"best" dies ?

[jack44]

one word........... RCBS!

 

[Uncle Richard]

I own 5+ different brand names of dies and all of them are good quality. So far, I have to complement RCBS and Hornady customer service department. I bent the decapping pins and they sent replacement parts at no cost. Even after I explained it was my fault. In addition, RCBS sent a replacement part for a die that was 30+ years old.

How do you plan to use the die (single stage or progressive press)? Progressives don't like lee dies. The treads are to low on the die making it difficult to set the locking rings on my Hornady LocknLoad; however, the threads on the Hornady's are set higher, which allows more adjustment.

But that's my opinion. Opinion's are like noses, they vary from person to person.

 

[Rotting]

As a general rule, I prefer RCBS dies.

A little more specifically, I prefer RCBS pistol and Redding rifle dies.

Even more specifically, for pistol: I prefer RCBS carbide resizing dies, Lyman Expander dies, and Hornady seater dies. For rifle: I prefer Redding Deluxe sets if available, if not, I really like Lyman rifle sizer dies and Hornady seater dies as well.

 

[USSR]

...I prefer RCBS pistol and Redding rifle dies.

+1.

Don

 

[rfwobbly]

The brand of dies often depends on the type press you are using them in. For instance, I like Dillon dies, but they'd be worthless in a single stage. Lee dies are nice, but to use them in something like a Rock Chucker you need to replace those awful lock rings.

So more info is needed.

 

[kingmt]

you need to replace those awful lock rings.

The lock rings are one of my favorite things.

 

[ranger335v]

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

Ditto. And I've never had 'trouble' with any of them, nor have I ever heard of anyone 'wearing out' any die set...damaged from abuse yes, but worn out, no.

 

[Nanook]

I'm switching to Dillon dies for those calibers that I can, but most of my other dies are RCBS. Dillon doesn't make dies in every caliber, like RCBS does.

I'm also developing a fondness for Redding dies, I have a set in .32 H&R and one in 6mmBR. Nice dies, indeed.

I have a number of Lee FCDs, but don't use them anymore. Perhaps I'll put them on Ebay one of these days. The way things are on Ebay, I may get twice what they're worth at the end of bidding. LOL

 

[redneck2]

I had a bunch of Hornady rifle dies. Got rid of all of them. They'd leave a crimped ring around the nose of any bullet other than Hornady brand. I think the RCBS dies I had would rust while you were looking at them. Any die will rust if they're exposed to humidity, but those seemed the worst. Good thing to keep any of them oiled.

I use mainly Dillon for pistol if I can. They have a very limited number of calibers but the dies are REALLY nice to use.

For rifle, I use Lee four die sets. I'm not a big fan of Lee stuff, but their rifle dies are tough to beat, regardless of price. Maybe if I used Redding I'd see a difference, but the Lee do everything I need.

YMMV

 

[mnhntr]

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

No the FCD ensures the rounds will chamber.

 

[mnhntr]

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.

Matter of opinion I suppose. Once in a while you may have a round that has a fraction of a frogs hair to much diameter that causes it not to chamber and that will cost you in a match.

 

[FROGO207]

I have dies from all the players mentioned above except Dillon. I also have some that are made by long gone companies like Bair, Herters, Hollywood, Ideal, and Pacific. All the dies I own work as designed and I will say that low price is the most important thing when I buy dies. I like carbide best when I can get them and the Lee collet dies are the best for neck sizing I have found IMHO.

 

[jk2008]

The lock rings are one of my favorite things.

I agree, they are easy to use and they work as well as any other lock rings I've used.

 

[area51]

Quote:
Originally Posted by area51 View Post
.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?

You are correct Sir, they don't. RCBS does however offer a crimp die as an option. I was merely comparing the cost of the 4 die lee set to the standard 3 die set offerings from RCBS / Hornady...
Perhaps I should of been more detailed in my post.

 

[cfullgraf]

The lock rings are one of my favorite things.

The lock rings are one of the reasons I stopped buying Lee dies. By the time i replaced the lock rings to the kind I prefer and bought a storage box that I preferred, I was spending near as much as buying a set of RCBS dies.

Plus the headache of ordering three separate line items on an order and dealing with all the out of stock status in the process.

