Hornady Custom Grade vs. Lee Pacesetter .308 Dies

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jmorris said:
I am in no way doubting it but what evidence is this based on? Does it already shoot that well with premium factory ammunition?



They will make less difference than the shooter, rifle, projectile and probably a few other variables.

I’ll go as far as to say, the process is probably more important than the brand of die. In some cases (no pun intended) the lube and how it is applied is more important than what brand of die is used.
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The evidence is the target at 100 yards; nearly half an inch with Winchester Power-Points. I was in shock when I first shot it. I haven't even tried any other ammunition in it, I haven't found much reason to. Ruger Americans are unbelievably accurate for the price you pay.
 
Since you are planning to buy sets of dies for two different cartridges, buy one Hornady set and one Lee set. Use them a while and see which you like better.

You won't recoup all the cost of the die set you do not like but if you decide to sell it, they are an easy sell especially popular cartridges like 308 Win and 223 Rem.

Both Lee and Hornady dies will make excellent ammunition as will the dies from the other four or five manufacturers currently in business. Each company has basic dies and then dies with special features and functions that are more expensive from the standard dies.

I'd guess most reloaders that have been reloading for a long time have a few die sets and individual dies from most of the different manufacturers. I have dies from Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Dillon, Forester, and Lee.
 
cfullgraf said:
I'd guess most reloaders that have been reloading for a long time have a few die sets and individual dies from most of the different manufacturers. I have dies from Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lyman, Dillon, Forester, and Lee.
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Especially after several shortages, or when a random single die breaks/unusable, or loading for a unusual caliber, you end up with dies from most major manufacturers.
In my case, RCBS is my favorite (and not because its green) because they've shown to be the most smartly engineered ("precisioneered") but also top quality. I have some Hornady dies and those are weird to me, but i respect their quality. I started with Lee and although good for the money, in recent years their quality has gone down. I was looking at a set of new rifle dies from them and i was shocked at how cheap they feel compared to my RCBS dies. If I can i buy RCBS unless i need to quickly buy a single type of die for a set thats missing one then i'll buy the cheapest i can find.
 
Scout21 said:
The evidence is the target at 100 yards; nearly half an inch with Winchester Power-Points.
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That’s great news, should make short work of coming up with an acceptable load.

Always nice to have run factory ammunition too, if nothing else as a standard to compare against.
 
Lee’s .223 FCD doesn’t work on their own Pro 4000 Progressive press! the shell plate doesn’t is counter sink. It wouldn’t engage the crimping dies
 
If those were the two options the Hornaday is a substantially better option. My list of reasons.
1. Hornaday makes the best locking rings in the business.
2. The sleeve on the seating die alone makes it worth it.
3. You never have been more frustrated than seating stems that Mar bullets, Hornaday has a plethora of choices, cheap and easily available.
4. You can cheaply upgrade to micro adjust seating...

I'm a forester sizing and rcbs seating guy so your choice doesn't bother me one way or another....
 
Heir Kommt Die Sonne said:
Especially after several shortages, or when a random single die breaks/unusable, or loading for a unusual caliber, you end up with dies from most major manufacturers.
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With RCBS if a die breaks or becomes unusable call them up and they send you what you need free of any charges NO BS.

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I started with Lee and although good for the money, in recent years their quality has gone down.
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Lee definitely has the lowest quality out there and you hit a home run with that comment.
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I was looking at a set of new rifle dies from them and i was shocked at how cheap they feel compared to my RCBS dies.
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There is a considerable difference in the quality between lee and the other reloading companies.
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jmorris said:
That’s great news, should make short work of coming up with an acceptable load.

Always nice to have run factory ammunition too, if nothing else as a standard to compare against.
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My biggest fear is that I won't be able to make up a load that shoots as well. The main reason I'm loading for it is because I want to use a TTSX bullet, but don't want to pay $50 a box for loaded ammo.
 
As others have said about the sleeve in the Hornady seating die. What I really like is the optional micrometer seating top. The great thing about it is you can switch it to another Hornady seating die. No need to buy separate ones. You can buy one and switch it oveer from the 223 die to the 308 die.

You then keep a notebook noting the micrometer settings for the different bullets you seat to different COL. You can then return to that particular COL.

I use the micrometer seater on 4 different Hornady die sets.

Micrometer seater : https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012740357
 
Scout21 said:
My biggest fear is that I won't be able to make up a load that shoots as well. The main reason I'm loading for it is because I want to use a TTSX bullet, but don't want to pay $50 a box for loaded ammo.
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Then choose a bullet that shoots well like the berger or sierra sgk... monos are great when required but are not where I would hang my accuracy hat....
 
Scout21 said:
Are the more refined details simply cosmetic, or do they add to the usefulness of the dies?
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Dies won’t make a more accurate load, load development does that.

