Redding Dies

[MoreIsLess]

I have a Dillon 550B with Dillon dies. I am thinking of getting a Redding bullet seating die. I like the adjustment knob on the Redding die to be able to tweak the seating depth as opposed to having to use a wrench to loosen the nut and the twist the entire die like you have to do with the Dillon seating die.

Here are the 2 Redding dies I am considering:
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/734166/redding-competition-seater-die-45-acp-45-auto-rim-45-gap

https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/722867/redding-pro-series-seater-die-45-acp-45-auto-rim

Anybody familiar with either of these or recommend one over the other.

 

[Walkalong]

I like the adjustment knob on the Redding die to be able to tweak the seating depth

Then #1 is your die, unless you want to go with another brand of micrometer top seater die.

 

[cfullgraf]

What Walkalong said, the first is the one you want.

I have several of the Redding rifle micrometer seating dies and I like the way they work. Just remember to record your setting so that it is easy to go back to at the next reloading session.

 

[Nature Boy]

I use a Redding comp die for seating .308 on my 650. As long as neck tension is consistent it is very accurate and repeatable

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Is the added experience of the competition die really worth it?

 

[MoreIsLess]

Is the added experience of the competition die really worth it?

That was my question as well

 

[Walkalong]

If you want the ease of changing seating depth, because you load multiple bullets in that caliber, it can be, but only you can say if it is worth the $ to you. They sure are pricey these days.

 

[Joshboyfutre]

They are absolutely worth it when it comes to the seating die. As was said Remember the setting that you have and then all you have to do is measure ogive and if it's a little shorter or a little longer on a different batch of rounds you can literally just move it that many ticks and have the exact same seating depth. Something that comes in pretty handy.

 

[MoreIsLess]

I will be loading mainly pistol (45acp) rounds not rifle. Would it still be worth it to get the one with the micrometer

 

[cfullgraf]

It depends on how much you want to spend versus what you have on hand.

The micrometer seater makes adjustments and return to previous settings easier.

But, similar numbers can be obtained if you have a dial indicator and magnetic or clamp on base. Set the indicator up to read off the top of the seating stem and you can get exact movements of the stem as you adjust it. Another forum member who I do not remember his name does this.

You might be able to do something similar with a set of calipers using the depth measuring end of the calipers.

Or, you can take the threads/inch of the seater stem threads and calculate the number of thousandths of an inch the stem will move for a quarter or eighth turn of the stem.

While I do prefer Redding dies, you can get a micrometer seater die from Hornady for about half the price of the Redding. Hornady sells a standard seater die and an optional seater plug to replace the non-marked unit that comes with the die.

Hope this helps.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Anybody familiar with either of these or recommend one over the other.

I have both, but for .38Spl.
I got your #2 as part of the Pro Series Dual Ring Carbide Sizer set. I added the Competition Seating die later when I found it on sale

There is a pretty large difference between them depending on what your ultimate use will be.

Is the added experience of the competition die really worth it?

That was my question as well

For what I'm using it for, I think it is well worth the additional expense. It is really nice to be able to "dial in" changes in OAL by just counting the index points which provide .001" adjustments in seating depth.

When loading my competition BnB 160gr RN bullet, I set the adjustment at "35". When loading my Xtreme 158gr FP practice bullet, I just turn it to "30" to crimp in the middle of the crimp groove. When a friend comes over to load his Xtreme 158gr RNFP bullets, I can set it to "0" to crimp in the middle of it's crimp groove. All these adjustments are easily repeatable when switching between bullets...there is no guessing, estimating, or trail-error to get the OAL correct.

If you only load one bullet, I don't think you'd see much advantage in the Competition Seating die...although, there is a lot to be said for the alignment afforded by the sliding sleeve/seating plug

I can't yet bring myself to spend the money for the Micrometer Taper Crimp die

 

[9mmepiphany]

While I do prefer Redding dies, you can get a micrometer seater die from Hornady for about half the price of the Redding.

I tried that also and it isn't as refined an assembly.

The tick marks provide a good reference point in resetting seating depth, but the threads are such that each mark doesn't provide a constant amount of adjustment...plus it doesn't have the floating seating plug

 

[cfullgraf]

I tried that also and it isn't as refined an assembly.

