Dies and presses

[Oilsands]

Just wondering if all dies fit in any brand of presses or do you have to stay with the same brands?

 

[hometownhero]

Dont need to use the same brand of each. I have rcbs press and rcbs, hornady, redding dies. All fit.

 

[supernova]

Dies and shellholders have pretty much been standardized. Only some old oddball stuff that was brand specific didnt but I don't think there is much on the market now that doesn't swap between any brand.

 

[Donny Fenn1]

This may have been just me/my stuff but I couldn't get Lee dies to work in my RCBS press. Redding, RCBS and Hornady work no sweat.

 

[ultimate_monkey]

99% of it is standardized now, odd ball and old stuff is still out there, but buying any thing new it should all work together


the RCBS press use a bushing that can be removed to used 1.25-12 threads or screwed in to use 1-14

 

[enefgee]

All modern press dies are standardized on 7/8 - 14 thread, some specialty dies are designed to be used in an arbour press, they have no threads what so ever and are used for bench rest reloading in matches where there is typically only one casing used for the whole string - if you have those, you'll know by the price.

 

[rookie wildcat]

99% of it is standardized now, odd ball and old stuff is still out there, but buying any thing new it should all work together


the RCBS press use a bushing that can be removed to used 1.25-12 threads or screwed in to use 1-14

And so does the Lee Classic Cast.

 

[stubblejumper]

This may have been just me/my stuff but I couldn't get Lee dies to work in my RCBS press.

Maybe your press just has taste?

 

[Avalonthas]

As mentioned the dies and shellholders are pretty much standard today. The only difference being certain brands have different types of locking systems that use bushings etc, but the dies themselves are all the same.

Also Shellholders are the same across the board, but each company labels them a different number. For example a #1 in Lee is a #6 in RCBS/Hornady and a #12 in Redding. Below is a chart that compares them all, so that you can buy whatever is available at your local store.

http://www.midwayusa.com/content/legacy/Shellholder_Chart_Update.htm

I ended up buying a Lee Shellholder kit from BassPro for $19.99 which came with 11 of the most standard shellholders, because it covered all the calibers I have or wanted, and they only had RCBS shellholders in individual packages and wanted $7.99 each! Just be careful with Hornady as they have two types of shellholders, standard ones and the type that fits into some of there own equipment which will not work on another press.

 

[Dake21]

You should check it out, it seems to be case-by-case scenario. Hornady shell holder wouldn't fit in a lee press, but rcbs dies would...

 

[hundmeister]

Also my lee shellholder that came with dies doesn't work in rcbs priming tool. Diff. Taper on bottom. Otherwise fits rockchucker press.

 

[Oilsands]

Thanks for all the info. I don't reload right now, but looking at the possibility in the future. I see some deals on some dies on here, but did not want to purchase to find out they would not fit on other brands of presses, etc.