I do like the RCBS competition seating die,with the micrometer and little window to pop the bullet into,rather than balancing it on top of the cartridge. Accuracy wise,not much in it I don't suppose.
Best dies for reloading
- Thread starter Kernow_Stalker
- Start date
Jon Smith
Well-Known Member
Not much to compare at the end of the day
I have dies from all of the manufactures the simple truth is that no one can possibly tell what die loaded what ammo.
I have had junk from all of the makers so personally I do not believe the x is better than y codswallop often spouted on the net.
Most recommendations come from the 'I have a set of x and they are the best' brigade - not worth the electrons it is written with.
I have dies from all of the manufactures the simple truth is that no one can possibly tell what die loaded what ammo.
I have had junk from all of the makers so personally I do not believe the x is better than y codswallop often spouted on the net.
Most recommendations come from the 'I have a set of x and they are the best' brigade - not worth the electrons it is written with.
The best thing i ever heard someone say on this site about which loading die set to buy for everyday use was that a person should "just choose the dies by the color of the box, because you probably won't be able to tell the difference on paper." My apologies to the original poster of this for forgetting who authored such wisdom.~Muir
ChesterP
Well-Known Member
I have various, ranging from Redding to RCBS and Lee.
Of all of them, I prefer the Lee dies.
Why? Because they work and provide good consistent case sizing without mashing up the necks. A new Redding die and a lightly used RCBS die both leave slight scratches and corrugations in the neck. After firing, the necks exhibit blackening from powder residue in the grooves left by the dies (forming the corrugations). That's got to affect pressure/velocity consistency between cartridges. This doesn't happen when I use the Lee collet neck die or FL dies. The necks are left nice and smooth.
Unless one forks out a lot for custom dies or competition bushing dies, there doesn't seem to be much to chose between any of them. In terms of consistency, the Lee collet neck die produces sized cases where measured neck run-out variations average just 1 thou. That's pretty darned good for a cheap die set.
Of all of them, I prefer the Lee dies.
Why? Because they work and provide good consistent case sizing without mashing up the necks. A new Redding die and a lightly used RCBS die both leave slight scratches and corrugations in the neck. After firing, the necks exhibit blackening from powder residue in the grooves left by the dies (forming the corrugations). That's got to affect pressure/velocity consistency between cartridges. This doesn't happen when I use the Lee collet neck die or FL dies. The necks are left nice and smooth.
Unless one forks out a lot for custom dies or competition bushing dies, there doesn't seem to be much to chose between any of them. In terms of consistency, the Lee collet neck die produces sized cases where measured neck run-out variations average just 1 thou. That's pretty darned good for a cheap die set.
I think an important consideration is availability of spare parts and back up if something goes wrong. For that, for example, I wouldn't choose used NDFS dies, or old CH dies. CH are and were a good amke. But unheard of in the UK (AFAIK) so if you did need spares you couldn't get them.
Stiffy
Well-Known Member
All the above mentioned manufacturers are good, and Lee dies in particular are fantastic value for money, as noted above.
But if you're spending time prepping cases, (unifying primer pockets & flash holes, neck turning, weighing, annealing etc) then all of that is wasted if you're not finishing the job with decent dies. So if you are on that path, you need to be looking at Redding or Foster sleeve dies (AKA Competition Neck), or the L.E. Wilson arbor press dies.
All that said, Lee will still get the job done..
But if you're spending time prepping cases, (unifying primer pockets & flash holes, neck turning, weighing, annealing etc) then all of that is wasted if you're not finishing the job with decent dies. So if you are on that path, you need to be looking at Redding or Foster sleeve dies (AKA Competition Neck), or the L.E. Wilson arbor press dies.
All that said, Lee will still get the job done..
It would be good t hear from the Op (Kernow Stalker) as he now should have at least 4-years of experience with whichever die manufacturer he went with!
K
K
hedge hunter
Well-Known Member
Le wilson straight dies for me.they make flawless reloads. Redding are nice too
Stalker-of-the-deer
Well-Known Member
I have both forster and redding. By far the forster give me the best results and are the easiest to use. I got my setoff here for 120 quid with the mic top and it makes life so much easier!
I would say all dies regardless of brand will do the same job, sizing is certainly easier with the better dies as the surface finish inside is alot better.
As for seating the micrometer tops make everything alot easier as it takes the guessing out of changing the seating depth!
My 2p anyway
I would say all dies regardless of brand will do the same job, sizing is certainly easier with the better dies as the surface finish inside is alot better.
As for seating the micrometer tops make everything alot easier as it takes the guessing out of changing the seating depth!
My 2p anyway
stephentri
Well-Known Member
Redding body die, Redding seating die and a Lee collet neck sizing die.
Jura
Well-Known Member
Hornady reloading dies & die sets
Hornady reloading dies die sets for sale at McAvoy Guns
www.mcavoyguns.co.uk
22 quid for 6...one of the reasons I don't buy RCBS dies anymore their lock rings with that little brass grub screw strips too easily. Rubbish IMO
