Reloading die comparison

[johnjohn]

I have dies made by RCBS,Lyman,Lee and Hornady they all do what they're made to do and none seem to do it any better than the others. That being said the Lee's aren't as "pretty" as the rest of 'em. (Just my own opinion)

 

[GaryL]

I have at least one of Hornady, Dillon, RCBS, and Lee. Only one gave me any trouble, an old RCBS 38spl set I picked up at a show. The chamfer on the sizing die wasn't much, and cases routinely caught the edge. So I went to town on it with a die grinder and gave it more chamfer, and then polished it up with a dremel. Now I like it just fine, and it didn't need the extra 0.030" of case length sizing anyway.

 

[ranger335v]

"..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."

Lee's FCDs are unique crimper dies in that they have a moving part; that seems to buffalo some people.

 

[Fatelvis]

Dillon dies in the 550 work well. The radiused mouths and the ability to disassemble the dies to clean them without changing their settings are great features. I also like the reversible seater plug, that will match either the RN or SWC profile of your bullets being seated.

 

[stubbicatt]

I prefer the Lee dies for any application. The seating die is easy to adjust. The FCD is really cool. The sizing dies are very similar to other brands, and the rifle sizing dies are really slick. The powder thru expander is just downright cool, and elsewhere I read that Dillon is paying or was paying royalties for this feature on their powder dispensers.

 

[Cleftwynd]

I use Redding, Forster, and RCBS in that order or preference. I have had fantastic results and enjoyment from Redding and Forster dies, along with a few Wilson's for specialized stuff.

I have used Lee equipment and never had an issue with the dies other than very poor finishing, which results in greater resistance when FL sizing.

I still have a Lee Load All 2 that has loaded many many thousand of 16 gauge and not once has ever failed me, for a light plastic cheap loader, it has been the MOST economical piece of reloading equipment I have ever owned! Lee makes some great stuff!