You're Ultimate Die Selectiion

[moxie]

I have and love my very old RCBS carbide .45acp set, upgraded with a newer taper crimp seater die. The decapper is set up with the expander. They changed it to the sizer some many moons ago. Different but same excellent results. This set is perfect. I tried a Redding set and just didn't like it as much.

For 9mm I use a RCBS set as well. I liked the RCBS .45 set so much it was a no-brainer when I finally drank the Kool-Aid on 9mm.

 

[Potatohead]

I would prefer a mix of Lee and RCBS. The RCBS seems to be made much better though I like the little twisty Lee knob on their seating dies.

 

[FROGO207]

I have dies that are older than I am as well as some purchased within a few months. I load on a SS and a turret press. I have mostly Lee then RCBS. I also have Lyman, Pacific, Bair, Hornaday, C&H, Ideal, Hollywood, Herters, and several sets that have no names on them. A lot of them are multiples and they work interchangeably for me. All work as required and none were what I would ever call junk. My two best choices for new dies would be Lee and RCBS. YMMV

I look at features first then price then decide.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Just at a quick glance on Amazon, it looks like I should be looking at:

1. Lee Precision 9-mm Carbide Die - $23.50
2. Lyman Neck Expanding "M-Inch" Die - $20.50
3. Hornady Bullet Seating Die #3 - $20.50
4. Hornady Microjust Seating Stem - $21.40

...for an investment of $86 + tax

 

[Nordeste]

What I've heard of Dillon dies (I've never used them, but have been told so) is that, opposite to what other brands do (Lee), they don't fully resize the case. They have wider mouths and are told to be slicker, but don't resize all the way down.

The Lee expander could see some improvement, that's for sure. The bad news is that if I wanted to replace it on my LCT, I'd also need another powder measure, and it doesn't look worth it to me. The seater is great. Easy to fine tune even though there's no micrometer. You can't beat it for the price.

The carbide FCD thing has been long discussed, but just FYI, I use plated .356" bullets and have removed the post sizing insert, and use it as a regular taper crimp die. Another good thing of this die is that you can adjust your crimp pretty much the same way you adjust your seating die, by turning in or out the knob on top of the die.

 

[Shimitup]

I think a question I was about to post got answered here. I've had an old RCBS 9mm carbide die that I bought in the early 80's with apparently a short ring that more or less turned my 9's into straight walled cases right down to the web. It way overworks the brass and they stack kind of funny in the magazine although they do work. I'll be looking at the Lee for sure. I can't keep lubing for standard dies, I just bought a an old what appears to be unfired CZ85. Never owned a 9 that I really enjoyed shooting, from what I hear that may change.

 

[ljnowell]

I have never been unhappy with my Lee dies. I love the ease of setting seating depth by the knurled knob. They just plain work and don't cost an arm and a leg.

The only "bad" die I have ever bought was a Redding sweater due for 45 colt. It sucks for more reasons than I care to go into. Next time it's Lee

 

[fguffey]

For 40S&W, my Lee carbide resizing die will resize cases further down and to slightly smaller diameter

Not fair, my shell holders have a deck height of .125", nothing below .125" can be sized 'UNLESS' I reduce the deck height of the shell holder, I do not grind the top of the shell holder or the bottom of the die.

F. Guffey

 

[TBH]

For a progressive press, and I am partial to blue, I always use Dillon dies for pistol. Like you said Dillons carbide resizing die is excellent, but the bottoms are chamfered just a little bit to ease in inserting the brass. This speeds things up a little bit. I also like Dillons carbide die for 223. For rifle I have become very fond of Redding bushing dies. I'm getting very straight reloads from these. Usually the runout is less than .002"

 

[catgunguy]

I really like the Forster dies for 308. They are long enough for my Dillon 650 and are very well made. I like the Lee 4 die set for 45 ACP. but I agree they can be a hassle in the Dillon.