mxreloader
New member
i use lee and hornady dies myself and i like the hornady the best
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Who makes the best dies?
- Thread starter mikenbarb
- Start date
Lee is the best for the price. I've had better results with RCBS or Dillon dies but they cost a lot more. Please understand that a well adjusted Lee die will work every bit as good as the RCBS or Dillon die. It's just that the RCBS and Dillon dies were easier to set up and use.
My best advice is to match your dies to your press. I've found that Dillon dies work best with the Dillon press and so on.
My best advice is to match your dies to your press. I've found that Dillon dies work best with the Dillon press and so on.
thesheepdog
New member
Redding or Forster
Hornady are alirght, but I have broken one already. Lee's are okay too. Never used an RCBS, but i do have their powder check die.
Hornady are alirght, but I have broken one already. Lee's are okay too. Never used an RCBS, but i do have their powder check die.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would add my .02, I have only used 2 brands. I use RCBS, because that's what my dad used. I learned to reload from him, so I use those 97% of the time. Second, I use Wilson. Wilson only for finicky reloading. 6mm ppc. That 3% though is in actuality, is 97% of if my reloading since it involves so much work to reload. The wilsons dies don't use a conventional reloading press. You use an arbor press with these, which I have bought mine from K&M. If you use a big roper Whitney arbor press(Dake), be sure to machine an adapter for pressure gauge and buy a really nice gauge from machinists supply company. Roper whitney are plush, but way big. Very sweet press though.
William T. Watts
New member
I've used dies and other tooling from all the manufacturers in my 45 years loading ammunition and been well pleased, but I must admit RCBS is my favorite.. William
I am going to try to channel Guffey here
I have RCBS dies, I have Lee Dies, I have Forestor dies I have - measure first, but last, I have transfers .............................
Well I do have all of the above and they all work. Not sure I could tell the difference.
Recently I got Forester 30-06 sizing die and a seating die as I was curious and wanted to keep the RCBS sedater with the Junior for COAL adjustments at the range.
Bit in the butt, it only works for one caliber, RCBS does any 30-06 base bullet with the adaptor.
First thing I did was break the pin in the Forester as it turns out I had mixed in some HXP and the remnant of the crimps was enough to cause the pin to break. Hmmm. Ok, supposedly the floating pin aligns beter but you darned well better not have ex military brass. You don't get something for nothing.
Now that's the first odd brass that got mixed in in a very long time, so timing was bad.
My take is they are all fine dies. I prefer RCBS, you break anything and they just send you parts. Forester identified my problem fine, they did not send parts. That's ok, but you can't help but feel fond of RCBS when they help you out of sometimes your own mistakes.
They have done so on other equipment that was not as well done as it should be (the universal primer tool tray holder)
Does the Forester thing work better than the RCBS comp die seating thing?
RCBS is a bit easier to use and I can do two calibers seating with it (and more if I needed to)
Lee pistol dies I have are just fine.
So take your pick, just be sure they work the same way you think they do and keep in mind support.
I have RCBS dies, I have Lee Dies, I have Forestor dies I have - measure first, but last, I have transfers .............................
Well I do have all of the above and they all work. Not sure I could tell the difference.
Recently I got Forester 30-06 sizing die and a seating die as I was curious and wanted to keep the RCBS sedater with the Junior for COAL adjustments at the range.
Bit in the butt, it only works for one caliber, RCBS does any 30-06 base bullet with the adaptor.
First thing I did was break the pin in the Forester as it turns out I had mixed in some HXP and the remnant of the crimps was enough to cause the pin to break. Hmmm. Ok, supposedly the floating pin aligns beter but you darned well better not have ex military brass. You don't get something for nothing.
Now that's the first odd brass that got mixed in in a very long time, so timing was bad.
My take is they are all fine dies. I prefer RCBS, you break anything and they just send you parts. Forester identified my problem fine, they did not send parts. That's ok, but you can't help but feel fond of RCBS when they help you out of sometimes your own mistakes.
They have done so on other equipment that was not as well done as it should be (the universal primer tool tray holder)
Does the Forester thing work better than the RCBS comp die seating thing?
RCBS is a bit easier to use and I can do two calibers seating with it (and more if I needed to)
Lee pistol dies I have are just fine.
