Difference in dies prices

M

mike Crawford

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Is there any reason that lee dies in 43 mauser are in the 50 dollar range and RCBS is close too 200 dollar range .. Am I not reading this right or one better than the other ,,
Now the lee set is a two die set and the RCBS is a three die set but close too 150.00 more
 
Same reason a Fiat 500 is 1/4 the price of a Porsche.

They will both get you to the grocery store, one is just a little better built/engineered.

I use Lee and Hornady dies - I "personally" don't see a difference to justify a price difference but I also don't shoot for points, don't vary from load recommendations, don't push my rifles, don't mess with COAL etc etc etc.

Perhaps if you plan on loading thousands of rounds and pushing the envelope to squeeze every last mil of accuracy out a round, the more precise/durable/better built/engineered dies (expensive) would be worth it "to you" - just not to me.
 
They are more costly because they are a "odd ball" caliber and very few are made. Meaning they have to stop making more popular calibers like the .308 to make a production run of these "odd ball" calibers that are not big sellers. And it has nothing to do with "Fiat and Porsche" it has to do with retooling for a little used caliber and the companies "costs" to retool and their profit margin.

Or look at it another way, how much would it cost to make a new rim for a new 54 Chevy, and what would it cost for a new rim for a 2015 Chevy.

There comes a time for hanging a rifle on the wall and buying a newer rifle to use.

I'm not trying to be insulting but this is why the dies you want cost more.
 
I own every thing from a 22 mag too a 338 win mag and a lot in between ... I do not need the 43 Mauser anymore than I need my 257 roberts or 6.5 x55 either .. I most likey could kill most anything in Canada with just my 22 mag and my 300 win mag,
Since most people on here know a lot more about reloading than me I just thought maybe the price difference was the 3 die set compared too a two die set .. I have been told the lee dies are not as good when you get into the 43 mauser dies .. Just trying too figure out why a three die set is so much better and so much more money ..

Not trying too insult you
 
You make it sound like you're just comparing a 2-die set to a 3-die set. You aren't. This is more of a comparison between Lee and RCBS. I can buy a Lee 4-die set for less than an RCBS 2-die set in a common calibre.

An RCBS 3-die set in a common calibre is around $80 last I checked (been a while though). So we're going from $80 to $200 because it's low-production/specialty.
I just checked Titan Reloading, the normal site I go to for Lee products, and the 43 Mauser 2-die set is US$28.26. The exact same price as a 2-die set in 308.

Why? Because that's how Lee decides to price their products.
Each company determines their own pricing. RCBS prices specialty dies significantly higher than Lee does relative to their normal more common dies. In this case 43 Mauser isn't even "special" enough to warrant a higher price at all from Lee.
The percentage increase from common to specialty is particularly low for Lee, in addition to Lee's lower prices overall. That's just the preferred practices of the company. Most companies charge significantly higher prices for any sort of specialty product.

In my experience RCBS products are a little nicer. It's still quite possible to load sub-MOA ammo with Lee dies, they just aren't as nice to use (more fiddly and often poorer fit and finish on the exterior and cheaper feeling packaging) and have a higher defect rate (but a fairly good warranty though not as good as RCBS).

The RCBS set will have a case neck expanding die which is very useful if loading cast bullets. The Lee won't and you'll probably have to buy a Lee universal case neck expanding die which is another $7-8.

Your comparison I would say is 10% based on 2 vs 3-die sets and 90% based on Lee vs RCBS pricing.
 
Thank you .. I use lee for my 257 roberts and all is good .. But I was told lee was not so good for the 43 compared too rcbs ..
I did not know if it was because 43 was a straight wall cartridge and it required the extra die too do the job right or what ,
I will not be forming my own bullets ;; so I guess I will look into a lee loader .. I already have the brass and the lead is not cheap but not stupid expensive ; so I will just need the different powder than I have now and a set of dies .
 
It appears the expander die adds $147.99 to the cost of the RCBS dies. :stirthepot2:

Or just buy the Lee Universal Neck Expanding Die for $14.29 and the two die Lee set for $30.99 for a total Lee die price of $45.28 plus shipping.

