Choosing Reloading Dies

[Leics_stalker]

I've had Lee and had problems with cases sticking, only use RCBS now, great quality and never had any problems

 

[Steff]

They were no doubt a lot more expensive than their American counterparts - what make them worth the extra?

Nothing really. Except you want something special. They will make it for you. So will Redding, RCBS erc., but they will have to come across the pond.

 

[Neddle]

vital in my mind

the hornady and forster ones are the best and don't cause the earth. they are split with a grub screw so the don't come undone.

the Lee ones dont lock very well they use an o ring and the redding ones use a grub screw onto the threads which I find slip a bit

with lock rings you can set the dies and forget them and will make your ammo more consistent as your dies won't be moving about. everything is set how it should be.

Forster are light years ahead of Hornady, not cheap but worth every penny, i use them in 204,222,223 and 6.5

 

[Milligan]

Forster, the redding, rcbs, hornady stone last imo.
You won't go wrong with the Lee though.

Next question, to crimp, or not to crimp

 

[antsa]

I use Redding Competition dies but have exchanged the dodgy locking ring for Hornadys.

Cheers

 

[Donkey Basher]

Redding all the way.

+1

YES, locking rings are essential!

 

[Steff]

Initially I had also replaced all my locking rings with the Hornady version which you can tighten via a side screw instead of the grub screw working on the die thread.

Today I still use locking rings but I don't fix them on the dies any longer.
For both neck and F/L sizing I screw the dies in a full turn beyond the point that they touch the shellholder. This way the ram will not reach its dead point any longer and I could potentially damage the press and die if I used extended force, which of course I don't do. But by doing so I can be sure to make use of the full sizing capacity of the dies. Also the position of the dies in the press thread is no longer crucial. I just lock them in place having done my extra full turn. I could probably even get away without locking rings for sizing as the dies will square themselves on the shellholder anyway.
If you only want to bump your sholders to a ceratin degree the above will of course not work and you will have to fix the locking ring on your die for repeatable results.

For bullet seating I simply screw the die in until it has good (but not tight) contact with the shellholder, then tighten down the locking ring and I am done. No need to fix it on the die permenantly.

 

[Acm]

I find the simple lee dies easy to use and get plenty accurate enough results for hunting ammo.

 

[aris]

Lee do lock rings. If you were happy with the lee loader, lee dies will be more than ok.

the breech lock system is nice too, but only works with lee breech lock presses.