I have kept all those removed Lee lock rings as I find an occasional use for them.

It is what works for me.

 

[Otto]

I use Redding Pro Competition dies...great dies but a bit pricey.

 

[area51]

The brand of dies often depends on the type press you are using them in. For instance, I like Dillon dies, but they'd be worthless in a single stage. Lee dies are nice, but to use them in something like a Rock Chucker you need to replace those awful lock rings.

So more info is needed.

I have decided to pick up RCBS. I'll use those in my old RC and my Lee turret. I think the locks on RCBS will be less aggravating than the Lee.

 

[GT1]

I have limited experience and can only compare RCBS and Lee pistol dies. I'll take the $30 Lee sets every time. The RCBS have a nice finish, but they are darn near twice the price and have no separate crimp die. I don't think any paper target(Or soft target) could tell the difference.

Any of them will probably outlast me a couple times over.

The first thing I did was replace those crap RCBS setscrew lock rings(Who came up with that dumb idea?) with Lee rings, I like those far better.

I am in the market for some dies and other tools(trimmer, etc) related to a 30-30 I have recently inherited. I haven't made a decision yet, but will probably go Lee there too. It will get limited use(very, very little, I don't even have a place to shoot it as of yet, might not ever.)

 

[oldreloader]

I have dies from every body but Dillion. They All work fine.. I ordered a set of 40 S&W yesterday....Lee. The more I use the Lee lock rings the better I like them..

 

[Elkins45]

I own Lee, RCBS and Hornady. I like the long neck expanders on the Lee and Hornady rifle dies batter than the little buttons RCBS uses. I really like the sliding alignment sleeve Hornday uses with their bullet seating dies. I also like that the seating is depth adjustable without the use of tools.

RCBS quality is good, but their convenience factor is a bit lower than the others. I like their rifle dies better than pistol because I end up needing a Lee powder die anyway to use in my turret press. For rifle, where I generally establish a seating depth and then never adjust it the locking depth adjustment isn't an issue.

I don't think there is a 'best' brand unless you get up into the very high end Redding benchrest stuff. It's probably the 'best' in the limited selection of calibers they offer them for.

I think the locks on RCBS will be less aggravating than the Lee.

For a single stage press where you are constantly screwing them in or out I agree that you will want rings that have set screws and can be locked to the die body. For turrets, however, there's no need to ever remove the dies once you have them adjusted correctly. The Lee lock rings are no real disadvantage here, and in fact their smaller size means they can work on the crowded Lee turrets when other brands can't.

 

[ranger335v]

Just thinking out loud:

It's worth mentioning that serious "BR" shooters don't use threaded dies (or threaded presses) of any brand.

It's worth noting that many of those who learn to correctly use Lee's locking rings tend to really like 'em.

It's worth asking if the ammo produced in dies is the same average quality, does a purty exteriour on a higher priced die make it a meaningful 'higher' quality?

If we price dies of different brands and features and note that they are nearly the same cost, should we add that the lower cost set also includes a "free" shell holder that usually sells for $7-9?

 

[kludge]

I have no problems with Lee, but Redding would get my vote as the best.

The standard Redding dies aren't that expensive.

 

[codefour]

I'm switching to Dillon dies for those calibers that I can, but most of my other dies are RCBS. Dillon doesn't make dies in every caliber, like RCBS does.

I guess it depends on what press you are going to use them on. For a progressive press, the Dillon dies are the best IMHO. I like being able to remove the inserts to clean them and NOT losing your settings. The huge die mouths are nice for a progressive as well. I am in the process of replacing all my handgun dies from RCBS to Dillon. I keep the RCBS becuase they are great dies too, but the Dillon dies work better on a progressive.

LEE, I have a few, but I did not like the FCD. Why should I resize a sized round. It just distorted the original seating and sometimes created neck tension issues for me.

Redding Rifle dies are great as well.

 

[blarby]

I love lee dies, and most of the things lee makes.

The 45ACP dies were an exception.

After two days of attempting to get them to work, I exchanged them for an RCBS set...which work great.

 

[Elkins45]

It's worth mentioning that serious "BR" shooters don't use threaded dies (or threaded presses) of any brand.

I will confess I don't know much about benchrest but this is news to me. What do they use?