Does it matter which dies I buy?

Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett

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Since I'm still waiting for all the pieces to show for my Hornady progressive I thought I might pick up dies and a single stage and do a bit of learning.

Question I have is, does it matter which dies I buy? Are dies universal and are some brands/styles preferable to others? I'll eventually be loading 9mm/.45ACP/.223/.308. I'll likely start with 9mm and .223 so these would be the dies I'm looking at first.
 
I have Hornady, RCBS and Redding dies. I don't notice a bunch of difference in the sizing dies, but find I have less bullet runnout with the Hornady seating die than the RCBS setting die. I also like the locking ring on the Hornady better. I don't have a Redding seating die only a neck sizer so no comment there.
 
It depends. If your just plinking or action shooting it should not matter, but if your into bullseye or becnhrest it can make a noticable difference. I switched from the hornady Custom Grade New Dimention Dies to the Redding Triple something or other collet sizng and match seating dies and saw about a 1/4"-1/8" reduction of groups at 100 yards.
 
For 9mm, look at the Lee dies with the carbide factory crimp die. The Lee set uses a powder through expanding die, the only other company that uses this configuration of die is Dillon, and Dillon licenses it from Lee because Lee has the patent.

I am not sure if the FCD has clearance in the Hornady progressive without "adjustment" of die by grinding or other. It might fit with the new EZ-Ject system.

If you are loading for accuracy in a bolt action rifle, use a single stage and Lee Collet Dies. http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek075.html (bottom of article)
 
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Absolutely!:eek: What a question!:runaway: ALL my dies are RCBS! They're the BEST! Wait a second....I'm using some Dillon dies for super, and oh wait, I've got a lee undersize sizing die, and a Redding seating die....

nAAAHHHH... I guess it really doesn;t matter. What does matter is to buy good stuff and if you need a specific die like an undersize sizing die or a small base die or a powder through die, keep that in consideration.

Good luck!
 
With the exception of some very specialized die types that only one manufacturer makes, such as a Lyman M die, or certain inline type seaters, most every brand of die you'll find will serve you well.

I prefer Lee, simply because they're the best value IMO, and their collett neck dies and carbide FCD pistol dies are worth their weight in gold.
 
dont bother with the Lee dies that have no lock ring...why have a ring that doesnt' lock in position ?

I have 3 or 4 brands of Dies inclucing the Lee ones that dont' lock.....and I prefer my Redding and Forster/Bonanza dies.
 
Lee sizers are the industry standard.

All of my production re-sizing dies are Lee. I have found that re-sizing is a critical function and the guys at LEE make the best re-sizers. I have used Dillon, RCBC and Hornady and some of my set-ups still use their seaters and crimpers, but LEE is the best for sizing.
 
I can mention a couple of (45 ACP) die comparisons which may be of interest to you. One is that I have both Lee and Redding case mouth expanders. The Lee makes an obvious flair in the case mouth whereas the Redding produces a subtle but adequate expansion. I prefer the Redding as it works the brass less. I've also purchased both the RCBS Lockout die and the Hornady Powder Cop dies for my yet to arrive L&L AP. The RCBS will lock up the press if there's no charge or an over charge detected, which I think makes it better, but it won't work with .223 rifle brass, hence the Powder Cop which gives a visual alert but doesn't lock up. There may well be many, even preferable, methods to deal with policing double/squib loads while using your AP but you'll probably want to give this some consideration.

One other thing under the "Its just me" category. I will run all reasonably clean 45 ACP brass through my single stage press for resizing/decapping with a cheap Lee die prior to tumbling in 1mm ceramic media. This will allow me to use only clean brass with clean primer pockets in my AP press. By this I will avoid the use of the through powder expander which apparently puts some stress on the powder charge linkage. There's a contraption displayed on You Tube that eases the torque stress on this linkage. It seems to work too but if you're buying a single stage press anyway, you may find an ongoing use for it in conjunction with your AP as I have. Just an Idea for you to mull in your spare time :D.
 
I have the older Hornady L&L AP and LEE dies for 38 and 45. I wish I would have gotten other dies as the LEE is hard to make fine adjustments for removing flare when seating bullets because of that damn rubber washer on the lock nut. The factory crimp die wont work with the press in the last station because of the wire, even after grinding the 45 die down into the carbie (it now works but deflects and will wear the wire). I've read the 38 crimp die will work when ground but the 45 is definately a no go. The LEE dies are very near their length limits in the press also but do work. I'd go RCBS or hornady if i had it to do over again. Also get the 45 plate, not no1...
 
Pathfinder said:
dont bother with the Lee dies that have no lock ring...why have a ring that doesnt' lock in position ?

I have 3 or 4 brands of Dies inclucing the Lee ones that dont' lock.....and I prefer my Redding and Forster/Bonanza dies.
Click to expand...

Mostly cause someone like me uses a turret press and I just leave each set of dies on a different disk?

308 disk: Lee uni decapping, FL Sizing, uni rifle charge, Bullet seater

45 acp disk: Lyman carbide sizer, neck expander, old lee die of some kind for charging, Lyman bullet seater and crimp



Time to change between calibers: 30 seconds depending on how lazy I am with changing the prodisk kit.
 
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