Poll

What is best brand of dies?

Lee
24 (41.4%)
Redding
6 (10.3%)
RCBS
16 (27.6%)
Lyman
0 (0%)
Hornady
9 (15.5%)
Other
3 (5.2%)

Total Members Voted: 56

Voting closed: May 23, 2005, 02:35:31 PM

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Offline rmtaylor

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Which brand of dies?
« on: May 23, 2005, 02:35:31 PM »
I am about to order a new set of dies in 30-06. I have all Lee dies right now. I know this is a loaded question but what is your preference in dies?

As always I appreciate your input.

Richard
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Offline Ed in AL

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2005, 02:38:39 PM »
I don't know which are best, but all I have are Lee dies. They have preformed well for me.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2005, 02:45:15 PM »
I haven't been reloading long, but I have mostly RCBS dies, Redding dies are a bit nicer from what I've seen of them, not much more money. I only have 2 sets of the Reddings, 204 Ruger and 338-06, I like em from what little I've used em! I don't care for the seater die in my Lee .270 die set, it didn't have large enough opening in the seating plug to fit over the lead tip of nosler partitions and seat against the ogive, so I ended up with a bunch of cartridges that had different bullet seating depths. Have never had that problem with any of the RCBS dies.

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Offline EVOC ONE

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2005, 03:09:05 PM »
I didn't place a vote because all I've ever used is RCBS.  I've been very pleased with them and am still using .30-30 dies that my father bought in the early 70's.  

My .30-06; .303 British; .223; .38/.357; .44 mag; .45 ACP (latter three are carbide) were all bought in the early 1980's and are still doing very well.

EVOC ONE
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Offline Badnews Bob

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2005, 03:09:46 PM »
I don't know which are best. Lee die however perform to my needs in every way. I feel that if they perform the way you want and fit your bank account they are the best ones, Dosn't matter who makes'em. 8)
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Offline Longcruise

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2005, 03:28:35 PM »
Quick, your disease has progressed remarkably in only a year.  :)

I have about 16 sets of Lee and two of RCBS.  Once set up they are about equal in performance but the Lee dies are much easier to set up IMO.

I've got both RCBS and Lee for my Schmidt & Rubin 7.5X55 and I always end up reaching for the Lee set.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #6 on: May 23, 2005, 03:43:50 PM »
I have had no problems whatever with my Lee Pacesetter 45-70 3 die set, it works great, the .270 set kinda turned me off on buying any more Lees, though.....particularily since RCBS and Redding dies are readily available locally and no one carries Lee dies here at all, the only way I can get them is mail order. They carry other Lee products, though, one of which is my favorite, the caliber specific  trimmers. Love the Lee Auto prime, too!!!
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Offline Datil

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Dies
« Reply #7 on: May 23, 2005, 03:49:41 PM »
I have all dies list plus C&H and one other brand I can not think of right now. Like them all, Also have some old lee classic sets. Most are good!
 in MHO I will  not vote because I would have to vote all. Datil
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Offline quickdtoo

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2005, 03:57:16 PM »
I didn't vote either since I've not been reloading long enough to real know for sure, but do know what has worked best for me....I also have a Hornady .308 win die set that I haven't used yet, picked it up with 3 RCBS die sets, 25-06, 243 and 22-250 on Ebay for $62 shipped!
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Offline Paul5388

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2005, 03:59:40 PM »
I started using RCBS dies back in the middle '60s.  I don't know how many sets I have, but it's somewhere between 15 and 20.   After getting 3 cases stuck in a row in some .257 Roberts AI dies, I bought some Lee dies that never did stick.  I think I have around 10 or 12 Lee sets now and some of those duplicate the RCBS dies that I don't usually use anymore.

I voted for Lee for the collet neck sizing die that comes in the Deluxe set, price (especially carbide dies) and not needing a stuck case removing tool  :grin:
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Offline rmtaylor

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #10 on: May 23, 2005, 04:13:10 PM »
I have had no complaint with my Lee dies 223, 270, 357, 243 and did have 45-70, Along with the Factory crimp die in each caliber. I have never used anything else but you always wonder if there is something better.
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Offline JPH45

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #11 on: May 23, 2005, 04:19:10 PM »
If the question focuses on standard dies sets that are 7/8x14 I doubt there is a nickels worth of difference between them, there is enough slop in the threads between the dies and press to negate any accuracy that the maker may claim to have built into the dies. Badnews Bob has this one right, buy what fits your wallet and don't turn back. I figure I have loaded at least 5000 rounds each on my 357 and 44 Lee dies in the last 2.5 years, can't tell they aren't new.
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Offline Deadeye47

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #12 on: May 23, 2005, 04:19:12 PM »
I mainly have RCBS dies too but have reciently started buying Lee dies and I like um allot...come with everything ya need too including the dang shell holder.....I think they are more bang for the buck too...  I have also adder the Lee factory crimp die for all the calibers I load for also...an extra step but I like um 8) ...
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Offline stimpylu32

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best dies
« Reply #13 on: May 23, 2005, 05:05:22 PM »
you name it i got it, been loading over 20 years and the thing i like about lee is the service. broke a shell holder for my .30 carb. sent it back and had a new one in 3 days. lost the cap for my powder measure , e-mailed them about bying a new one they said don,t worry sent me a new one for free. can,t beet that kind of service :D
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Offline DPRinks

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Dies
« Reply #14 on: May 23, 2005, 05:20:07 PM »
I have Lee, Lyman, C-H , Pacific and RCBS ,all work well if the instructions are followed, I prefer the Lee decapper/expander rods, I have had to make new , heavier rods for the C-H and Pacific as they bent.
Don 8)
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Offline Greybeard

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #15 on: May 23, 2005, 05:49:30 PM »
I own a huge number of die sets. I have them from about every die maker out there I guess. By far the majority of them are either Hornady or RCBS. Most of my older dies are RCBS. Most of my new ones Hornady. They are without a doubt in my mind superior to all the rest.

