Die Recommendation

[3Poults]

Hello all,
I'm beginning preparations to handload for 30-06. I've got some experience, having handloaded for .22 Hornet and .22 K-Hornet for several years. I have a Lee press and have used both Lee and RCBS dies. In comparing the two brands, both seemed to work fine although I preferred the RCBS for bullet seating. I've no experience with other brands so before I make a purchase, wanted to get input from the team here.
For what it's worth, I'll be shooting a Winchester M70 and my interest is in maximizing the accuracy potential of the gun with hunting loads. I was assuming that either Lee or RCBS would suit my purpose just fine but any input/guidance would be truly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[Blue68f100]

Hard to go wrong with RCBS. Most all of my rifle dies are RCBS or Redding.

 

[murray brook]

Forster make great dies and at a decent price. I have many different dies and prefer Forster.JMO

 

[eyeshot]

Cheap looking go Lee. For what you're doing Lee or RCBS will serve you well. Buy good, used dies. New dies don't function any better than used unless some old fart has worn them down over sixty years.

(I'm an old fart )

 

[lightman]

Either brand that you named will work well. But so would Redding, Hornady, Lyman or Forster. Theres really not a wrong answer. I really like having mostly one brand so I probably would choose the brand you already have.

Edit---left out Lyman

 

[troy fairweather]

Rcbs is were I look fist,

 

[74man]

Make sure you use lube cause they don't make Carbide dies for necked cases. Just to let you know that without lube, you might have to get out your stuck case remover. My 2 cents

 

[cfullgraf]

Make sure you use lube cause they don't make Carbide dies for necked cases.

FYI...

Actually, Dillon makes carbide sizing dies in 223 Remington and 308 Winchester. They are designed for the high volume loader who might wear out a steel sizing die. The average home reloader, no matter what he thinks, does not come close to being a high volume loader.

They are very expensive.

They still require the use of lubrication during sizing.

I am not aware of anyone else making carbide rifle sizing dies.

Redding does make a carbide expander button for expanding the case mouth of a rifle die. They are available in a number of diameters and fit their sizing die expander/decapping pin stems. I find they still like a little lubrication but less than what is needed for steel expander buttons.

 

[cfullgraf]

My first choice for reloading dies is Redding with RCBS a close second. Usually, if I cannot find the Redding dies, I immediately look for RCBS dies.

Hornady makes a micrometer adjuster for their seater dies that replaces the standard adjuster. It makes a less expensive micrometer seater die than Redding or RCBS. The micrometer seater makes it easy to return to a seating setting if you change bullets or if you are dialing in new cartridge overall length.

I have one set of Lyman dies and it is in par with the RCBS dies that I have.

I do not care for the o-ring lock rings on Lee dies although they have a new ring that clamps to the die. With the old lock rings, since they do not lock to the die, you can loose your setting unless you store the dies in a tool head and never remove the die. The dies are fine and inexpensive.

 

[eyeshot]

Cfullgraf quote, "I have one set of Lyman dies and it is in par with the RCBS dies that I have."

I agree. Don't discount Lyman. I bought a used set of 6mm Remington dies used for $15 + $10 shipping of Ebay. I have a brand new set of RCBS still in the box because the Lyman set makes darn good ammo.

Good luck to you.

 

[FROGO207]

Yeah, any of the usual suspects make good reloadimg dies. It comes down to price and features that you need. I own some of about every brand made, even some that are no longer in buisness. They all do what they were made to do
The exception might be the micrometer seating die if you absolutely need that feature. Me I buy multiple used sets of dies and dedicate the seater die to a specific bullet and seating length to avoid having to constantly adjust things.

 

[Howa 9700]

My ammo objective is similar to the OP.......accurate hunting loads for sporter rifles. These two groups were loaded using LEE dies......and almost no load workup. One from a 270 Win and the other a 308 Win. If improvement were to be gained, would it come from better load development or better dies?

 

[Icthruu74]

I started out reloading with Lee dies, and I just used my first set of Lee dies today (in 30-06 no less). The best group I’ve shot with that rifle was reloads I made with those dies so I’m sure they’re capable. I’ve also used RCBS, Hornady, and I’ve got some old Herters and Pacific dies too. Used to be you could turn up used dies cheap, but that hasn’t worked out for me lately, maybe your luck will be better.

