Resizer Die Choice

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mikemyers

mikemyers

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I used RCBS for the first 40 years, I have gone entirely to Redding for pistol and Forster for rifle in the last 5 years. RCBS works fine and has great customer service.
 
Never used the Redding duel ring. My RCBS works fine. Note that one has titanium carbide sizing rings and the other has tungsten carbide.
For a progressive press, the sizing die should have a wide bevel at the mouth. By now , i would guess all do??
 
The Redding Pro series has a slightly wider mouth for progressive presses. I use the dual ring for 40 cal. Use a Co-Ax for rifle and really like the Forster dies. But...RCBS should be just fine. All my utility dies are RCBS, (Powder Lock-out die, Collet type bullet puller, primer swager, etc. ) Still have all my RCBS rifle and pistol dies. I let my son use these with the Rock Chucker occasionally.
 
So, for pistol reloading, there is no advantage/disadvantage (other than cost) to select one or the other?

Is a "slightly wider mouth" for progressive presses" beneficial for reloading handgun ammo?
 
I've used a lot of dies, and believe that one is about as good as another. Redding dies are, however, real pretty. The finish is head and shoulders above the others. They look so nice, it's almost worth paying the price. They don't really work any better, though.
 
Is a "slightly wider mouth" for progressive presses" beneficial for reloading handgun ammo?
Click to expand...

Yes, it is helpful for aliening the case into the die.
 
So, for pistol reloading, there is no advantage/disadvantage (other than cost) to select one or the other? The redding may do a better job of sizing. It allows for the taper in the cartridge. I have not used one.

Is a "slightly wider mouth" for progressive presses" beneficial for reloading handgun ammo? Yes, on a progressive press. When running the case up into the die, the case mouth finds the die better, because the opening is larger. I would guess, current dies all have a more open mouth , than my old 1970s RCBS die.
 
I don't have any trouble with old dies with little to no flare on my LNL, but then maybe I am not trying to run at top speed either.

Both are quality products that would serve you well. I would go RCBS myself, simply based on my experiences with the customer service with both companies.
 
I don't have experience with Redding and so can't offer an opinion as to which one is better, but I do suggest that whichever die you get you replace the locking ring with a Hornady split ring so that you don't risk having the set screw mar the threads on the die.
 
The Redding die certainly looks nice. I would think either is great unless you are into competitive shooting and need the very best for accuracy.
 
How about the dillon? I like their sizing/decapping dies because the decapping pin is spring loaded so the primer always pops out. With the hornady and lee dies I used to use every once in a while the primer wouldn't come all the way out or got sucked back in and really jammed things up.
 
I didn't really think about this until now, but my existing dies, dating back to the 1980's or 1990's, all have that locking ring, with a screw that comes in from the side. Did RCBS decide to eliminate it, to save money, or ???

I've got three sets of dies that I do/did use (357/38, 44, and 45) and several more that are little more than paperweights, unless I find someone to sell them to. As far as I know, all of them have the same style of locking ring, with the screw that clamps from the side.
 
For the calibers that you are loading, I'd highly recommend the Redding Dual Ring (DR) dies if the price isn't a concern.

I have been mostly loading 9mm and they don't make a DR die for it due to the taper of the case.

I'm loading more .38Spl and taking a serious look at loading .45ACP. When checking with local competitors that mostly run those calibers, they highly recommend the DR for more consistent sizing and neck tension...as one ring sizes the body and the other sizes the neck.

The .45ACP shooter was even more adamant about the DR sizer as it eliminated any issues he was having when case gauging.

The wider mouth of the Redding Pro series is less of an advantage with the Hornady progressive than something like a Dillon, as the alignment with the dies can be fine tuned on the Hornady.

What I do like about their Pro Series is that their 3-die sets don't include an Expanding die, but does include separate Seating and Crimping dies. This means I don't have an extra die to store, when using my Lyman M-die to expand the case mouths.

If I could justify the expense, I'd also get the Redding Micrometer Seating and Crimping dies...more important with auto than revolver cartridges
 
JimKirk said:
Mike .... just about all the old RCBS dies had a lead shot under the set screw to keep it from marring the threads ...
Click to expand...

For the 45 ACP dies, I have four (re-size, expand, seat, crimp) and all four have an Allen head screw tightening a slot in the large locking nut, which clamps them onto the die. My RCBS 44 Mag/Spec dies are the same.

My 38/357 are as you describe here, with a set screw going against the threads.

It's possible that the person who I bought them from replaced those parts with the locking nuts with a slit and clamp screw.

The instructions you found for me a year ago were a huge help. Thanks again!
 
I use mostly RCBS dies for pistol

For 223 I switched to Redding sizing die for the carbide expander ball, easier not having to lube the inside of the neck. Spray some one shot and go.

I also really like there micrometer seater


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
mikemyers said:
It's possible that the person who I bought them from replaced those parts with the locking nuts with a slit and clamp screw.
Click to expand...

I have several RCBS die sets purchased new around 1980 or so that were originally equipped with split ring lock rings similar in function to the current Hornady split ring lock rings.

At some point in time, RCBS changed lock rings to the style where the set screw jammed into the threads.

I can only imagine why.
 
...likely the same reason that Hornady offers rings with set screws on their American line.

The ever increasing din of the demand for lower prices
 
Functionally there is little to no difference. Reddings are very nicely finished both inside and out. Dies have different seater nose profiles, so depending on what bullet fits best one brand may work better.
 
I understand why I am buying a new re-sizer die, as I need a carbide die. As far as I can tell, my other three dies in my four-die set have been working fine. Am I correct in thinking that there is no reason other than "convenience" in replacing them, even with Reddings dies?

Another question regarding dies - I was watching a video on reloading with the Pro2000, and the fellow sprayed the bullets with a spray can of lubricant mixed with alcohol. The alcohol evaporates, so the bullets are left with a thin coat of lube. He says it's not necessary, but still beneficial. Is adding a thin coat of lube a good idea, even if it's not necessary? It seems to me like the machine would work a bit more smoothly.
 
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