Which dies to buy?
- Thread starter gpracer
- Start date
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I Like my LEE dies. They make more accurate reloads than I can shoot.
I would suggest the deluxe die set and also a factory crimp die. You will not be disappointed.
I would suggest the deluxe die set and also a factory crimp die. You will not be disappointed.
257Roberts said:
Add in the collet neck die (unless its in the deluxe set, I dont know) and I agree 100%
Ya, I usually through out my RCBS and Lee dies after 100rds or so. Usually so wore out I can almost see through them. :roll:
Redding and RCBS both make excellent dies. RCBS has the absolute best warranty in the business and most of my reloading gear is RCBS green as a result. Redding makes quality stuff, if you're shooting competitively, go with the Redding over the standard RCBS, however, if you're simply interested in reloading for general hunting/plinking, the RCBS are your best bet. Hornady, Lyman & lastly LEE are your choices among the other "big" manufacturers. They can't touch RCBS in terms of customer service, or for that matter Redding. Check out the Equipment Exchange forums, I recall seeing a good set of used RCBS dies in 6.5X55 for sale not too long ago.
bigbull said:
Do not have any other equipment, as of yet, looking at a lee kit, I have purchased RCBS dies for 9mm and .45 acp. Rifles are milsurp, AG42B, and M38's I will be shooting quite a bit. More than 100 rounds thats for sure.
Thanks for all the replies.
bclinehand
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Clearwater B.C.
not sure what you guys are loading but I have loaded thousands of .357/.38 with the same set of RCBS dies with no problems .mebbe I just got a unusual set of dies......If you are thinking they are wore out at 100 rounds I'll get rid of them for you ......at no charge to you of course :wink: :wink: :wink: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
There is nothing wrong with RCBS or Lee or any of the others. However if you are only doing low volume loading the Redding are not cheap.
I can't speak for pistol dies because I don't load for pistol. But the Redding dies for high volume rifle reloading (1200-1500 a year) are worth every penny.
Used to be Forster/Bonanza and Redding; then RCBS then Lee ... Today ... I use them all including Lyman (don't have Hornady yet but friends do and like em) ... anyway .. other than Hornady I have most manufacturers sets and can't tell any difference. I like the way Redding are finished; I like the convenience of the bullet seater on RCBS Comp dies and I really like the Lee Collet dies. Also Bonanza was once associated with producing some of the best ammo. Personally I think you should buy the box with the colour you like best... good luck AP
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I am not a big fan of RCBS sizing dies. I have trouble controlling headspace, so much so that I have been using redding competition shell holders. Costly but effective.
gth
I will take those Lee dies if you are throwing them out.
Try cleaning your cases first, it might help.
Over 5000 rounds through my Lee 257 Roberts dies that I bought used and still producing good reloads.
gth
I will take those Lee dies if you are throwing them out.
Try cleaning your cases first, it might help.
Over 5000 rounds through my Lee 257 Roberts dies that I bought used and still producing good reloads.
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I am not a big fan of RCBS sizing dies. I have trouble controlling headspace, so much so that I have been using redding competition shell holders. Costly but effective.
GTH, I will take those Lee dies if you are throwing them out.
Try cleaning your cases first, it might help.
Over 5000 rounds through my Lee 257 Roberts dies that I bought used and still producing good reloads.
GTH, I will take those Lee dies if you are throwing them out.
Try cleaning your cases first, it might help.
Over 5000 rounds through my Lee 257 Roberts dies that I bought used and still producing good reloads.
gpracer said:
gpracer, the dies are only a small part of the whole outfit and will be a minimum investment compared to the rest.
There are two schools of thought in selecting your equipment.
1. Buy cheap to get started.
2. Buy the best you can afford.
I have been handloading for 25 years, I handload everything rifle, pistol and shotgun and spare no expense in buying my handloading equipment. Remember what you are buying is tools! There are no free lunches you get what you pay for. They will all do the job, some will last longer and others will give more accurate results only your budget will dictate how much you want to invest. Most of the advice is accurate but I will go a step further and reccomend the best you can afford if you think it will be something you will enjoy. Here is a list of items I reccomended to another post. If it's only plinking ammo you will be loading cheaper equipment is OK if higher demands for ultimate accuracy is on the agenda the gear is more specialised and more expensive!
bigbull
257Roberts said:
I not throwing any dies out, I was joking.
I love the lee dies, especially the collet dies. I have lyman dies that my dad bought from before my time that still work fine, I have rcbs dies and like them too.
Lyman has customer service second to none from my experience. I would not be afrad to buy more lyman dies either.
Buy what ever you find. I own dies from every maker I've ever heard of (and it's a lot of dies). I load for over 100 calibers, and except for a few specifically target types of loading (LR rifle, BR, etc), I don't find the maker has much (if any) difference at all. Even then, it's not that the dies are made better, it's just that they may have a feature that I want. FWIW - dan
Personally I like Hornady dies the best but own at least a set from all the companies, even Herters. As far as warranty or repair work go I have never had a problem with any of the companies I needed parts from including Lyman, RCBS and Dillon.
