"best" dies ?

[area51]

Want to get some 45acp dies. Which are the best build longest lasting die sets I can get ? The 4 set Lee Deluxe seems to be in the same price range as the RCBS and Hornady. If I get them used on ebay normally it saves me just $10 - $15.00

The die set a have now are rcbs but it"s missing the seating die. Getting a seating die with both rn and swc with TC are almost as expensive as getting a new set...

 

[rcmodel]

You can't go wrong with RCBS or Redding.
I'm still using some sets I bought 40+ years ago.

Lots of people like Lee carbide for the price though.

rc

 

[kingmt]

I'm replacing my RCBS dies with Lee if that tells you anything about which one I prefer. I have never tried Dillon & Hornady keeps rubbing me the wrong way. I have 1 tool set from CH4D & I like it a lot.

 

[Slamfire]

I really like my Dillion 45 ACP die. It has a sturdy spring loaded decapping pin and that does eject the primer out of the pocket. Not that I have had problems with standard dies with primers getting hung up.

I have lots of Lee pistol dies and I use them in my dillion 550B. The one piece fixed decapping pin does not come loose. Other brands, the decapping pin unscrews over time and you bust spindles and pins.

If you don't like Lee my suggestion is to look for the pistol dies with the most robust decappers and get the carbide dies.

Pistol seating dies, they all get wax and lube in them and all of them have to be cleaned out. Buy by price.

 

[PapaGeno21]

I have a set of lee dies for every caliber I reload for. You just cannot beat the prices. And the quality is there all day long.

 

[area51]

I'm replacing my RCBS dies with Lee

Knightmt....I'd be inclined to get your 45acp seating die if it's tc and has the swc/rn plugs and it's in good shape.

 

[Vartarg]

For handguns: Lee

For Rifles: Redding

 

[kingmt]

It has both the flat & round seating plugs. Maybe even a third. When they get replaced it will go as a set size/flare/seat & I my throw in a Lee powder through die. I don't load many 45 ACP. I just replaced the 9mm the other day tho. Now only 45 & 38/357 to go.

If you had the Lee dies we may swap.

 

[mnhntr]

I have both Lee and RCBS. I like the FCD die from Lee, but I like the FL Sizer die from RCBS. I would say whatever you go with make sure it is a carbide die for handgun and get a FCD for any auto pistol.

 

[area51]

get a FCD for any auto pistol

Doesn't the normal tc die from RCBS do the same thing ?

 

[Blue68f100]

I have replaced most of my old dies with Hornady's. The Ti insert and drop down bullet holder/align for the seater works very nice.

Most all of my Rifle dies are RCBS.

I have 1 set of Lee 9mm dies. If you ever use the Hornady side by side you will notice a huge difference in force required to do the sizing. It's what steered me away from Lee.

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer Redding and RCBS.

I have had some issues with a couple Hornady pistol resizer dies not resizing the cases enough. I don't like the Hornady pistol mouth expander dies as you cannot get the expander button out to clean, check, or otherwise fondle.

I replaced all my Lee dies with others when I got into progressives a couple years ago although I may still be using a Lee taper crimp or two.

Lee handgun FCDs are a solution looking for a problem in my opinion. Do your reloading properly and they are not needed. Lee rifle FCD is a different matter, nice concept. But since I do not crimp any rifle rounds, I do not have any either.

 

[mohunter55]

I replaced all my RCBS dies with Hornady, then i realized that hornady parts like to rust way easier than the RCBS stuff. Still have both sets for 45, 9, 38, 223, 270, 40s&w, and more. Hornadys are easier to use. I also have a few of the lee undersize dies and the lee factory taper crimps. some of the lee stuff just feels/looks cheap to me, but it all works good.

 

[kingmt]

Lee handgun FCDs are a solution looking for a problem in my opinion. Do your reloading properly and they are not needed. Lee rifle FCD is a different matter, nice concept. But since I do not crimp any rifle rounds, I do not have any either.

I thought that was RC opinion.

 

[kingmt]

Sorry message popped up & I messed up.

 

[JohnM]

I really like Redding. And RCBS and Hornady, and Lee, and Herters, and Lyman, and--------

 

[GLOOB]

Getting a seating die with both rn and swc with TC

Lee dies only come with a round nose seater. But you can buy spares for only a few bucks each. Turning one into a SWC plug is easy. Just chuck it up in a 1/2" drill and dish out a flat spot with a Dremel tool. I've even seen a web post where a guy ground the entire tip of the seater plug off and sanded it completely flat.

 

[Nappers]

I like RCBS, but folk's opinions are the best way and you pick.

Huntington sells RCBS dies, either in sets or single dies at a reasonable price, they are located in Oroville, CA right next to RCBS plant.

Dad always used RCBS and I just followed suit. He was a Ford man but I went Chevy.....Go figure.

I do like remarks on Hornaday and Redding among others. I have the Carbide 3 set .45 dies.....RCBS customer service is top notch.

Huntington

 

[P-32]

I'm replacing my RCBS dies with Lee if that tells you anything about which one I prefer. I have never tried Dillon & Hornady keeps rubbing me the wrong way. I have 1 tool set from CH4D & I like it a lot.

I went the other way an replaced Lee with RCBS. The RCBS carbides are very smooth. Never had any issues with the RCBS.

For Rifle I seem to be gathering more and more Fprester match dies and match seating dies.

 

[highlander 5]

I have a compilation of RCBS,Redding and Dillon. Most of my pistol/revolver dies are Dillon as I use a 650 for pistol/revolver. Rifle dies are all Redding and 3 of my pistol calibers are RCBS.

 

[kingmt]

I went the other way an replaced Lee with RCBS. The RCBS carbides are very smooth. Never had any issues with the RCBS.

For Rifle I seem to be gathering more and more Fprester match dies and match seating dies.

The RCBS seem to size to much. I'm sure they would have redone them for me for asking but never did. I also love the way the Lee adjust & lock. I have my dies in & out alot so it helps.

 

[Certaindeaf]

.The 4 set Lee Deluxe seems to be in the same price range as the RCBS and Hornady..

I didn't know that RCBS and Hornady offered four die sets.
The Lee 3 die set is like what, $27?

 

[LBEE]

Dies

I would say for me that Dillon Dies are the best Hands Down, although they are more expensive, I bit the bullet & bought the 9MM & 45 acp dies for their features & Quality.

 

[Ky Larry]

I have Lee dies for everything I reload. At an estate sale, I picked up used RCBS dies for $5.00 a set. In .223, .243, .22-250, and .308, I can't see any difference in accuracy. The Lee dies are easier to change and adjust. You can probably just shop by price. YMMV.

 

[4895]

I started buying LEE dies for cost. I have since grown a fondness for RCBS dies. I will continue to buy LEE for those hard to find sets that come with a shell holder and load data, such as 8x56r, and pistol calibers that I don't reload very much, such as 380 acp. I will not buy anymore LEE rifle dies but will insist on finding RCBS for the major calibers. I feel the RCBS is a much higher quality and if I spend another $10 or so, that's not a loss in my book. Considering the cost of components these days, I would rather have a better set of tools.