Reloading die comparison

[MoreIsLess]

Is there any major difference between Lyman, RCBS, Lee and Dillon dies (beside price). I have a Dillon 550b and need to buy a set of 45acp dies. I would prefer Dillon since I have a Dillon press but they are more expensive plus I would have to pay shipping. The local Bass Pro store where I live has Lyman, RCBS and Lee in 45acp.

I know Lee dies combine the bullet seating and crimping in one die while Dillon dies do not, don't know about RCBS or Lyman.

A bullet manufacturer I know of recommends Lyman, not sure why.

 

[918v]

Lee Lyman and RCBS all can be set to seat and crimp in one step, if you so choose. I think RCBS are the nicest.

 

[greyling22]

the lee deluxe die set with the factory crimp die can separate the seating and crimping steps for you. lots of folks don't like the fcd for lead, but with jacketed it's all right.

you may run into issues where the cases slide in and out of the die easier with some brands than others. I read one time where this guy compared a bunch of dies in 9mm and decided that dillon were the slickest.

 

[FROGO207]

Your answer is the basic die sets are about all the same quality or so it seems. I own some of all the ones listed and some others and see no major problems or differences for that matter. The more expensive ones have special features like micrometer adjustments and those are worth the price to some.-------Me I will buy the Lee dies whenever I can cause they load accurate ammo-----for less of an investment usually.

 

[Blue68f100]

The Dillon has a large radius on the sizing die and does not have an expander die. The expander is part of the press. This large radius aids in the brass entering the die. RCBS & Lee does not have this, I do not know about Lyman. Hornady also has the large radius for use in progressive presses.

 

[56hawk]

The distance from the shell holder to the top of the tool head on the 550 is pretty big. I have used Lee dies in mine, but the lock ring is barely being held on by the last thread. You might want to compare them at the store and see which dies have more threads.

 

[hentown]

I use Lee dies, almost exclusively, for reloading on my Dillon 650. I seat and crimp separately, and I do use the FCD for all straightwall cases. I don't load lead.

 

[cfullgraf]

I prefer Redding dies but buy RCBS when I cannot find a Redding set.

On the progressive, I do seat and crimp in separate steps. I use a taper crimp die for auto loading handguns, Roll crimp of revolver rounds.

I had a carbide die once with a larger radius at the inlet. Not a Dillon die for all the "blue man crew" folks. It would leave a small bulge at the base of 357 magnum cases such they they would not chamber after several firings. A steel sizing die I had at the time would iron out the bulge.

I do not use the expanders associated with the powder drop systems. I prefer to use standard mouth expander dies instead.

I do not have experience with Dillon or Lyman dies but I suspect they would serve you well. Oh, wait, I just got a Lyman M mouth expander die for 30 caliber. Works great.

 

[john16443]

I use a total mixture of Lee, Lyman, Hornady dies for my 9mm and 45ACP. Much depends on whether or not I'm reloading lead/plated bullets or jacketed. My reasons for the mix:

I like the Lee sizing die over the Hornady or Lyman sizing dies. It has a better entry radius than the others. Don't know about the Dillon, but another post indicates it is even more generous.

Expanding die - Lyman M die for all lead, coated, or plated bullets. If your "bullet manufacturer" is Dardas, the recommendation is based on getting the proper expansion for the typically larger diameter cast bullets. I have proved this to myself. Using the M die on lead does not result in bullet diameter decreases. Not using the M die on lead does result in measurable bullet diameter decrease. All of this is determined by pulling seated and crimped bullets and measurement. You don't want to decrease the diameter of lead bullets, as this may result in increased leading and accuracy issues. Emphasis on MAY.

For FMJ bullets I use the Lee universal expanding dies as they only apply a flare to the case mouth and nothing else. They work great with the Hornady or RCBS bullet feed dies as these dies require slightly more than normal expansion to allow the bullets to drop.

Bullet feeding die - went from RCBS to Hornady this week. Both work for me, but the Hornady just works a little better as it contains all metal collets compared to the RCBS plastic collets.

Seating die - Hornady because they include a nice sleeve to aid in alignment of the bullet prior to seating, and the dies include 2 stems for different bullet shapes. Other dies may also include multiple stems, but the alignment sleeve cinches it for me.

Crimp die - Lee Taper Crim Die. Note this is NOT the FCD. Like others, I separate the seating and crimping into separate operations on my Hornady LNL AP. Do you need to? No. But this way I make certain that I'm not shaving lead when seating.

Conclusions: All dies will work, depending on your needs you may wish to specialize in some areas. For lead, the expanding and seating areas may warrant a little specialization.

 

[jjjitters]

I like the Hornady seaters a lot, other wise RCBS is another that I ahve had the best luck with.Both of these are longer bodied so they reach down through thick castings a little more.

 

[popper]

RCBS, Hornady and Lee dies. Only Lee has given me trouble.

