What brand of dies?

I recently had a problem with my LEE .308 FL resizing die.

A piece of brass got SO stuck (yes I lubed it well!), than banging on the decapping rod simply bent it. I found another punch and blasted it right through the primer hole - The case wall is still stuck in there. NO way to remove it.

This was once fired Federal brass - the winchester brass sized without issue.

However, I bought some RCBS dies to replace the lee - and it resizes that problem Federal brass like NOTHING.

I haven't had any issues with my Lee .223 dies, but I think I'm going with RCBS in the future.
 
canucklehead said:
I recently had a problem with my LEE .308 FL resizing die.

A piece of brass got SO stuck (yes I lubed it well!), than banging on the decapping rod simply bent it. I found another punch and blasted it right through the primer hole - The case wall is still stuck in there. NO way to remove it.

This was once fired Federal brass - the winchester brass sized without issue.

However, I bought some RCBS dies to replace the lee - and it resizes that problem Federal brass like NOTHING.

I haven't had any issues with my Lee .223 dies, but I think I'm going with RCBS in the future.
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Get yourself a "stuck case remover" from RCBS and others. They are cheap and get you out of trouble fast. Depending on how big a hole you blasted throught the primer pocket you may still be able to save your die.
 
The LEE collet is the easiest neck sizer, no messy lube to put on and clean off. Seems to make fine shootin' ammo to boot. I have mostly LEE and a couple RCBS sets. F/L sizing I don't find a difference between the brands.
 
It really doesn't matter what type of dies you get. All of the listed dies here are very good. If you go to gunshows or if your local store carries them, you may come accross Charlton, Chicago Die Co. or Herters dies as well a other types.

The big thing is, will they produce consistantly accurate cartridges.

No matter which dies you buy, check the finished product for run out, case scratching, and a very important consideration, do they sit straight in your press. Ive had dies that don't fit straight and I've had more than one press that won't hold any set of dies straight. A tough thing to find as quite often, it only shows up on the base of the cartridge face.

The good thing about staying with the major suppliers, is the dies can be sent back for replacemnt, IF, there's anything wrong at all with them. No questions asked. They all have great credibility.

These are your most important considerations.

Also, I tend to stay away from aluminum presses. Haven't found anything wrong with them, I just think they won't stand up to a lot of die changes without going out of tolerance. I could easily be mistaken.

bearhunter
 
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I bought Forster Ultramicrometer Neck die / seater set, plus have some Lee neck die, with Redding body die (seems to be the best body die, can even, not recommended, bump the shoulder with loded round :eek:)

all those dies were recommended to me by very experienced reloaders from this and other sites
 
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