Reloading die companys?

Faverate die company?

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p210sig

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When buying a set of dies for reloading, whats your preference in a name brand company? Or is it the cost price that makes your dicission.

C-H
Dillon
Hornady
Lee
Lyman
Pacific
Rcbs

I'm sure their are other companys that i can't think of.

I use Dillon, Hornady & Rcbs.
My faverite is Dillon dies, but the cost is a bit more than the others.
Hornady dies is what I use, most of the time.
 
When buying a new caliber, I start off with a Lee set for the Factory Crimp Die (and the powder through die for handguns) and then I slowly pick up RCBS dies to replace the Lee seater and resizer. After, I still have the Lee dies for sizing and depriming used brass which I do separately before they go in the tumbler.
 
I think you're missing the best when you dont list Redding as one of the options.
I've never seen a new set of C-H for sale in 30 some years of loading although used sets turn up every now and then.
 
For reg. die sets: 1) Redding 2) Forster 3)RCBS.... then all the rest with Lee at the bottom.
There are some specialty dies including Lee that rank right up there, especially Vickerman and Meacham inline seating dies.
 
The advantage of a certain brand is it's made out carbide steel or regular steel dies.
Carbite steel dies last alot longer. Some companys make dies that are more user friendly than others.
 
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p210sig said:
The advantage of a certain brand is it's made out carbite steel or regular steel dies.
Carbite steel dies last alot longer. Some companys make dies that are more user friendly than others.
Click to expand...

Just a question...anyone ever had to replace a steel die?

I know a lot of companies promote their carbide sets as longer lasting and what not, but whats the difference in die life? How long on average have your steel dies lasted? How long have your carbide dies lasted?
 
novega said:
Just a question...anyone ever had to replace a steel die?

I know a lot of companies promote their carbide sets as longer lasting and what not, but whats the difference in die life? How long on average have your steel dies lasted? How long have your carbide dies lasted?
Click to expand...

Actually carbide dies are typically for straight walled pistol cases and their advantage is you shouldnt have to lube your cases as you do with bottleneck rifle brass.
My carbide dies arent actually made of 100% carbide but rather have a carbide insert in the sizing die much like a ring.

If you clean and take care of a regular steel die you should never have to replace one but if you resize lots of gritty ,dirty brass odds are you will be replacing a few in short order.

Worst set of dies I have ever purchased were Hornady .300 WSM and I replaced those the minute I found a set of Reddings to take their place.
Total brass resized with the Hornadys was less than 20 before I gave up.
 
DOUGLAS D said:
I think you're missing the best when you dont list Redding as one of the options.
I've never seen a new set of C-H for sale in 30 some years of loading although used sets turn up every now and then.
Click to expand...

I have a set of C-H dies in 30-06, which I have been using since buying them new, in the mid 1960s. They are excellent, top quality dies, as is the heavy duty C-H press purchased at the same time, and still in use.
 
For most hunting rifles I use Hornady or RCBS. Hornady has a more affordable micrometer seating die than RCBS. Both make very good and accurate reloads.

I just bought a set of Forster dies, a neck sizer and BR Seater and they're top notch. I'll be buying them for any future precision rifles I buy.
 
CH4D [formerly just C-H] are still very much in business, and are a top choice if you need a specialty set of dies. For dies off the shelf, I like Redding, with Forster and RCBS close enough that I won't complain if they are all I can find in the chambering I seek. Regards, Eagleye.
 
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