Expensive dies - worth it?

[Steff]

Never heard of them.

Googled "Warner dies".


Did not end well...


View attachment 320718

Veteran British actor David Warner, star of The Omen and Tron, dies aged 80​

To google correctly is an art of its own.

WTC RELOADING DIES - Warner Tool Company

CUSTOM WTCSIZING DIES WTCSEATING DIES WTC SIZING DIES If you’re here, checking out our Custom WTC Sizing Dies, you’ve probably got a high-end target rifle in the safe. Why feed it ammo from a commercial, off-the-shelf die that may or may not yield optimum results for concentricity and brass...

www.warner-tool.com

 

[cjm1066]

So to move from Lee to RCBS/Lyman etc etc is a modest step, the move to Warner dies should help you accuracy, lets see the test results

 

[Tim1989]

Well for the 270 I use Lee yeh I know ! but you cant argue with results. View attachment 320701
6.5 Creedmore with the hornady View attachment 320702
6.5 Creedmoor Same load with LE wilson bushing die.View attachment 320703

300PRC Hornady dies best 1.5 "
300PRC LE Wilson bushing 0.75" to date still testing.
Pay your money take your choice.

that's a massive difference

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

No difference really other than they are just nice to use.

The forster bench rests are lovely bits of kit!

 

[paul o']

The hornady stem or stems are not nice I ended up making one ! as even with the so called correct one I still was getting a ring on the seated bullets this with only 1 tho of tension .
Le Willson or forster imho are the best .

 

[Deano75]

I started with Redding dies, they did a great job and I did my bit, so I stuck with them. I have a Lee decapper for 204 and an RCBS decapper for the rest. As has been said, attention to detail and consistency are my key to producing good reloads.

 

[jthyttin]

The Redding seating die is far superior to the Forster model

Usually people prefer Forster. Seating stem getting broken is a known issue on Redding competition seater die.

 

[Bowland blades]

I have some basic Lee full length sizing and seating dies in .308 Winchester. If I upgraded to a more expensive set of dies could I expect to see any difference in the quality of the ammunition I produce, and therefore group sizes? If the answer is 'yes' what dies would people recommend?

TIA

really good dies are pretty much a pre- requisite for serious comp shooting at a decent level - But so is the know how on how best to use them . Remember its the whole process in the loading and on the range .
It certainly shows when your shooting a long way out on paper - so long as the , reloader has the full know how plus shooter and the rifle are not a big part of the issue

 

[Bowland blades]

I like L.E Wilson dies but they are not required for a good rifle to group sub moa consitently at 300 yards with the right person shooting

 

[Steff]

Usually people prefer Forster. Seating stem getting broken is a known issue on Redding competition seater die.

Well, never happened to me in 20 years+.
Maybe because I take them apart and clean them once in a while. I also take care that the moving parts move freely and have some lube.

But tbh I didn‘t buy them for their seater stem but for the micrometer adjustment. It just makes life so much easier. Using a reference bullet length I seat a bullet a bit long, measure the COAL, adjust the mircometer accordingly and am done with setting up the die.

 

[NullMac]

Yes and no.

You will produce better quality ammunition in terms of short range precision more easily with a quality die such as LE Wilson or Redding. In my experience they have much less runout which is a better base case to start from. You still need to do all the other stuff which has nowt to do with dies.

I would be expecting <0.5 moa with this approach. Not required for stalking and not deliverable repeatedly from hasty field positions with stalking equipment. So is it worth the effort for you?

HOWEVER, gunsmith and GB F-Class shooter mate says you can get top quality results from Lee dies with extensive (ie proper) load development. Who am I to argue. His recommendation to me was to use Lee as you don't need anything else.

I can't be arsed with extensive load development though so I tend to use a good die, get the powder in a good node and that's it. Load to SAAMI or mag length and go with that. It worked on the 243 giving <0.2 moa vertical at ~600 yards (out an AI with custom barrel).

It's a system, it's not all about the ammo. Don't go down the rabbit hole chasing world class ammo when your use doesn't need it or the rest of the system can't deliver that accuracy.

Pays your money...

 

[NullMac]

Well for the 270 I use Lee yeh I know ! but you cant argue with results. View attachment 320701
6.5 Creedmore with the hornady View attachment 320702
6.5 Creedmoor Same load with LE wilson bushing die.View attachment 320703

300PRC Hornady dies best 1.5 "
300PRC LE Wilson bushing 0.75" to date still testing.
Pay your money take your choice.

That was my experience as well. LE Wilson is miles better than mid range dies. Bit less runout that the Redding as well IME.

Don't change the 270 load !

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Their prices will make your eyes water.

Start - Triebel Waffenwerkzeuge GmbH

Triebel Waffenwerkzeuge hat sich voll und ganz auf die Belange von Waffenherstellern, Beschussämtern und Polizeibehörden spezialisiert.

www.triebel-guntools.de

 

[jthyttin]

But tbh I didn‘t buy them for their seater stem but for the micrometer adjustment.

Oh, you can get micrometer in Forster also, and it's traditionally been somewhat cheaper than Redding.

Looking at US prices, things are not so straightforward any more, since bushing sizer dies seem to be all the hype, and there are lot's of combos available in retail (but not the old Forster FS size and micrometer seater combo, they only offer bushing die along with MM seater). And Redding seem to have introduced Premium series at some point (or maybe renamed Deluxe->Premium), that gives you micrometer seater at considerably cheaper price than Competition. I'm sure there's some comparisons between Premium and Competition seater internal parts.

Of course pricing in some country is affected by importers etc.

 

[dropmdead]

I would suggest there is merit in buying a more expensive die if chosen wisely.
Given the choice, i would rather buy a second hand wilson seating die and redding bushing die than a new RCBS set.
You still need to be consistent with all your other aspects of making ammo, or it goes out the window....

 

[paul o']

That was my experience as well. LE Wilson is miles better than mid range dies. Bit less runout that the Redding as well IME.

Don't change the 270 load !

Never lol.

 

[User00040]

Well, never happened to me in 20 years+.
Maybe because I take them apart and clean them once in a while. I also take care that the moving parts move freely and have some lube.

But tbh I didn‘t buy them for their seater stem but for the micrometer adjustment. It just makes life so much easier. Using a reference bullet length I seat a bullet a bit long, measure the COAL, adjust the mircometer accordingly and am done with setting up the die.

Cheapskate, you should have an AMP press and use inline L.E Wilson seaters only.

Think of all the runout you are inducing by seating with a conventional press mounted die...

Meanwhile I'll use my Lee Loader and be happy

 

[Steff]

Cheapskate, you should have an AMP press and use inline L.E Wilson seaters only.

Think of all the runout you are inducing by seating with a conventional press mounted die...

Meanwhile I'll use my Lee Loader and be happy

Ha, I use a Präzipress. Who needs an AMP.

 

[tim@tcs]

The Lee dies are ok, do what they say on the box. However they are unforgiving for beginners mistakes. The RCBS guarantee is worth the price alone. I have several sets out on permanent loan to mates who have managed to get a case stuck and been too embarrassed to ask RCBS for a replacement decapping pins or centre stems.
If you do need an unusual die set then you should be prepared to pay for them.
My last two sets cost more in customs clearance than a brand new Lee set does over the counter.
£358 for two dies off the shelf shipped and another £74 for the privilege of HMRC robbing me on the way in!
Those dies will outlast me and several of my ancestors.