 

[MoreIsLess]

the lee deluxe die set with the factory crimp die can separate the seating and crimping steps for you. lots of folks don't like the fcd for lead, but with jacketed it's all right.

you may run into issues where the cases slide in and out of the die easier with some brands than others. I read one time where this guy compared a bunch of dies in 9mm and decided that dillon were the slickest.

I currently have Lee dies I am using on my Dillon and the FCD seems to require me to using a lot of force to get the case to go into the die/ I am loading lead bullets.

 

[helotaxi]

I can't justify the Dillon dies. I have expensive dies, but they all offer an improved design over a standard die (and are all Forster). The only die I've ever had trouble with, and I have and use every brand but Dillon, was a Lyman size die. It would stick cases no matter what lube or application method that I used. It's in a landfill somewhere now.

 

[hentown]

I currently have Lee dies I am using on my Dillon and the FCD seems to require me to using a lot of force to get the case to go into the die/ I am loading lead bullets.

That's because the die is sizing the lead bullet...not a good thing.

 

[rbernie]

I historically have used mostly Lee dies, but on my 550B I have moved to Dillon dies (at least for the decapper). The Dillon dies resize with less force and are less fiddly at getting the case mouth to align with the die mouth than my RCBS or Lee dies.

 

[Rodman579]

i use the Dillon decapping/resize die then Lee for the bullet set die and the factory crimp die. i have all my tool heads set up that way. i like how the Lee dies adjust just by turning the knob for depth and crimp. also i load all lead bullets and the factory crimp die resizes the bullet to the correct diameter so i never have issues in my lever action rifles for CAS. i also think the other brands like RCBS, Lyman and Hornady are great too, that just what i use.

 

[ranger335v]

"Only Lee has given me trouble. "

Without explanation, that tells us nothing.

I have some 50+ die sets of several brands including about 8 Lees for rifle and handgun; none of them give me any trouble at all. ??

 

[walnut1704]

I've used several brands of dies in the same calibers, and I can't tell the difference. There's lots of variables when you are reloading ammunition. Bullet, powder charge, seating depth. I've never been able to isolate a production variable between die brands. I'm sure there is one but it may be too small to matter. I don't think it makes a difference. I use mostly Lee and a few RCBS.

 

[moxie]

If you read this and other gun forums, it seems that most guys having problems seem to use Lee dies, the FCD being the most problematic. Seldom hear people asking for help with other brands.

 

[BeJaRa]

I have Lee and RCBS and I prefer the Lee dies. Mostly I like the lee decapper better than the RCBS, less likely to break a pin. Also the price difference.

 

[GW Staar]

If you read this and other gun forums, it seems that most guys having problems seem to use Lee dies, the FCD being the most problematic. Seldom hear people asking for help with other brands.

I use RCBS and Lee dies, including the FCD's. I've read many threads on FCD's so-called "problems" just like you have. But the problems are not the dies, only with how they are used. Maybe they aren't' the best for over-sized lead bullets, but they can be adjusted for amount of crimp. I don't think the instructions that come with the dies ought to override common sense, since those instructions are typically for jacketed bullets....meaning how much you turn the screw to crimp.

As for the "post sizing" feature....that's a non issue it you resize correctly. I don't even feel it on my seating operations.....and if I do, I know I need to correct something. Personally I like the head's up. I've never had a problem with Lee dies. Not that I never have problems mind you, but they always turn out to be........me.

 

[SSN Vet]

I can't give you a comparison, because I've only used Lee dies personally (loading for 8 different cartridges)

I do load .45 acp, both JHP, Plated and LSWC and use the FCD for all three.

I'll share these observations...

Federal brass is ~.0008" to .0009" thicker, which results in up to an add'l .0018" in diameter. With Berry's plated, I'll get a modest bump on the post sizing ring with 8 or 9 out of 10 cases, whereas with Win brass I might get a slight bump with 1 or 2 out of 10 cases.

RP, Aquila and CCI run noticeably thinner and never bump the post sizing ring.

I've loaded the LSWC in the Federal brass and experienced a hard bump on the post sizing ring... but when I pulled a couple bullets and calipered them, they were still .452" So I personally have never seen any swaging down of cast bullets.

Now, when I load the LSWC, I use the RP brass and very rarely get a slight bump.

 

[Sport45]

The distance from the shell holder to the top of the tool head on the 550 is pretty big. I have used Lee dies in mine, but the lock ring is barely being held on by the last thread.

I've noticed the same thing. With a few of my older Lee dies I had to use the lock ring on the bottom of the Dillon tool head. Still worked fine.

 

[Hondo 60]

The Dillon has a large radius on the sizing die

Absolutely true.

The only negative I've seen with Lee dies is that they seem to have the smallest radius on the opening of the sizing die.
So once in a great while, I crush a case.

I have 7 sets of Lee dies, & one each RCBS, Redding & Dillon.

Once the ammo is made, you can't tell the difference, so I won't spend all the extra $$$ on a set other than Lee.

 

[Sport45]

A smaller radius at the bottom of the sizing die allows it to size more of the case.