The most important aspect of a sizing die is how well it matches your chamber not how much it cost or what brand name it has, That particular die I have owned and used for my rifle only to replace it soon there after simply because it was grossly over sizing my brass creating a horrible experience and case head separation within 5-6 reloading, now in all fairness it may have been possible to send it back with three fire formed cases for honing but instead I ordered a Wilson full length sizing die that fit perfect and without tech support.

jim
 
Scout21 said:
My biggest fear is that I won't be able to make up a load that shoots as well. The main reason I'm loading for it is because I want to use a TTSX bullet, but don't want to pay $50 a box for loaded ammo.
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That’s a worth while fear to have. Loading on a progressive have you looked into getting a window seating die, like the https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell-holders/rifle-dies/gold-medal-match---seater-die/344.html?

Keeps your hands out of pinch zones and seats well.

I also have a more universal and inexpensive window seat die sold by Frankfort arsenal but I have not used it yet to know if it’s a winner or not.
 
jmorris said:
That’s a worth while fear to have. Loading on a progressive have you looked into getting a window seating die, like the https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell-holders/rifle-dies/gold-medal-match---seater-die/344.html?

Keeps your hands out of pinch zones and seats well.

I also have a more universal and inexpensive window seat die sold by Frankfort arsenal but I have not used it yet to know if it’s a winner or not.
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I use the Frankford on my Pro4000 for .223! and mix with the M-plug, it’s very easy to just drop the bullet in the window and let the die do it’s job.
 
jmorris said:
That’s a worth while fear to have. Loading on a progressive have you looked into getting a window seating die, like the https://www.rcbs.com/dies-and-shell-holders/rifle-dies/gold-medal-match---seater-die/344.html?

Keeps your hands out of pinch zones and seats well.

I also have a more universal and inexpensive window seat die sold by Frankfort arsenal but I have not used it yet to know if it’s a winner or not.
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You selected my fan boy vote from my earlier post.... it is appropriate considering the price of the press...
 
South Prairie Jim said:
Dies won’t make a more accurate load, load development does that.

The most important aspect of a sizing die is how well it matches your chamber not how much it cost or what brand name it has, That particular die I have owned and used for my rifle only to replace it soon there after simply because it was grossly over sizing my brass creating a horrible experience and case head separation within 5-6 reloading, now in all fairness it may have been possible to send it back with three fire formed cases for honing but instead I ordered a Wilson full length sizing die that fit perfect and without tech support.

jim
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So what you’re saying is that dies can certainly make a difference.
 
Walkalong said:
So what you’re saying is that dies can certainly make a difference.
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Certainly they can make a difference in your sanity’ and reloading experience , that particular die reduced the radial dimension of the case body over .004 compared to my fired case, ( Tikka 308 ) it may have been fine in a tighter chamber weapon or have it honed out. To the OP - learning how to measure a chamber and virgin brass vs fired brass is a worthy place to spend some time.
 
Bullet type & manufacturer makes the difference in my opinion.
When I worked up a load for my 243 Remington 788 I wanted 100 grain soft point for deer hunting. Once I got the right powder down I tried five different types of 100 grain soft point bullets.
The Hornaday SST bullets were touching each other then they spread out to the size of a quarter. Same cases, same power & charge and same primer.
It you stick with just one bullet you might be handicapping yourself.
 
Scout21 said:
It's not necessarily about the money, it's about spending money on the better die. No sense to pay more for a lesser product, if that's the case.
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I don't think any reply said the Lee dies were better. In fact, Lee's main draw is that they are a little cheaper but, in most cases, can produce decent ammunition. There's no such thing as a free lunch, the lower price is compensated for in some way.

Do your Dillon justice and get the Hornady's. The thirty bucks you save (2 sets) won't change your life and you'll not regret it years from now.
 
Walkalong said:
So what you’re saying is that dies can certainly make a difference.
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I think everything makes a difference. How much difference they make varies though and might not always be the same, from one set of circumstances to another.

This is likely why people have different opinions of what matters most.
 
jmorris said:
I think everything makes a difference. How much difference they make varies though and might not always be the same, from one set of circumstances to another.

This is likely why people have different opinions of what matters most.
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No two guns or dies are exactly alike so absolutely true...
 
cfullgraf said:
I'd guess most reloaders that have been reloading for a long time have a few die sets and individual dies from most of the different manufacturers.
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Yup!
My best most favorite .45ACP/AR reloading set has a Hornady sizing and seating dies and Lee powder-through expansion and crimp dies. I have or have had Lyman, Redding, RCBS and Herters in the past for a variety of calibers. I mix-n-match brands based on what works good for that case and my handloads. Can't recall right now how many .32S&W, Long, H&R (the original from 1886) and H&R Magnum die sets I've got. A few. Which one I use depends on if I'm loading Black or smokeless. Mostly.

upload_2022-6-13_15-17-41.png
Loaded with FFFg, a charge of 15gr. with an 88gr. FB/RN bullet in a trimmed .32S&W Long case.
 
jmorris said:
I think everything makes a difference. How much difference they make varies though and might not always be the same, from one set of circumstances to another.

This is likely why people have different opinions of what matters most.
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I agree 100%, although some things are consistently good and some are consistently bad, but there are exceptions to everything. Just have to try it. Sleeved seaters should seat better, but they don't do it automatically, gotta check it. And of course you do.
 
I’m going to buy a set of Hornady dies just to feel quality again! SORRY LEE
 
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