44 mag dies, who's best, why?

Madd Rapper · July 22, 2002, 10:16 PM

New 44 came in. I love it. It's a Ragin Bull. Anyhoo, who makes the best dies? I'm new to reloading, and will be hooking up some 45-70s for this season(whitetailsin VA) also. Any help would be appreciated. Also. my Father-in-Law left me some equipment. A press, dies, powder, the whole shebang. I won't shoot too many handloads though, so I'm thinking of getting a hand press. Are they worth it? Skeeter said they were, but that was then. Thanks

MADISON · July 22, 2002, 10:28 PM

I have tried RCBS, Lyman, Lee and, Hornady dies.
After due consideration, I chose HORNADY.
HORNADY: They allow for the case to be a little off center in a progressive and still do the job correctly.
LEE: Are very good but are about 1/4 inch short on threads.
LYMAN: Lyman dies use to be very good. The last Lyman dies I bought had FLOATING DECAPPING PINS.It had to be poor quality control.

rob_helms · July 23, 2002, 01:02 AM

I have several brands of dies, and I'll place a second vote for Hornady. I especially like them for pistol cartridges because I can clean the seating die of bullet lube without changing the adjustments. Hornaday's customer service is also first rate.

If God hadn't meant for man to have guns, He wouldn't have sent us John Browning!

Edward429451 · July 23, 2002, 08:30 AM

My RCBS 44 dies are goin strong after 15 yrs or so.

Losing adjustment after cleaning lube from them? No, clean, reassemble too high in die, reinsert loaded cartridge, screw seater down to bullet, tighten locking ring. Easy.

Madd Rapper · July 23, 2002, 09:19 AM

Thank you all for your help. I noticed that they(Catalogs) list 3 or 4 die sets. There is nothing to explain to us novices what the 4th die does, and if it's worth it. It's only about 10 bucks more for the set, what say you?

stans · July 23, 2002, 11:30 AM

I think the fourth die is a separate crimping die. It is best to crimp in a separate stage rather than trying to crimp as the bullet is being seated.

WESHOOT2 · July 23, 2002, 09:35 PM

LEE 3-die Ccarbide set, and a Redding Profile Crimp die.

WILL enhance accuracy.

444 · July 23, 2002, 11:35 PM

I personally like the Hornady dies because they are easy to adjust. I use a fourth die; a Lee Factory Crimp Die.
My second choice would be the Lee dies. They are just as easy to adjust, but don't have the quality of the Hornady. That being said, they will probably last a lifetime.

July 22, 2002, 10:16 PM	#1
Madd Rapper Junior Member Join Date: July 22, 2002 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 10	44 mag dies, who's best, why? New 44 came in. I love it. It's a Ragin Bull. Anyhoo, who makes the best dies? I'm new to reloading, and will be hooking up some 45-70s for this season(whitetailsin VA) also. Any help would be appreciated. Also. my Father-in-Law left me some equipment. A press, dies, powder, the whole shebang. I won't shoot too many handloads though, so I'm thinking of getting a hand press. Are they worth it? Skeeter said they were, but that was then. Thanks

July 22, 2002, 10:28 PM	#2
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	44 mag dies, why? I have tried RCBS, Lyman, Lee and, Hornady dies. After due consideration, I chose HORNADY. HORNADY: They allow for the case to be a little off center in a progressive and still do the job correctly. LEE: Are very good but are about 1/4 inch short on threads. LYMAN: Lyman dies use to be very good. The last Lyman dies I bought had FLOATING DECAPPING PINS.It had to be poor quality control.

July 23, 2002, 01:02 AM	#3
rob_helms Junior Member Join Date: June 1, 2002 Location: S.W. VA Posts: 12	I have several brands of dies, and I'll place a second vote for Hornady. I especially like them for pistol cartridges because I can clean the seating die of bullet lube without changing the adjustments. Hornaday's customer service is also first rate. If God hadn't meant for man to have guns, He wouldn't have sent us John Browning! __________________ Rob Helms

July 23, 2002, 09:35 PM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	SUGGEST LEE 3-die Ccarbide set, and a Redding Profile Crimp die. WILL enhance accuracy. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 23, 2002, 11:35 PM	#8
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	I personally like the Hornady dies because they are easy to adjust. I use a fourth die; a Lee Factory Crimp Die. My second choice would be the Lee dies. They are just as easy to adjust, but don't have the quality of the Hornady. That being said, they will probably last a lifetime. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

July 23, 2002, 08:30 AM	#4
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	My RCBS 44 dies are goin strong after 15 yrs or so. Losing adjustment after cleaning lube from them? No, clean, reassemble too high in die, reinsert loaded cartridge, screw seater down to bullet, tighten locking ring. Easy.

July 23, 2002, 09:19 AM	#5
Madd Rapper Junior Member Join Date: July 22, 2002 Location: EAST COAST Posts: 10	Thank you all for your help. I noticed that they(Catalogs) list 3 or 4 die sets. There is nothing to explain to us novices what the 4th die does, and if it's worth it. It's only about 10 bucks more for the set, what say you?

July 23, 2002, 11:30 AM	#6
stans Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2001 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 838	I think the fourth die is a separate crimping die. It is best to crimp in a separate stage rather than trying to crimp as the bullet is being seated.