Best dies?, long

Bob Thompson · August 25, 2001, 05:28 PM

I would like to know what all of you think about you favorite brand of dies. I have been using mostly RCBS and Lee dies because they are readily available. Just recently loading some 30-06 with RCBS dies I was having trouble with brass sticking in the dies. Plenty of lube, so I miked the sized brass and found case neck sizes at .330 to .335. a full .005 under all my loading manuals which called for .339 or .340. The sizing button was in specs and brass case necks were the same thickness. If RCBS has a reason for this size they should say so in the broshure which comes with the dies. If not their quality control is way out of line. This produced two stuck cases which I finally withdrew from the die. Unacceptable performance for a so called quality die set. If I am missing something here maybe one of you can fill me in. This is the third set of RCBS dies I have found out of specs. One, a .30-378 Weatherby I sent back because of the initial cost. I have had no such problems with my cheapie special Lee dies. I have been loading for many years and know most of the tricks for full length or just neck sizing and just want a set of dies to perform as they should. By now I think RCBS is selling on their reputation of past. I for one am dissapointed with them. I also don't think you should have to spend the money for competition dies for general reloading purposes. What do you guys like? I don't mind spending the money, I just want quality dies. Thanks for listening to the rambling. Bob

Charmedlyfe · August 25, 2001, 07:17 PM

My favourite are Dillon dies. I like the ease that the case goes in, and I like how quickly they disassemble for cleaning. The crimp is, to me at least, as good or better than the Lee factory crimp for semiautos. I prefer the RCBS dies for roll-crimps (38/357). Everything I've read and experienced points towards the fact that the roll crimp should be made AS the bullet is being seated, rather than AFTER the bullet is seated. I always use the carbide dies for pistols, but rifle rounds get the regular steel dies and Hornady spray dry lube. I like the micrometer seating dies for precision rifle.

For pistol rounds, go with the Dillon for ease of use. Good quality and solidly built.

sricciardelli · August 25, 2001, 08:39 PM

If the "sizing button" was within specs, and the brass was all the same thickness, then I don't understand how you can blame the problem on the dies.

The case neck is "squeezed down" when you resize the case, and brought back to "specs" as the case is drawn back over the expander plug.

WESHOOT2 · August 25, 2001, 09:18 PM

RCBS will stand behind their product.

Hornady, Redding, Forster.

I prefer Lyman, LEE, Redding, and Dillon for handgun.

August 25, 2001, 05:28 PM	#1
Bob Thompson Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 1998 Location: riverdale,ut,usa Posts: 136	Best dies?, long I would like to know what all of you think about you favorite brand of dies. I have been using mostly RCBS and Lee dies because they are readily available. Just recently loading some 30-06 with RCBS dies I was having trouble with brass sticking in the dies. Plenty of lube, so I miked the sized brass and found case neck sizes at .330 to .335. a full .005 under all my loading manuals which called for .339 or .340. The sizing button was in specs and brass case necks were the same thickness. If RCBS has a reason for this size they should say so in the broshure which comes with the dies. If not their quality control is way out of line. This produced two stuck cases which I finally withdrew from the die. Unacceptable performance for a so called quality die set. If I am missing something here maybe one of you can fill me in. This is the third set of RCBS dies I have found out of specs. One, a .30-378 Weatherby I sent back because of the initial cost. I have had no such problems with my cheapie special Lee dies. I have been loading for many years and know most of the tricks for full length or just neck sizing and just want a set of dies to perform as they should. By now I think RCBS is selling on their reputation of past. I for one am dissapointed with them. I also don't think you should have to spend the money for competition dies for general reloading purposes. What do you guys like? I don't mind spending the money, I just want quality dies. Thanks for listening to the rambling. Bob

August 25, 2001, 09:18 PM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	RCBS will stand behind their product. Hornady, Redding, Forster. I prefer Lyman, LEE, Redding, and Dillon for handgun. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

August 25, 2001, 07:17 PM	#2
Charmedlyfe Junior member Join Date: October 11, 2000 Location: SC Posts: 799	My favourite are Dillon dies. I like the ease that the case goes in, and I like how quickly they disassemble for cleaning. The crimp is, to me at least, as good or better than the Lee factory crimp for semiautos. I prefer the RCBS dies for roll-crimps (38/357). Everything I've read and experienced points towards the fact that the roll crimp should be made AS the bullet is being seated, rather than AFTER the bullet is seated. I always use the carbide dies for pistols, but rifle rounds get the regular steel dies and Hornady spray dry lube. I like the micrometer seating dies for precision rifle. For pistol rounds, go with the Dillon for ease of use. Good quality and solidly built.

August 25, 2001, 08:39 PM	#3
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	If the "sizing button" was within specs, and the brass was all the same thickness, then I don't understand how you can blame the problem on the dies. The case neck is "squeezed down" when you resize the case, and brought back to "specs" as the case is drawn back over the expander plug.