So take your pick, just be sure they work the same way you think they do and keep in mind support.
disseminator
New member
I think this notion of "best for the money" is silly.
A few more dollars over the course of thousands of rounds loaded means nothing so get the dies you want the first time.
I started with RCBS but feel they as a company are riding along on a reputation the current owners did not earn. I have some RCBS dies that are perfect, but I have just as many that are rust magnets and sloppy as all get out.
With one exception, I have perfect experience with my Redding dies and have about 80% Redding vs RCBS now.
I have a set of Carbide Redding dies for my 460 Magnum that were over $90 and they are great dies but I feel the resizing die oversizes and so I use my RCBS carbide 45 colt die instead and it works great.
I use Premium Series dies for rifle and they are excellent.
As for which dies are the "best"? The one that work the best for YOU.
A few more dollars over the course of thousands of rounds loaded means nothing so get the dies you want the first time.
I started with RCBS but feel they as a company are riding along on a reputation the current owners did not earn. I have some RCBS dies that are perfect, but I have just as many that are rust magnets and sloppy as all get out.
With one exception, I have perfect experience with my Redding dies and have about 80% Redding vs RCBS now.
I have a set of Carbide Redding dies for my 460 Magnum that were over $90 and they are great dies but I feel the resizing die oversizes and so I use my RCBS carbide 45 colt die instead and it works great.
I use Premium Series dies for rifle and they are excellent.
As for which dies are the "best"? The one that work the best for YOU.
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Really? 6mm PPC? Scores an 8.9 on the obscurity scale and i'm pretty sure the OP was asking as a new reloader. Its these posts that make it sooo hard to find solid information here anymore.
To the OP... the answer was given a few posts back. What ever works best for you. But for the money, LEE is the least expensive brand to get started with. They make a product that is more than sufficient to learn with, and many use them for generations.
Beyond that, I believe your specific needs for each cartridge / firearm / press combination will dictate the best die for the job. I urge you to trust the opinions of forum members less, and instead, research the specific application. Narrow your search. "Who makes the best dies for ????". Otherwise, you might as well ask who makes the best beer.
To the OP... the answer was given a few posts back. What ever works best for you. But for the money, LEE is the least expensive brand to get started with. They make a product that is more than sufficient to learn with, and many use them for generations.
Beyond that, I believe your specific needs for each cartridge / firearm / press combination will dictate the best die for the job. I urge you to trust the opinions of forum members less, and instead, research the specific application. Narrow your search. "Who makes the best dies for ????". Otherwise, you might as well ask who makes the best beer.
A few more dollars over the course of thousands of rounds loaded means nothing so get the dies you want the first time.
Well... yes and no. If you are just starting out on reloading, and are trying to load for 4 or 5 different calibers right away, there is a big difference between paying 30 bucks for a set of dies and nearly 100 dollars. That's a swing of several hundred dollars. Many people just can't swing that down payment as they are also having to accumulate components when they first start reloading. For pistol rounds, I use Lee exclusively because I have a family of 5 and don't have a ton of disposable income... which is why I started reloading.
That being said, Lee dies are not the best made. But they are quite useable and are a good value. I have since slowly collected some other dies, and not found anything but Redding to actually load better ammo. RCBS dies do not rust as quick as Lee dies, so they get points for less maintenance. Rust, even after a couple of weeks if I don't keep an eye on them carefully, is my biggest complaint with Lee dies. Some silicon and a sealed ammo can negates that... but it is annoying to have to deal with it.
I have to disagree to some extent.
What you are looking for is those who back up their review with details (yours is good)
You can sort out the BS detailer from a good reviewer.
The snap comment "Chevy and RCBS" is useless.
Your ending is spot on, Lee works, ok to start and maybe forever.
Get your feet wet (ahem, sorry, all of that is walled off) and go from there.
What you are looking for is those who back up their review with details (yours is good)
You can sort out the BS detailer from a good reviewer.
The snap comment "Chevy and RCBS" is useless.
Your ending is spot on, Lee works, ok to start and maybe forever.
Get your feet wet (ahem, sorry, all of that is walled off) and go from there.