 

[Walkalong]

Either one might.

 

[Bcwitt]

I doubt very much it makes a difference. I use both types. I kinda like the more positive lock ring set screw on the rcbs vs the rubber o ring on the lee dies. I like the idea of setting the lock rings & being sure of my adjustment when removed from the press. You can do the same thing w lee dies, but its just not quite as secure as a setscrew.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Most of my handgun cartridge reloading dies are from Lee. I started out with Lee rifle dies but switched over to RCBS dies for loading rifle cartridges. I do have a set of Hornady dies for the 45-70 which I also like. I guess it's really just a matter of preference since I have found any of the name brand dies will do the job well.

I do like the collet crimping dies that Lee makes and I also like the Lee bullet seating dies because they are so easy to adjust on the fly.

 

[Bearded Phil]

For what it's worth my die sets are predominantly RCBS or Hornady. Lee makes great crimp dies but I've never tried their standard sets.

I will say that I love the Hornady for seating, the adjustment is pretty nice. I have several .38/.357 sets from them they come with both round nose and flat point seating stems with the set and they're easy to switch out. Great for cast bullet shooting and/or switching between bullet profiles that are rounded or flat. May or may not be applicable for 30-06, I've never loaded for it. Regardless, they have a seater stem that adjusts by turning the stem in/out and has tension kept by a threaded washer and gasket. There's no need to mess with a straight up screw and wrench.

I have a .223/5.56 from Hornady and it does everything I need on that front.

On the RCBS I really like my standard 45-70 and 45-70 Cowboy dies since the seaters come with their 1/2" x 20 plugs. The wider plug diameter is a bit easier to work with and even though you have to set it with a wrench when you have it where you want it, this is important because...

My RCBS 30-30 die set, and this is applicable to the 30-06 since it's also bottleneck, has a seater thats 1/4" x (?) which is a little harder to set because in my experience the 1/4" dia stem will move quite a bit when setting with a wrench without a screwdriver from the top (it has a slot for this purpose) and a careful hand. Takes a little fiddling with but can be set as well as any other but definitely not as easy Hornady to adjust.

My ideal die sets for most any cartridge would probably be RCBS FL sizer/carbide sizer, RCBS expander/Lyman M die expander (if needed) and a Hornady seater.

 

[BBarn]

Any of the popular die brands can be used to make good hunting ammo. I've used Forster, Hornady, Lee, Lyman, RCBS, and Redding dies. I'm content using any of them, but won't be buying any more Lee die sets.

 

[King Medallion]

90% of my dies are Lyman. They are what I started with way back in 78 an have seen no reason not to stick with them. The few I don't have in Lyman are because I couldn't find them at the time I needed them.

 

[AJC1]

Forester is your best option with a honned neck imo.

 

[Walkalong]

That can be one of the best options, depending on the application.

 

[irishlad]

Forster make great dies and at a decent price. I have many different dies and prefer Forster.JMO

I really like the Forster FL sizing die, I have them for most of my rifle calibers. I have RCBS competition seating dies for all my rifle calibers, I like the window on them. I use Lee 4 die sets for all of my pistol rounds.

 

[AJC1]

I really like the Forster FL sizing die, I have them for most of my rifle calibers. I have RCBS competition seating dies for all my rifle calibers, I like the window on them. I use Lee 4 die sets for all of my pistol rounds.

I only have one of the window rcbs dies, the older gold medal... it's in 308, and I'm looking for one for 223, as it would be soooo nice on the smaller bullets.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I repalced all my Lee rifle dies with RCBS. Happy i did. The inner machining is much better.

 

[splattergun]

The buck doesn't care. Either die set will build ammo capable of doing the job well. Your load development matters much more, not to mention the capability of the shooter and the rifle.
I mostly use Lee dies. Have killed bucks out to over 465 yards with Lee-built 30-06 loads.
What matters most of all is that game killed with your hand loaded ammo tastes better than game killed with factory stuff.