Comparing reloading die sets.....RCBS vs. Redding

Fred:

Thank you for the link to the RCBS page. It took a while to read and reread it and reread it again probably due to the poor education I received in New York City, which is obviously inferior to that available in coastal Oregon. But the page doesn't state where die components are now made or even assembled. I have asked RCBS the question and await its answer.

If I am incorrect, I will post the same here.

 

Varmniterror

RCBS Chargemaster crapped out after 8 months. I had a six month warranty. I had to return to Brownell's for full refund. I was over the line on the warranty. My fault, but they also refused to look at it with me paying for the repair. On little things like a decapping rod, they were great.

 

Well, you could do like I did and actually ask the RCBS reps at the SHOT Show, several years running, including this year. They said their electronics are made in China, but everything else is made in the U.S. Unfortunately, there is no link for person to person conversation(s), but if you did look at the link, and read the "About Us" section, you would know they have a 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Oroville, CA. Prior to his passing, I also talked to Fred Huntington at the SHOT Show quite a few times.

They make their tools in the USA: https://www.rcbs.com/about-us.html

Hope this helps.

Fred

PS: I have no idea what New York City has to do with anything, nor why you thought it necessary to include it in the conversation. The subject matter is where RCBS makes their tools.

 

Fred:

I have neither the time nor the inclination to get into a pissing contest with you or anyone else here or on other boards.

If you review what YOU wrote, you might see why I responded in the fashion I did. As to the reference of 50,000 square feet (at one time) means nothing. There are tens of thousands of empty or near empty manufacturing facilities in this country, either unused or underused. That was my whole point in stating that Redding products are made here.

Have the wonderful day I believe you deserve.

 

Interesting that they would only offer 6mos warranty on your chargemaster, both of my warranty cards, one ~15 yrs old and the other ~4yrs old, as well as the RCBS website at this time of writing claims it has a One Year Warranty. Equally interesting that they would claim and carry a 6 month warranty while their competition, Hornady and Lyman, both offer One Year Warranties on their electronic powder measures.

Either way, an RCBS product failed slightly outside of warranty, and they told you to pound sand. Expected, and fair.

Folks often use good customer service to stand behind something which shouldn’t have failed in the first place. And also often haven’t ever used the opposing product. If anyone has had poor customer service experiences from Redding, to place THAT as differentiating for why they use RCBS instead, I’d love to learn about it.

 

This is what I would buy for lead, especially if sized .459. All my Redding crimp dies in revolver calibers are set aside for jacketed bullets, if used at all. I would rather use Lee for jacketed, when available for the cartridge. This is because I have repeatedly been disappointed in not being able to get a real roll to the crimp with Redding. The RCBS Cowboy dies, if like all the rest that I have, would be sized for a larger bullet than jacketed, probably .459. The real issue is whether the sizer is larger, so cases don't stick on the expander. You get a larger sizer only in an RCBS Cowboy, as far as I have tried. However, I have not owned and measured the 45-70 set. I am just saying that I would rarely turn to Redding for a roll crimp set.

 

My grandson bent the decapping rod and the expander on my .223 sizer die last week. Sent an email to rcbs, new one on the way, no charge. I use rcbs competition dies for my rifle rounds and lee 4 carbide dies for my pistol rounds. Very happy with both.

 

They have some new dies now.

https://www.rcbs.com/reloading-dies/matchmaster/

 

I liked the Chargemaster 1500. It made life simpler. But the warranty that I got was not for a year but the time period I stated.

 

I have some RCBS and LEE,S I like my LEE best

 

Would you mind providing the reason(s) why you like Lee best (over RCBS)?

 

Thank you!