Really? 6mm PPC? Scores an 8.9 on the obscurity scale and i'm pretty sure the OP was asking as a new reloader. Its these posts that make it sooo hard to find solid information here anymore.
To the OP... the answer was given a few posts back. What ever works best for you. But for the money, LEE is the least expensive brand to get started with. They make a product that is more than sufficient to learn with, and many use them for generations.
Beyond that, I believe your specific needs for each cartridge / firearm / press combination will dictate the best die for the job. I urge you to trust the opinions of forum members less, and instead, research the specific application. Narrow your search. "Who makes the best dies for ????". Otherwise, you might as well ask who makes the best beer.
TheGuyOfSouthamerica
Moderator
I have Hornady dies for 9mm Luger and 380 Auto. And RCBS dies for 38spl/357 mag since that brand only offered some with taper crimp Feature.
On the Hornady 9mm Luger Expander die I detected rust on top of the head.
For rust prevention I have covered them all in oil. I leave them in the press (Lyman T Mag turret press) and have them covered with an plastic bag.
One negative about the Hornady is they have rubber rings employed. These expand and quite never stay in place.
On the Hornady 9mm Luger Expander die I detected rust on top of the head.
For rust prevention I have covered them all in oil. I leave them in the press (Lyman T Mag turret press) and have them covered with an plastic bag.
One negative about the Hornady is they have rubber rings employed. These expand and quite never stay in place.
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Lee also uses orings imbedded into the die lock nuts. I dont like them personsally. I prefer a true hard "stop" when adjusting my precise die height. To my understanding the purpose of the rubber orings is to allow a small amount of play in the die for added bullet seating precision. Not sure if i agree with this .
FrankenMauser
New member
I grow ever so tired of the, "Lee dies might not be the best, but at least they work and are cheap..."
I cannot, in good conscience, recommend Lee dies to anyone starting out.
Even as an experienced reloader, I've had nothing but trouble with Lee dies - primarily due to lack of quality and lack of quality control.
Adding frustration and headaches to a process typically already intimidating to a budding reloader is roughly equivalent to constantly sabotaging an aspiring chef's recipes. They go through hell, trying to figure out what they're doing wrong. When, in reality, the problem is not their fault and shouldn't exist.
Buy quality.
Buy once.
I cannot, in good conscience, recommend Lee dies to anyone starting out.
Even as an experienced reloader, I've had nothing but trouble with Lee dies - primarily due to lack of quality and lack of quality control.
Adding frustration and headaches to a process typically already intimidating to a budding reloader is roughly equivalent to constantly sabotaging an aspiring chef's recipes. They go through hell, trying to figure out what they're doing wrong. When, in reality, the problem is not their fault and shouldn't exist.
Buy quality.
Buy once.
TheGuyOfSouthamerica
Moderator
I agree FrankenMauser,
I do not have Lee dies but some ram for seating. Those simply do not work for seating WSP primers and flip each primer upside down.
However they may work with Lee Handpresses. I do not know.
I do not have Lee dies but some ram for seating. Those simply do not work for seating WSP primers and flip each primer upside down.
However they may work with Lee Handpresses. I do not know.
I do have to say this,
If I was not already set up with RCBS, I would definitely go with Lee. I say that because I really think the Lee collet die setup is really a smart design. I Have not used one as of yet, but if I understand the way it works is like a bushing except it squeezes the neck to a size verses forcing the neck into a bushing, and if I am correct it full length resizes during the process too. That is a nice feature. If you get into the nitty gritty of reloading as your experience builds up, this is nice to have from the get go. Like I said, I have not used this die yet, but I do shoot PPC with turned necks. This could save me some time. Neck sized to desired tension and full length resize.
If I was not already set up with RCBS, I would definitely go with Lee. I say that because I really think the Lee collet die setup is really a smart design. I Have not used one as of yet, but if I understand the way it works is like a bushing except it squeezes the neck to a size verses forcing the neck into a bushing, and if I am correct it full length resizes during the process too. That is a nice feature. If you get into the nitty gritty of reloading as your experience builds up, this is nice to have from the get go. Like I said, I have not used this die yet, but I do shoot PPC with turned necks. This could save me some time. Neck sized to desired tension and full length resize.
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