Lee vs RCBS
- Thread starter AgentAdam
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Hunter0924
Member
I would prefer the RCBS dies myself.
RustyFN
Member
I can't say because I have never used RCBS dies. I use Lee dies for all the calibers I reload. I have the Pacesetter die set from Lee for 223 and they work great.
Rusty
Rusty
Lee Dies are fine. RCBS dies are fine. I have dies from both manufacturers and they both work. So, get what you want.
I do not like the Lee Factory Crimp die. This is what the Lee Factory Crimp die did to 6.5 mm SMK bullets. My friend applied a light factory crimp to his bullets, per instructions. It damaged the bullets. The same thing happened to me when I tried the LFCD on 168's SMK bullets. You cannot tell you are damaging the bullets until you pull them.
You do not need to crimp .223, 308 or 30-06 bullets for use in AR's, M1a's, or Garands.
I do not like the Lee Factory Crimp die. This is what the Lee Factory Crimp die did to 6.5 mm SMK bullets. My friend applied a light factory crimp to his bullets, per instructions. It damaged the bullets. The same thing happened to me when I tried the LFCD on 168's SMK bullets. You cannot tell you are damaging the bullets until you pull them.
You do not need to crimp .223, 308 or 30-06 bullets for use in AR's, M1a's, or Garands.
Ifishsum
Member
I've found Lee dies to be about as good as any, but I don't have any use for the Factory Crimp die either. If I want to crimp, I'll use a cannelured bullet and the roll crimp that's built into the seating die.
Halo
Member
I prefer the RCBS dies myself. I do have one set of Lee dies, in 7.5x54. There's nothing wrong with them, but subjectively the RCBS dies just "feel" like they're better quality. Given the choice I pay a bit more and get RCBS. Besides, I'm not wild about the O-ring used on Lee dies. I like the locking ring with set screw that RCBS dies use.
cmidkiff
Member
I use both... they both work just fine.
If you are using a full length resizer, and doing everything else correctly, the lee factory crimp die is simply unnecessary. It's a final sizing step, on what should already be a completed cartridge. Unless something was wrong, it really shouldn't do anything at all.
If you are neck sizing (and I do, whenever possible), the factory crimp die will screw up your perfect chamber sized brass.
If you are using a full length resizer, and doing everything else correctly, the lee factory crimp die is simply unnecessary. It's a final sizing step, on what should already be a completed cartridge. Unless something was wrong, it really shouldn't do anything at all.
If you are neck sizing (and I do, whenever possible), the factory crimp die will screw up your perfect chamber sized brass.
The Bushmaster
Member
I use both...You can't go wrong with either. What color do you like best. Green or Red...
Not many rifle calibres need or should be crimped. Calibres like the .30-30 Win or other rifles with tubular magazine will need crimped...
Not many rifle calibres need or should be crimped. Calibres like the .30-30 Win or other rifles with tubular magazine will need crimped...
DEDON45
Member
I'd go with the RCBS dies... (or Hornady)... I've seen some Lee dies that needed polishing out of the box (on the inside) ... Also, RCBS offers the X-Die, which (at least so far for me) eliminates case trimming, and extends case life.
aerod1
Member
I have both and feel it is a Ford vs. Chevy thing. It seems to me, they both make good dies.
If you want full-length and neck sizer dies Lee is considerably cheaper and I believe they work just as well. Yes they rust but so do guns. Yes they often have a few burrs but 5 minutes of my time is worth the money saved. Either will work as well as the other if price doesn't matter. One thing with the FCD that I like is that trim length isn't quite as critical and mine have increased accuracy a little.
ranger335v
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All die makers produce good products if we gage "good" by the quality of the ammo produced. Anyone questioning this needs to get a concentricity gage and test the cartridges produced by several die sets of each brand. They will find there is no qualitative difference between brands, on average!
