Die sets ? Or Individual Dies and Mixed Companies??

Rickenbacker53 · March 28, 2009, 01:54 PM

I just got my hands on 3 new Redding seating dies..Competition pistol dies - so there top of the line. 45 acp 40 s&W and 45 colt

What would be the best dies to use along with these..Stick with redding or Mix it UP??

SL1 · March 28, 2009, 02:01 PM

Usually, you can mix dies from different brands with no problems.

The only problem that I have ever encounted was from sizing bottle-neck rifle cases with a neck-sizing die and then trying to seat bullets with a die that came from a set that used a full-length sizing die. In those situations where this caused a problem, it was because the seating die had small clearances for a fully-sized case, and it contacted the case bodies when I used it with cases that were only neck-sized. But, seating dies that I bought in a set along with a neck-sizing die were larger inside, and worked fine with the neck-sizer.

SL1

**Unclenick** · March 28, 2009, 02:03 PM

Doesn't much matter, IMHO, other than SL1's cautionary circumstance. At the two extremes, I like both Redding and Lee. The former are very carefully made, while the Lee stuff is innovative, like their collet die, or the fact they hone their sizing dies to ensure perfect roundness. I love the Redding Competition seaters and use them almost exclusively for seating. I probably own quite a collection of dies at this point, though. Hornady, RCBS, Lyman, C&H, Lee, Dillon, and Redding. All seem to work and play nicely together.

I do think of giving the RCBS X-die a try from time to time. I probably will at some point.

Rickenbacker53 · March 28, 2009, 02:07 PM

I forgot to mention these are for 40 smith 45 acp and 45 colt..I got them NIB for $20 each

Sport45 · March 28, 2009, 09:22 PM

IMHO any old set of carbide dies will work fine for those cartridges. For handgun shooting I think accuracy is 65% shooter, 25% pistol and 10% ammunition. Of the 10% contribution from the ammo 90% is bullet and 10% is the way the cartridge was put together. So the way I see it anyway, the dies you use contribute maybe 10% of 10% (1% overall) to the target accuracy of a handgun.

That's just my opinion. Break it down with your own numbers, but I bet in the end you find the reloading dies don't make a lot of difference. They likely do in benchrest, but not for your typical 7-15yd handun shooter.

So, to answer your question go ahead and mix 'em up. If you can find a complete set of Lee dies for less than the mix 'n match I'd suggets buying them and just use your Redding dies instead of the seat/crimp die.

Dingoboyx · March 29, 2009, 05:00 AM

As long as you use quality dies to mix them with. Theoretically the dies should all be the same spec internally, that just leaves the quality of the steel they are made of.

lee tungsten ones are probably a good match, fairly cheap too

Muzza

March 28, 2009, 01:54 PM	#1
Rickenbacker53 Member Join Date: March 9, 2009 Posts: 27	Die sets ? Or Individual Dies and Mixed Companies?? I just got my hands on 3 new Redding seating dies..Competition pistol dies - so there top of the line. 45 acp 40 s&W and 45 colt What would be the best dies to use along with these..Stick with redding or Mix it UP?? Last edited by Rickenbacker53; March 28, 2009 at 02:08 PM.

March 28, 2009, 02:03 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Doesn't much matter, IMHO, other than SL1's cautionary circumstance. At the two extremes, I like both Redding and Lee. The former are very carefully made, while the Lee stuff is innovative, like their collet die, or the fact they hone their sizing dies to ensure perfect roundness. I love the Redding Competition seaters and use them almost exclusively for seating. I probably own quite a collection of dies at this point, though. Hornady, RCBS, Lyman, C&H, Lee, Dillon, and Redding. All seem to work and play nicely together. I do think of giving the RCBS X-die a try from time to time. I probably will at some point. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

March 28, 2009, 02:07 PM	#4
Rickenbacker53 Member Join Date: March 9, 2009 Posts: 27	to uncle nick and everyone else.. I forgot to mention these are for 40 smith 45 acp and 45 colt..I got them NIB for $20 each

March 28, 2009, 09:22 PM	#5
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	IMHO any old set of carbide dies will work fine for those cartridges. For handgun shooting I think accuracy is 65% shooter, 25% pistol and 10% ammunition. Of the 10% contribution from the ammo 90% is bullet and 10% is the way the cartridge was put together. So the way I see it anyway, the dies you use contribute maybe 10% of 10% (1% overall) to the target accuracy of a handgun. That's just my opinion. Break it down with your own numbers, but I bet in the end you find the reloading dies don't make a lot of difference. They likely do in benchrest, but not for your typical 7-15yd handun shooter. So, to answer your question go ahead and mix 'em up. If you can find a complete set of Lee dies for less than the mix 'n match I'd suggets buying them and just use your Redding dies instead of the seat/crimp die. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

March 29, 2009, 05:00 AM	#6
Dingoboyx Senior Member Join Date: March 7, 2009 Location: South East Queensland, Australia Posts: 1,513	Mix will be ok As long as you use quality dies to mix them with. Theoretically the dies should all be the same spec internally, that just leaves the quality of the steel they are made of. lee tungsten ones are probably a good match, fairly cheap too Muzza __________________ Muzza If you cant blind them with brilliance, Baffle them with BS Be alert...... there is a shortage of LERTs

March 28, 2009, 02:01 PM	#2
SL1 Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2007 Posts: 2,001	Usually, you can mix dies from different brands with no problems. The only problem that I have ever encounted was from sizing bottle-neck rifle cases with a neck-sizing die and then trying to seat bullets with a die that came from a set that used a full-length sizing die. In those situations where this caused a problem, it was because the seating die had small clearances for a fully-sized case, and it contacted the case bodies when I used it with cases that were only neck-sized. But, seating dies that I bought in a set along with a neck-sizing die were larger inside, and worked fine with the neck-sizer. SL1