Does carbide dies really worth it?

[Evil_Dark]

Hi there, 3 years of reloading 3 différents rifle calibers and 2 différents handgun with only normal dies. I need now to reload 9mm for my JR, and Dillan carbide Die is around 80$... Double the price, but supposed to éliminâtes the need of lubricate the empty shell for forming? Really? Smoother operation?

What is the real difference, by experienced reloaders?

Dark

 

[hoochie]

Ive done thousand of rounds with carbide dies. Never lube cases. 9mm and .40.. never an issue

 

[In The Black]

I only use carbide, no lube, no binding.

They get my vote.

ITB

 

[*MALICE*]

a) yes.

b) while Dillon are undoubtedly good dies, you could probably pick up Lee or RCBS for cheaper and they would likely do just as good a job...

 

[Silverback]

Definately worth it for handgun ammo reloading.

 

[wmd]

Yup i use hornady dies no lube they work great

 

[PitBull1973]

There are many good carbide die makers , you can't go wrong with any of them

 

[257Roberts]

I have carbide dies for my 44 mag and it is the only pistol case I load for and they are worth every penny.

David

 

[In The Black]

The Lee dies will bring your cost down. the 3 die set in carbide is $44.00, the 4 die set in carbide is $64.00 (Budget Shooter Supply)

ITB

 

[H4831]

Once you've used them I'll bet you would never go back to lubing them!

 

[BattleRife]

Do they still make non-carbide dies for straight wall pistol cases? Why would anybody buy such a thing?

I load for eight straight walled calibers I can think of, and have always used carbide dies for every one of them. Sweet jebus, I couldn't imagine having to lube .38 specials.

 

[In The Black]

I'll be honest, I didn't even know that lube on pistol cases was a thing. I'm sure I had looked it over in the beginning, likely why I went carbide.

It's 100% worth it.

ITB

 

[Smcx]

<- lee carbide user.

 

[stevebc]

Yes! Buy the carbides. I did one session of reloading 9mm on non-carbide dies, and that was enough to convince me that carbide dies were worth the cost.

As an aside, I use my carbide 9mm die to decap/resize my .38 S&W.

 

[LUTNIT]

Do they still make non-carbide dies for straight wall pistol cases? Why would anybody buy such a thing?

I've heard mention of them but I've never seen any for sale. Might be special order?
I've heard of some CAS and BPCR shooters using them for old-timeys sake since carbide dies didn't exist back in the day.

It's also interesting to point out that many pistol cases are technically tapered cases (like the 9x19mm) but since they're so short, carbide dies still work. Longer tapered cases (like the 45-70) don't work with carbide even though they appear straight.

 

[HIGHRPM]

x2 The only way too go !

Definately worth it for handgun ammo reloading.

 

[coldestcanuck]

Absolutely!!

 

[762Russian]

Definitely. Makes reloading my .44 Magnums easy as can be. Wish I could get carbide for my 7.62 Tokarev stuff, but after a few hundred rounds done through the steel I still haven't felt the need to lube the cases, probably because of the tiny neck.

 

[BCRider]

The one set of non carbide dies I've got developed a gall or something and scratches the casings rather deeply. I've bought nothing but carbide dies ever since.

Call me a wimp but I still lightly lube my casings even with the carbide dies. It makes the lever easier to move and easier to feel anything amiss.

 

[farmboy108]

You get what you pay for!