The tick marks provide a good reference point in resetting seating depth, but the threads are such that each mark doesn't provide a constant amount of adjustment...plus it doesn't have the floating seating plug

Agreed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you want the ease of changing seating depth, because you load multiple bullets in that caliber, it can be, but only you can say if it is worth the $ to you. They sure are pricey these days.

Looking at the Pro die I thought the knob on top was an adjustment but I guess not. The inexpensive Lee seating dies have an adjustment knob on top of the die you can use for adjusting the bullet depth like the Competition die does. If course no numbers but it is a lot less costly and works very well in both handgun and especially rifle dead length seating dies.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Looking at the Pro die I thought the knob on top was an adjustment but I guess not. The inexpensive Lee seating dies have an adjustment knob on top of the die you can use for adjusting the bullet depth like the Competition die does. If course no numbers but it is a lot less costly

You're understanding of the Redding die sets seems to be a little off. Do you have much experience using either the Redding Pro series or Competition dies on which you've based your opinion/comparison ?

It isn't the adjustability, it is the easy repeatability of the adjustment on the Competition Seating die...although I guess you could mark the Lee die body for points of reference. I've used several sets of Lee dies when I first started reloading. and it has been my experience that Lee dies don't hold their adjustments well over a few hundred cycles.

The Redding die's "numbers" adjust the seating depth exactly .001", the Lee die's threads are too coarse for that precision.

Additionally, the Redding Competition die has a floating sleeve and seating plug to align the bullet and case before seating begins.

You could make a stronger argument for the Lee die compared to the Redding Pro series seating die, but you'd still be at a disadvantage due to the coarseness of the Lee's threads and the vagueness of it's adjustments

 

[Walkalong]

ou might be able to do something similar with a set of calipers using the depth measuring end of the calipers.

This is what I did years ago before getting the Redding micrometer seater for .45 ACP.

 

[Walkalong]

although I guess you could mark the Lee die body for points of reference.

I also do this to seaters, make a couple of marks with a sharpie. I note it in the log book. ("Second mark on seater", etc.)

 

[RussellC]

I have that Competition seating die in .45 ACP and cant say enough good about it. I have a thread around here on it concerning Berry's 185 grain RN seating slightly cockeyed with the lee seater. The Redding does it as pretty as you please. I still need to get to the range to test the bullets, Bds wanted me to to see if there was any accuracy difference (at 10 yards) between cocked and non cocked. I have the bullets ready, just need to get to the range, hopefully this sunday PM.

Russellc

 

[Varminterror]

Is the added experience of the competition die really worth it?

That was my question as well

The micrometers make adjustments easier, but the real benefit is the ability to "reset" the die. Think of it like zeroing your turrets on your rifle scope - it's nothing more than a point of reference to return to the previous setting.

This can be done with any die using the depth spindle on a vernier caliper, measuring the seating stem to the case body, and body to the headplate or press body.

Personally, more often than not, I have no use for micrometer seaters. I make dummy rounds to let me reset my dies if and when I need, but most often, if I have multiple bullets for a given cartridge, I simply buy more dies and leave them set. I have 5 turret heads set up for 223rem right now for different loads. I also have 3 other seating dies in the drawer set for different bullets, so I can change among rifles and bullets without ever resetting my dies. I also have a tackle box with around 50 dummy rounds for 223/5.56 set for different bullets in different rifles to let me quickly reset my dies. Dummy rounds are a lot cheaper than micrometer seaters - a guy might get $5 at most into a dummy round, sometimes as low as 20 cents, but no matter what, it's cheaper than the micrometer seater, or the up-charge above standard die cost for the "competition series" die which comes with one.

I have Redding Competition dies, and very much enjoy them. I also have Hornady micrometer seaters, and I agree, they're great, but they're not Redding great. If money isn't a concern, or if a guy doesn't want to have multiple die sets or have dummy rounds sitting around, then they do have a place.

So micrometer seaters aren't the pinnacle of reloading precision, they're just an aid to speed up resets. If you only have one rifle in the cartridge and will only regularly shoot one bullet, or if you're willing to buy multiple sets of less expensive dies, the Micrometer seater is not really worth much.