Bad dies?

[SRMohawk]

I recently bought Redding's Pro Series Carbide die sets for reloading 10mm Auto and .45 ACP in my Dillon RL 550B, thinking that I would be 'upgrading' from the Dillon-brand 3-die sets that I'd been using. Now I haven't put the .45 ACP dies though their paces yet, but the 10mm Auto dies are makin' me blue! Specifically, the seater die is tearing up the bullet jackets and the crimp die won't crimp the case mouth around the bullet any tighter than 0.425" when the crimp is supposed to be at least 0.423". Consequently, the ammo will feed just fine in a factory Glock chamber, but it won't feed in the Bar-Sto or KKM chambers of the custom barrels I've got for either my G20 or STI Limcat.

Are these legitimate reasons for sending them back to Redding? Any of you ever had to deal with Redding. I've heard from at least a few shooting enthusiasts that their customer service is the pits.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Redding has good customer service, in my experience.

It sounds like the problem with the seater die is either not enough bell on the case mouth, or the seater stem is the wrong shape for the bullet you're using. You didn't say how the bullets are being deformed, so it's hard to diagnose.

My Redding 10mm dies will crimp perfectly. Have you tried turning the die in a little further? I like to crimp in a separate step, after seating the bullet. This produces better ammunition for me and eliminates some problems with seating and crimping at the same time.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[ball3006]

That is why I use....

Dillon dies on my Dillon press.........On my single stage presses, I will use anybody's dies.......chris3

 

[deciple-of-keith]

I'm in full agreeance with 3006 on the fact of Dillion dies in dillion presses ! I had all the trouble in the world with using other brands of Dies in my Dillion . The problems disappeared with going over to dillion dies !

Dave

 

[Travis Two]

I have several sets of the pro series dies in .40 and .45 acp and .45 colt and .38 and .380 and 9mm and they all work flawlessly in my Dillon 650's. and I prefer them to some of the Dillon die sets that I have. ( small but subtle differances that I feel are important.)It sounds more like an adjustment problem but if the die is faulty Redding will make it right.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`ve 4 sets of Redding rifle dies and never have had a problem. No pistol sets though. I consider them one of the best brands out there, and I`ve dies from RCBS, Forster, Lyman, Hornady, and CH. They are supposed to have excellent customer service, though I`ve never had to use it. Give them a call, I am sure they can/will help.

 

[SRMohawk]

Thanks for the feedback fellas. It doesn't surprise me that a few of you insist that using Dillon's dies with Dillon's presses is the only way to go. Just let me see what Redding has to say and/or is willing to do for me, first. I won't give 'em too much latitude in fixing this problem though, before I just throw my Dillon dies back in there.

BTW, the damage that the seater die is doing to the bullet jackets involves its making 2 to 3 vertical lacerations immediately adjacent to one another on one side of the bullet.

 

[zeke]

Lkie the Redding dies, but did get one off center 45 acp from em. Any manufacturer occasionaly lets a lemon out, quality manufacturers fix it.

 

[P0832177]

I have Redding Pro Series Dies in 45ACP, and I have loaded perhaps 60K on them in the last few years, not one bit of trouble.

Now, for the uninformed Redding Pro Series Dies are meant for progressive presses, as it comes with a sizer, seater, and crimp die sans the expander die of tradition die sets.

I say reset the dies, and if that does provide insight call Redding! Great Customer Service!

 

[Bronson7]

I've used RCBS, Lee, Hornady and Redding dies in my 550s with no problem. Never tried the Dillon's. I'm not saying this is the problem some of you were having, but alignment issues, from personal experience, are caused by a too tight paper clip on station one (crushed cases) or improper alingment with the tool head ( Dillon has a tool to correct it). Again, those are my experiences.
Bronson7