCBS and Lee, and never noticed a difference between the two.

[HSMITH]

Remi, welcome to The High Road!!!!

[Intune]

Yes indeed, welcome Remi! Do some of you have different companies dies in the same turret to perform different functions the best? Seating, crimping, etc?

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

C-H is short for Charlie Hegman and there was Armory C-H and Roddy C-H and I represented C-H of the 1970s of Owen Wis. until Lou Bulgrin died and the company name was bought by CH4D company that still exists with differing products.

Each company had its own reputation for better or worse. I have no contact with the current CCCH4D company I have no idea who C&H is.

I represented the founding Saeco Co. 1947-1979 when its owner died. There were three more owners with the quality declining with each one.

Lee opened a market for thousands of men that were able to get in to reloading and bulletcasting with a lot less investment and Lee quality has improved which is the reverse of older companies when changing owners.

Fitz

[lycanthrope]

I have always been confued about this.

I have always used RCBS pistol dies. They consistently undesize my brass. Every round has the hourglass shape. I don't have setback after several chamberings. No one uses them. My rounds never vary by more than .002. I reload Glock brass for my STI Edge. I guess I should have problems......but I don't........

I do, however, use separate seating and crimping stations.

I really wonder how many people buy dies based upon "web experts" than upon real experience.

[go8dalejr]

I have only used 2 brands of dies with no complants. I have 7 sets of dillon
and one rcbs the only reason I bought the rcbs is because dillon does not
offer 45-70 dies. Both brands work well but the rcbs was a pain in the rear
to adjust. I find the dillon dies very simple to adjust in comparison.

[larryw]

lycanthrope, the purpose of questions like this is to allow people to voice an opinion. From these opinions, readers are able to learn from others and not make (sometimes) expensive mistakes. Is that OK with you? :rolleyes: