Lyman vs RCBS vs Redding vs ### reloading kits? plz spend my $500!

no your dies are pre packaged, so the shellholders and powder scoops come whether you want them or not - your 7.62 russian- if its the long case, it's 7.62x54, ( the bolt action ww2 mousin nagant)the short one is 7.62x39(ak, sks, and a bunch of others
as far as whether you want the full length resize or just the neck, it depends ON THE RIFLE- bolts you can neck size, but autos pumps and levers must be full length- there's no point in covering this base until you have the rifle in hand and yes, for the 308/06 there's no reason you couldn't have one set in the rgb and the other in pacesetter or deluxe- if you shoot anything but bolt, there's no point in having a neck or collet die
 
manbearpig said:
quick question -
if i order a second small LEE press, is it worth it to spend the extra $5 and get the combo with the LEE reloading manual? i will already have the SPEER reloading manual with the rockchucker kit. is the second manual redundant, or can you never have too many manuals?
Click to expand...
no- the speer is far superior and the lee will only confuse you
 
manbearpig said:
thanks.

here is a page showing the available LEE dies, since several people have suggested these instead of the RCBS ones. ive highlighted the calibres id initially be interested in in yellow. am i correct to assume that the blue column ones are what i should order? or should i be looking at the Pacesetter dies?
it lists that the Deluxe Rifle Die set comes with:
neck-sizing die
dead-length bullet setter
full-length sizing die
& shellholder
what about the 7.62 russian? there is no listing in that column.
leediespq1.jpg


if i am ordering something for a caliber that has a duplicate base, like .308 and .30-06, can i buy just the cheap 'RGB dies' (says it has the 2-die set only).

here is what it says about the different types of die sets:
leedies2rr3.jpg
Click to expand...

in most circumstances, your pace setter die sets will do the job nicely,with your rgb in the ones that share heads
 
t-star said:
no your dies are pre packaged, so the shellholders and powder scoops come whether you want them or not - your 7.62 russian- if its the long case, it's 7.62x54, ( the bolt action ww2 mousin nagant)the short one is 7.62x39(ak, sks, and a bunch of others
as far as whether you want the full length resize or just the neck, it depends ON THE RIFLE- bolts you can neck size, but autos pumps and levers must be full length- there's no point in covering this base until you have the rifle in hand and yes, for the 308/06 there's no reason you couldn't have one set in the rgb and the other in pacesetter or deluxe- if you shoot anything but bolt, there's no point in having a neck or collet die
Click to expand...

7.62x54R - i was just tired of typing it out so many times, hehe. it was highlighted.

i see about the neck size thing. ill spend the extra $4-5 and get the deluxe sets with both neck and full length, that way later on i can figure out which i want to do.

do i need a stuck case remover?
case length gages?

btw ive decided to definitely get a case tumbler.
not so much for cosmetics but to keep carbon/debris on the neck of spent cases from scratching/wearing the inside of my dies, the inside of my rifle chamber, etc.
 
Last edited:
I have never used my stuck case remover but have seen a case where lack of case lube called for it. My Forster press is less picky with this however. I can tell you that you'll be happier with non lee dies. They work but sure don't compare to the RCBS/Redding/Forster dies.
 
manbearpig said:
7.62x54R - i was just tired of typing it out so many times, hehe. it was highlighted.

i see about the neck size thing. ill spend the extra $4-5 and get the deluxe sets with both neck and full length, that way later on i can figure out which i want to do.

do i need a stuck case remover?
case length gages?

btw ive decided to definitely get a case tumbler.
not so much for cosmetics but to keep carbon/debris on the neck of spent cases from scratching/wearing the inside of my dies, the inside of my rifle chamber, etc.
Click to expand...

your lee trimmer already sets your case length- you don't need guages, or if you want, a set of calipers and read your manual- it's all IN THERE- as for the stuck case remover, i just take the die out of the press, take the decapping pin and nut of the die, put the die on a piece of wood with a hole in it that's big enough to let the case drop down but not the die, stick in a metal rod and KNOCK IT FREE WITH A HAMMER- concieveably, you can also do this in the press, but i don't want to mark up my press- the other way is to go in with a tap and die, but you can make up a stuck case remover with bits from your hardware store for a few bucks rather than get a dedicated one from the manufacturers- there's guys on here that are more than happy to tell you how to make one, should you ever need it- as for the quality of the lee dies compared to the others, i just don't see it and i've got rcbs, lyman and lee- the rcbs has a nice little thing about a replaceable decapping pin, but the sucker gets stuck in a flashole once in a while, and bends/breaks, while the lee is guarenteed unbreakable and i keep a spare just in case although i've never had to use one in 30+ years of reloading- if it does break due a misalignment of the flashole or something, take the die apart( which you also would have to do with the rcbs/lyman/whatever) put in your spare, and send the thing off to lee- total down time is the SAME
 