I like RCBS, don't get me wrong. They work fine and have the best customer support in the industry. But I just like the way the Horandy dies work so much better than all the rest. I wouldn't use Lee dies if free.

Recently while preparing for the First Annual NEF Handi Prairie Dog shoot we're about to have in OK I had a huge pile of .223 ammo to load up to get ready. I had on hand .223 dies from Forster and RCBS. I started out giving both a try and before I had the first 400 rounds loaded I was on the phone ordering me a set of Hornady dies from Midsouth Shooter's Supply. Yeah they really are that much better.
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Offline cheatermk3

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2005, 06:17:51 PM »
I too own many die sets from RCBS, Redding, Lee and Hornady.  I voted for Hornady because of the way the seater die supports the case and aligns the bullet up with the case.

The way the hornady expander ball works is also top notch- I have retrofitted many of my RCBS die sets with the Hornady replacement decapping rod/expander ball assembly.

when I go looking for new die sets, I now go for Hornadys.
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Offline mitchell

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #17 on: May 23, 2005, 07:31:24 PM »
i use three different die sets. hornady rcbs and lee and i like them in that order. i only have one set of hornady dies but if i had my rathers i would have all hornady dies they get my vote
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Offline James B

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #18 on: May 23, 2005, 07:37:22 PM »
I have some of all the brands as well. As of late I like the Hornady's best because of the seater die they use. I have a lot of Lee dies as well.
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Offline Mac11700

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #19 on: May 23, 2005, 08:51:20 PM »
I own and have used most of the major brands of reloading dies out on the market...and I've found that only 2 will preform for me the way I want them to consistantly...and those are Forster Bench rest dies...and Redding's competition series and their neck bushing series...both of these manufactures take extra steps to produce dies that give the lowest run out of any I use regular basis...My vote was for other...even though the Forester products cost a little more...their  floating captive case holder on their bullet seater dies is what sold me on them long ago for standard calibers...and for those who have tight throats or want to be able to size their cases to match their chambers...then Redding has what you need...and they have some of the best technical support I've had the pleasure of utilizing lately...with the upcoming conversion of my 25-06 into a 338-06...I experianced just how good they were first hand...they answered all my questions...offered alternatives...and headed me in the right direction...saving a couple of us some problems when we get out rifles back from Oregunsmithing...

Mac
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Offline warf73

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #20 on: May 23, 2005, 09:20:15 PM »
I have mostly RCBS but have Lyman, C&H and Hornady.

The only set of Lee dies I had I sent back and got RCBS.

That being said I'm slowly converting my dies over to Hornady New Dimension dies. I really like th seater die set up and the sizer.

Warf
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Offline Greysky

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #21 on: May 24, 2005, 03:46:30 AM »
I selected RCBS dies because this is the brand I started handloading with.

I have used Lee .44 magnum dies. Although they are somewhat different, I certainly can't find fault with them.
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Offline rmtaylor

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #22 on: June 23, 2005, 04:37:39 PM »
I did buy Hornady dies. I really like the bullet seating die.

Richard
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Offline Zeak

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Best reloading dies
« Reply #23 on: June 26, 2005, 02:53:35 AM »
I have RCBS, Lee and Hornaday. I like the Hornaday the best because of the seating die. RCBS has a good warantee, bought a set of 7x57 mauser dies at a gun show for $5 and found out that they were not sizing the neck right. Got in touch with RCBS and they not only sent me a new set but sent me two, one happy camper. Also bought a old primer tool, the one with the lever, that you mount on your bench, It was missing one of the primer pins and they sent me a new one at no charge. I quess you would call it the Craftmans warantee.  Zeak
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Offline tom barthel

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favorite dies
« Reply #24 on: June 26, 2005, 06:00:57 AM »
I have RCBS, Redding,Lyman and Lee dies.  I purchased what ever was handy.  I have absolutely NO problems with any of the.  I am not a machinist or any other kind of expert.  The LEEs are less expensive and can be at my door within a week if ordering by mail.    
Go with what ever is available and reload.  
 
Tom
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Offline pascalp

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Which brand of dies?
« Reply #25 on: June 26, 2005, 06:15:42 AM »
I use Lee; 30-30, 32, 38, 9mm, 44 spl, 45 acp, 45 colt. 22H and 25acp on the way.
For handguns, i always add Lee carbide crimp.
For rifle, Collet dies + Factory Crimp.

They are probably not the "Best", but they work for me and until they lost my confidence or if they don't supply my needs i will stay with them.

I'm probably partial!. My reloading bench is mostly "red", except the bench !.

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Offline McLernon

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Reloading Dies Preference
« Reply #26 on: June 28, 2005, 05:25:43 PM »
For the money I don't think you can beat Lee. Their collet dies are very good. If you are going to FL size then I think you could do just as well elsewhere. However if you are into precision I would recommend bushing dies from Redding such as Type S. If you have lots and lots of money to spend, the Competition Die Sets are superb.

McL
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