Some dies have features an individual user may or may not like but that's no test of the overall quality. For instance, some like the Lee/Hornady method of holding a FL die's decapping rod, some don't, even tho that system does a better job of holding the rod centered in the die than does the RCBS/Lyman style.
Contrary to poplular thought, a mirror shine on the inner surface of a sizing die is not really a good thing, it can't hold a film of case lube like a more textured surface can. That surface lube film helps prevent stuck cases.
All we really get for increased cost with conventional dies is a nicer exterior. Pay for the level of pretty you want and smile about it!
No crimper design will prevent damage to bullets if it's not used correctly. I have detected no damage to a bullet or the concentricity of any cartridge correctly crimped with a Lee collet crimper.
Some dies have features an individual user may or may not like but that's no test of the overall quality. For instance, some like the Lee/Hornady method of holding a FL die's decapping rod, some don't, even tho that system does a better job of holding the rod centered in the die than does the RCBS/Lyman style.
Contrary to poplular thought, a mirror shine on the inner surface of a sizing die is not really a good thing, it can't hold a film of case lube like a more textured surface can. That surface lube film helps prevent stuck cases.
All we really get for increased cost with conventional dies is a nicer exterior. Pay for the level of pretty you want and smile about it!
No crimper design will prevent damage to bullets if it's not used correctly. I have detected no damage to a bullet or the concentricity of any cartridge correctly crimped with a Lee collet crimper.
mallc
Member
Whatever is on the used die shelf.
If you are asking, I'd recommend buying whatever the gunshop has on the used die shelf. Take 'em home clean 'em put 'em to work. Buy better later if you see the benefit.
I have LEE, Dillon, and Redding dies in .223. Dillon and Redding make outstanding tooling AND "runout" is considerably less with Redding then the rest. BUT, I don't find much difference in accuracy at 100 yds.
I just wish LEE put their dies in flat boxes like everyone else so they'd stack nice on the shelf!
Scott
If you are asking, I'd recommend buying whatever the gunshop has on the used die shelf. Take 'em home clean 'em put 'em to work. Buy better later if you see the benefit.
I have LEE, Dillon, and Redding dies in .223. Dillon and Redding make outstanding tooling AND "runout" is considerably less with Redding then the rest. BUT, I don't find much difference in accuracy at 100 yds.
I just wish LEE put their dies in flat boxes like everyone else so they'd stack nice on the shelf!
Scott
RustyFN
Member
While that is true for the pistol FCD the rifle FCD doesn't have the post sizing ring and doesn't size the case, it only crimps. I use the FCD for every caliber I load. I use it because I like to seat and crimp in separate steps and don't use it to fix my ammo. It would be the same thing as buying a separate die to crimp with. The FCD already comes in the die set so I don't see what the big deal is.
Rusty
BigJakeJ1s
Member
Adam,
With 223 in a bolt gun, you don't need to crimp.
Since it is a bolt gun, neck sizing is an option, and the Lee Collet neck sizing die is really good.
If you want to full length size, the RCBS X die is an excellent choice.
For a seating die from one of those two, I would prefer the RCBS competition or gold medal series windowed seating dies, but they are more expensive than their standard seating dies.
For just a standard set of 223 dies, between the two, I would go with RCBS, mostly because I'd have to replace the Lee lock rings with ones that work.
But for just a little more money, Hornady has a much better seating die in their standard set, and the best lock rings on the planet.
Andy
With 223 in a bolt gun, you don't need to crimp.
Since it is a bolt gun, neck sizing is an option, and the Lee Collet neck sizing die is really good.
If you want to full length size, the RCBS X die is an excellent choice.
For a seating die from one of those two, I would prefer the RCBS competition or gold medal series windowed seating dies, but they are more expensive than their standard seating dies.
For just a standard set of 223 dies, between the two, I would go with RCBS, mostly because I'd have to replace the Lee lock rings with ones that work.
But for just a little more money, Hornady has a much better seating die in their standard set, and the best lock rings on the planet.
