Dies Shootout

[JGE]

I run Lee for both pistol and rifle, seem to be working fine to me.

 

[Chilly807]

Recommend that you also look at the Hornady lock rings - makes die removal and resetting much easier with the ring locked onto the die.

+1 Good advice here.

If you use RCBS and don't use a Hornady style lock ring, I'd suggest removing the chintzy brass set screw on the RCBS lock ring BEFORE it strips. Use a proper steel set screw with a large lead shotgun pellet underneath it to protect the die threads.

 

[GunsNotPuns]

I love dies from CH4D but the vast majority of my dies are Lee. Elitists may sniff but if you can't turn out quality ammunition with Lee dies spending more money won't help you.

 

[Old Ranger]

Most of my rifle reloading as been with RCBS dies. Use Lee with some of the less common military calibers ( 7.5MAS, 6.5 Carcano, 7.7JAP) I upgraded my standard RCBS 9mm and 45 ACP to the Lee 4 die sets. Very happy with them for my handgun loading. Still using my RCBS single stage press purchased in 1979. Over 50,000 rounds put together over the years.

 

[kamlooky]

I've bin rifle tramp'in for some time now.
Gun shows make life interesting and flavourfull.
So when a new shewter makes'rr'ear, fruck, gotta git going awn shewt'in it.
I try and buy RCBS, butt, sometimes they aren't tuh bee found.

I second the Lee crimp azz I'm too much awf a gewn tuh figyer out that RCBS crimp systim.
Had some nawt so gooder s'periences yewsing it.

So Lee crimps it izz.

To the OP, buy whut you cand find and iff'in the taste buds sour, wait for a set to show eezzself,
buy'im and post t'uthers in the EE.

 

[burnaby]

Lee dies for pistols and rifles except for Wilson seating for precision rifle.

 

[curseyou]

+1 Good advice here.

If you use RCBS and don't use a Hornady style lock ring, I'd suggest removing the chintzy brass set screw on the RCBS lock ring BEFORE it strips. Use a proper steel set screw with a large lead shotgun pellet underneath it to protect the die threads.

Yeah, I never knew the bliss of great lockrings until I found forster dies. Now my RCBS dies are excellent. It says something when you can buy aftermarket lock rings.

 

[GreenBob]

I found it a worthy investment to order hornady lock rings and use them on all my dies.

 

[bigedp51]

As far as rifle dies if you want the most concentric ammunition with the least amount of neck runout then Forester full length benchrest dies are my first choice. With Forsters high mounted floating expander and producing very concentric cases are the best buy for the money.

A little over five years ago I bought my first Forster full length die and after over 47 years of reloading I'm impressed with their very concentric cases.

The biggest cause of neck runout happens when the expander is locked down off center. And the Forster expander floats and enters the case neck while the neck is held and centered in the neck of the die.

On top of this Forster is the only die manufacture that will hone the dies neck to your desired diameter.

Below a Forster full length die and their inline benchrest seating die and both of these dies help reduce neck runout.