Opinions Wanted: Dies

Boomer686

Boomer686

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I have a dillon RL550B. Looking to start reloading for several pistol calibers and 2 rifle calibers( .223, .308). What dies are the best for this machine? Lee or RCBS or which other brand? Carbides remove the need for lubing while resizing (except rifle rounds) but are they worth the extra $$$ ?

Regards,
 
I wasn't aware that anyone made carbide for rifle Rick. I'd like to see how it was done.
Pistol normally just has a small ring of carbide inside to squeeze the case. That would be damned hard to do on a tapered rifle case.
Even the 45-70 aparently has too much taper.
Your'e screwed if you want 'em in bottle necked numbers like the 44-40 or 38-40 too.
 
Dillon makes CARBIDE DIES for RIFLE but it just makes the dies last longer you still have to lub. Carbide is the only way to go with pistol dies in a progressive press. If you have a Dillon press get the Dillon dies, they were made for that press. Others may work but you may have to adapt because some dies are too short for the die holder on the Dillon. LEE just started making a few more threads on their dies so they will work better in other progressives.
 
Boomer686 said:
So I should only use Dillon dies? I thought dies were interchangeable.

Regards,
Click to expand...

Supposedly they are, but it's like anything else in life when you have many manufacturers making things to the same specs. The tolerances one manufacturer uses may be different from another. Basically they may work together out of the box or they may need some "tweaking". Since I'm not in to "tweaking" I buy Dillon dies for my Dillon press. It just saves me a lot of possible headaches.
 
Hey Boomer, I've got a related question to add to your thread. Hope you don't mind the hijack :) .

I've noticed that some dies are full length resize where as others are just neck. What's the difference and what are the preferences of board members? Are neck sizers for fireformed brass only? If I buy factory brass does that mean I still need to full length size them?
Thanks again Boomer.
 
If you pick up dies other than Dillon for the 550 make sure that the sizing die will also deprime.

Many die sets do not have the deprimer in the size die so they are of no use in the 550 unless you use it as a single stage press.

If you subscribe to Dillon's theory of seating at station 3 and then crimping at station 4, you will have to pick up a separate seater - crimper die or crimp die although it is possible to use a seater - crimper die at stage 3 with no die in stage 4.
 
I have 7 different pistol calibers tool heads set up for my Dillon 550 and they all are with RCBS carbide dies and they have worked perfectly for well over a decade for me. I did like Rich mentioned above and picked up an extra crimping die to crimp my rounds separately at station 4 on the press.
 
:oops: Well, dillon does make carbide rifle dies :oops:
But still have to be lubed, $$$$ and recomended for "commercial reloaders".
My standard RCBS, LYMAN and LEE dies will do me fine thankyou. Some are probably older than some of the people on this board, and working fine.
 
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