Lee Pacesetter 2-Die Set 43 Mauser $30.99 (no expander die with Lee set)
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/529120/lee-pacesetter-2-die-set-43-mauser-11x60mm-rimmed-mauser-1115x60mm-rimmed-mauser?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Lee Universal Neck Expanding Die $14.29
http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/140461/lee-universal-neck-expanding-die?cm_vc=ProductFinding

RCBS 3-Die Set 43 Mauser $177.99 (with expander die)
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/161813/rcbs-3-die-set-43-mauser-11x60mm-rimmed-mauser-1115x60mm-rimmed-mauser?cm_vc=ProductFinding

But then again how much do two nails cost to hang the rifle on the wall? :evil:
 
From what Little bit I know I think the 43 Mauser has just about the same Ballistics as a 45-70 ..Very similar in drop and speed of bullet etc .. Both guns carry a slow and heavy bullet ... There is lots of 45-70 guns out there be used and bringing home meat and punching paper . I do not intend too shot very far with this .. Most likely fifty yards over bait for bear .. i have a 308 Remington Sendero if the range gets longer LOL . Even though I think both weigh about the same :))))
But I did shot two bullets touching at fifty yards . So I guess it may still be able too do the job
 
Personally, if I had a rifle in 43 Mauser, I'd want to load for it and shoot it even if just at a range but hunting with it if it works well enough would be a plus. I've often bought new rifles in different calibres just as an excuse to pickup more bullet molds. Being who I am, I'd also want to try black powder loads with it for fun and the experience.

-Slug the bore, find bullets of a suitable diameter (.001" to .002" over groove diameter). See if a heavy 45 pistol mold and custom sizer would work. Order a custom mold if necessary to cast my own. Could also try paper-patching some 44 mag up; would need thick paper as you're increasing at least .015". I normally PP .450" up to .460" for my 45-70's using "college ruled" 3-hole binder paper (.003" thick, wrapped twice, 2 layers per side, so .012" of paper but wrapping compresses it when wet so comes out to .010" to .011"). Computer printer paper might work; it's around .004" thick.
-Order the Lee dies to save some money if I'm not planning on shooting the rifle a lot. If making it one of my main shooters I would consider investing in the nicer RCBS dies but that's unlikely unless I'm in love with the rifle.
-Find some data, load, shoot, repeat.
 
I load and shoot a lot of 43 mauser.

I use lee dies and they've worked flawlessly for years and make very good ammo. I can't comment on the RCBS dies as I've never used them.

For bullets I use a lee 459-405-HB that I modified the be a flat nose. I size them in a custom .447" sizing die that I made. Accuracy is stellar with 28 grains of imr 4198 with a tuft of dacron and it hits hard at 100 yards, enough to often knock my gong off.
 
kamlooky said:
One thing that plumb gits itself forgawtten is the support that RCBS gives
it's customers.
Flawless.
Click to expand...

True, but when they give a lifetime warranty they have to have a way to recoup the cost of providing such a warranty. A higher initial price is one way of doing it. I think RCBS is s a great company with a great warranty but I've used a lot of Lee stuff as well including many of their dies and I have a hard time justifying the price difference given the minimal difference in quality.
 
The same reason redding and Wilson dies are pricier still...I have the redding non match dies, the Wilsons and have the RCBS on the backburner forever...you just cant beat those better dies especially the Wilsons..man they are butter!

http://riflemansjournal.########.com/2009/09/reloading-seating-die-runout.html
 
I have had a few issues with lee products over the years. A simple email with a picture of the part and my shipping address was all it took.

A few days later I got an email stating that the parts were in the mail and a thanks for contacting Lee. Parts came and that was that.

I'm not sure how much better customer service you can have but I was pretty happy.

That has been the way it has been the 2 times I've needed warranty.

Just for full disclosure right now I have Lee, Redding, Hornaday and RCBS dies in my bench. If we're talking standard dies they all seem to work the same IMHO.

If we are talking competition dies and we're shooting for the championship then I may choose another brand then LEE. But for a BP cartridge antique that may shoot 2 MOA (that's the best I've achieved from my perfect bored rifle) on a good day LEE are just fine
 
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