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Author Topic: Preferred small caliber rifle dies  (Read 807 times)

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Offline TrappinJohn

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Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« on: November 15, 2011, 11:20:33 PM »
Hey guys

Just picked up 204 ruger and need a set of dies.  I usually use Hornady (probably 90% of what I own), but been kicking around buying the Redding 3 die set.  What brand do you guys prefer and why?
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #1 on: November 16, 2011, 12:50:18 AM »
Redding or 2nd choice RCBS . I started using Redding when shooting IMHSA  years ago on advice from other shooters and liked them. I have dies from pacfic, hornady, lee, RCBS, Lyman and Redding , maybe some others I can't remember. Redding seem to work best. Also Redding and RCBS stand behind their products better in my experince.
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Offline Grumulkin

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #2 on: November 16, 2011, 01:54:44 AM »
I would go Redding or RCBS.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #3 on: November 16, 2011, 01:59:55 AM »
Quote from: Grumulkin on November 16, 2011, 01:54:44 AM
I would go Redding or RCBS.

100% agree!

Reddings dies have been top quality with excellent finish and polish. But are a bit costly.

RCBS dies are very good quality with a nice finish and good pricing.

Both companies have excellent customer service records.

My die rack is full of "green" RCBS boxes most dark green but enough lime green Reddings mixed in for good measure. Go with one of these, you will not be diss appointed.

CW
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Offline Reverend Recoil

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #4 on: November 16, 2011, 02:08:03 AM »
Forster makes good dies also.
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #5 on: November 16, 2011, 04:04:40 AM »
Quote from: Reverend Recoil on November 16, 2011, 02:08:03 AM
Forster makes good dies also.

Do they work as well as Redding ? I have seen them but never tried them.
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Offline necchi

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #6 on: November 16, 2011, 04:48:46 AM »
Here's a couple of analogy's;
I just turned 18 and I'm looking for a girlfriend.
What's the best, Blonde, Brunette or Redhead?
 
I need a new Truck, Ford, Chevy or Dodge?
 
That said, I'm an RCBS fan, I float the re-size neck button stem with an O-ring, and de-cap with a Lee Universal.
Had a bad set of Lee in 308, could have had them replaced by Lee but it soured me on those.
I have one set of Redding for a friends 223WSSM and the quality of those are superb.
 
Any set of dies, set up with care too properly size for your chamber and keep the neck straight will work fine
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Offline TrappinJohn

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #7 on: November 16, 2011, 12:16:18 PM »
Well thanks guys, sounds like it's time to try some Redding dies
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Offline .22-5-40

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #8 on: November 16, 2011, 12:41:29 PM »
Hello, TrappinJohn.  I like the Redding bushing type dies.  I use these for .22 Hornet & .222 Rem.  As for seating dies, I do have the match grade micrometer seaters by Redding, but lately, for the Hornet, I have been using the Wilson chamber type seater.  I have the Sinclair International micrometer top.  They recommend using a small arbor type press with this, but I find I can seat bullets with palm of hand easy enough.
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Offline Uncle Harry

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #9 on: November 17, 2011, 06:39:55 AM »
My collection includes Lee, RCBS, Dillon and Hornady.
I prefer the Hornady's seating die with the internal alignment sleeve, especially with tiny buttets like the .204.
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #10 on: November 17, 2011, 10:55:31 AM »
Hornady is my first choice for all my reloading. I am especially fond of their seater dies and with the Micro-Just stem added it is fully the equal of anyone's match die seaters.

I've owned a few sets of Redding dies over the years and do like their neck sizer dies quite well but have seen no magic in them. They are more expensive but danged if I can see where they are any better than RCBS or Hornady.

I'm slowly moving to Hornady dies for most of my reloading and have just recently added more to replace RCBS dies already on hand.
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Offline Reverend Recoil

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #11 on: November 18, 2011, 03:41:46 AM »
"Forster makes good dies also."
   
"Do they work as well as Redding ? I have seen them but never tried them."
 
I think the Forster dies work well as any other make of dies.  I use them for all my service rifle loads.  These loads and my rifle will hold the X-ring at 200, 300 and 600 yd.
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Offline Ranch13

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #12 on: November 18, 2011, 04:48:30 AM »
I am a huge fan of Hornady's dies. Rcbs if I can't get Hornady for the smokeless rifles.
One thing you may want to think about with your 204, it was born at Rugers request in the Hornady lab.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #13 on: November 18, 2011, 04:49:25 AM »
Quote from: Reverend Recoil on November 18, 2011, 03:41:46 AM
"Forster makes good dies also."
   
"Do they work as well as Redding ? I have seen them but never tried them."
 
I think the Forster dies work well as any other make of dies.  I use them for all my service rifle loads.  These loads and my rifle will hold the X-ring at 200, 300 and 600 yd.

Forster has been around for many years. Also Bonanza. I also have some sets and agree, they are as good as any better die set made today.

CW
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Offline SHOOTALL

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Re: Preferred small caliber rifle dies
« Reply #14 on: November 18, 2011, 07:47:28 AM »
Quote from: cwlongshot on November 18, 2011, 04:49:25 AM
Quote from: Reverend Recoil on November 18, 2011, 03:41:46 AM
"Forster makes good dies also."
   
"Do they work as well as Redding ? I have seen them but never tried them."
 
I think the Forster dies work well as any other make of dies.  I use them for all my service rifle loads.  These loads and my rifle will hold the X-ring at 200, 300 and 600 yd.

Forster has been around for many years. Also Bonanza. I also have some sets and agree, they are as good as any better die set made today.

CW

Thanks
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