Andy
I picked up a set of Hornady New Dimersion Dies for my 223, the new version with the Zip Spindle. They have a promotion going on where they send you a box of free bullets. If I discount the price of the bullets I paid $8 for the dies.
The Hornady seat die has the sliding sleeve assembly that keeps the bullet in tight axial alignment with the case neck. It's the same idea as the Forster Ultraseat and Redding Competition Seat Die but a lot less expensive. You can add the micrometer adjust if you like. It comes in handy if you use a lot of different bullets.
I also picked up a Lee Collet Neck Die and a Redding Taper Crimp Die. Between them and the Hornady FL set I have all the bases covered.
The Hornady seat die has the sliding sleeve assembly that keeps the bullet in tight axial alignment with the case neck. It's the same idea as the Forster Ultraseat and Redding Competition Seat Die but a lot less expensive. You can add the micrometer adjust if you like. It comes in handy if you use a lot of different bullets.
I also picked up a Lee Collet Neck Die and a Redding Taper Crimp Die. Between them and the Hornady FL set I have all the bases covered.
The Bushmaster
Member
RustyFN...Lee FCD for .30-30 does resize the case if you have a minor crushed shoulder...Yes...I know Walkalong, but .30-30 brass is quite delicate at the shoulder and sometimes needs help when I get a bit rough...
MMCSRET
Member
I like Lee dies for most everything except seating plastic tipped bullets. It is sometimes difficult to keep the bullet seated upright and centered when raising the ram to the seat position and if the bullet tips slightly then the tip is shaved on one side. I solved this by purchasing a Hornady seating die for 22 caliber. It has the bullet centered all the way up. To replace the Lee round die boxes I buy Lyman boxes. They are less than $3.00 each and are designed to hold 4 dies and shellholder.
gtmerkley
member
Lee hands down I have 2.
f451
Member
I have used RCBS dies in many different calibres and have always been happy with the resulst. Take the time to prep your cartriges, make sure that the load you make is the proper lenght to get maximum efficency from your components. Use just a little crimp in the seating die.
Go out and every time you pull the trigger, smile because of the better quality, less expensive ammo your shooting over the guys shooting the core-lokts next to you!
Go out and every time you pull the trigger, smile because of the better quality, less expensive ammo your shooting over the guys shooting the core-lokts next to you!
The Bushmaster
Member
MMCSRET...Had the same problem...Solved it by drilling the center of the seating plug deeper so the plug contacted the agive and not the tip...
cracked butt
Member
Skip the factory crimp die.
Get the lee collet set. for a bolt action, even if you don't use the collet neck sizing die, the Lee dead length seater die is a better design than the RCBS for several reasons:
1: You can use it in a turret press and get even consistant seating
2: The dead length die doesn't crimp (Having a crimp in a bottle neck seating die is a bad idea whether it be in the RCBS seater or the standard Lee seater)
3. the case is only minimally supported with a standard seating die leading to runout problems.
Get the lee collet set. for a bolt action, even if you don't use the collet neck sizing die, the Lee dead length seater die is a better design than the RCBS for several reasons:
1: You can use it in a turret press and get even consistant seating
2: The dead length die doesn't crimp (Having a crimp in a bottle neck seating die is a bad idea whether it be in the RCBS seater or the standard Lee seater)
3. the case is only minimally supported with a standard seating die leading to runout problems.
dogrunner
Member
I'd submit, Slamfire 1, that if you pull the bullets on OVERCRIMPED roll crimped bullets you'll see the same thing.....Obviously the person that finished those loads had no idea of proper die adjustment!
I'll add that you likely would never have known the difference between those overcrimped bullets and some seated with no crimp whatever.
Try it. Reload those 'damaged' bullets with a control group of undamaged..........I'd bet you lunch that one set will print no differently than the other.
I'll add that you likely would never have known the difference between those overcrimped bullets and some seated with no crimp whatever.
Try it. Reload those 'damaged' bullets with a control group of undamaged..........I'd bet you lunch that one set will print no differently than the other.
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