Last edited:
one thing you'll need for sure , however ,is some kind of bullet puller- either the hammer or the collet type- either one works well, and if you ever have any problems anywhere along your line and you end up with say, a no primer or no powder , or it just plain looks funny or short, or long, PULL THE BULLET AND START AGAIN-these things are just like the eraser on a pencil
 
I dunno why you are ordering 2 presses? Usually you load all your cases with powder so all have powder in them. Then you change the die which takes about 30 seconds tops to the bullet seating die. Then you seat all your bullets. Changing the die in your press is a non issue. The die simply screws in. I guess if you want 2 presses thats fine but i dont see the point.
Also. In the rockchucker supreme kit they talk about the hand held primer tool which comes with the kit. This hand held device holds all your primers so you grab each case and hand squeeze a primer in the case. The other method of priming your brass is with the rcbs tube feed system. This apparently costs you extra coin.$$ What it consists of is a long aluminum tube which fits into your press. This tube holds all your primers. When you have a decapped/deprimed case in your press you lower the press handle which raises the case to its highest position.Then you flip a little lever and a primer is captured from the tube. You push the lever which has a primer in it under the raised case and you lift the handle which lowers the case onto the primer. Give it a firm lift and viola. Primed case. You dont need this system as the kit comes already with a hand primer. Lots of guys like this hand primer as you can sit in front of your tv and prime cases to you hearts content.
Myself i wouldnt buy lee dies as i think their quality is inferior to other brands. ALTHOUGH. Lee collet neck dies are the cats ass. I would buy RCBS full length resize dies .RCBS seating dies. After you size your brass (full length) and after you shoot these cartidges you can use the lee collet neck die to just size your necks. The cases will be fireformed to your rifles chamber so you dont need to full length resize these brass. There are advantages to doing this.
1) Brass lasts alot longer as your not continually sizing the case, just the neck.
2)No case lube required.
3) Better accuracy as the case is fireformed to your chamber. Perfect fit.
4) neck sizing takes 1/2 the time.
Disadvantages.
1) This ammo you neck sized will only work in your gun. So if you are reloading for 2 rifles the same caliber you have to keep track which brass came from which gun.
2) Only works for bolt action rifles as the bolt feed mechanism is very powerfull. Lever rifles wont feed neck sized ammo as the cases are too tight in the chamber.
Also. The rockchucker kit comes with a deburing tool. You dont need to buy one . No harm in having 2 though.
3)You bolt gun must be in good condition. A beater gun with a worn action will not feed a neck sized case. Will be very tight and may even get stuck in the chamber.
 
Last edited:
Here are my reasons for calling lee dies cheap.
1) the lock ring system has an o-ring that will keep the die from turning but does not maintain it's position on the die when removed for quick insertion without resetting. Lee expanders on pistol dies has a moving part inside that flops up and down making a clunk every time and leaves brass shavings behind. They look like they use a different steel as well. Not sure if it has any drawbacks. I don't see why their sizers wouldn't be any good though if you replace the lock ring. Should be fine for plinking rounds or hunting.

You really get what you pay for and the quality brands are nicer to use.
 
i've never had ANY of those problems, and i've been using lees since 86- as far as the locknut goes, it's easily replaced- i've got a couple of styles including one that has BOTH an o-ring and a hex screw- the o ring is there to stop the nut from marring the toolhead on this type and nothing else- it's the hex that actually tightens and locks the nut-if you're getting brass shavings on your bell/expander, somethings wrong- it shouldn't be doing that at all- i'd write lee and pose the question -info@lee.com- i NEVER have to screw /unscrew any of my dies as i'm all turretsand progressives- got rid of the first single stage back in 88 when the lee turret came out and never looked back- do 223, 308. 338, 9mm, 45, 44, and 45 colt- all in lee presses with lee dies-, save the 308 which is a dillon with lee dies- the rcbs kept breaking decapping pins- the lyman and rcbs die sets i've got over the years( 308 and 338) are in their cute little green and orange boxes on the shelf- it's the lees that are in the turrets-the only problem i've ever had with lee dies was with the 9mm when the decapping pin would pull out when doing ivi cases, so i replaced it with a 223 decapper for the moment, the wrote lee and they sent me a new one n/c
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom