Best Rifle Dies??

gga357 · January 10, 2008, 11:42 PM

I have been loading lot's of pistol ammo for some time. I have loaded only about 500 rounds of .223. I use a Dillon 550B. I have Dillion dies for the .223 and Redding comp dies. Have not used the comp dies yet. I am going to start reloading .308 and .30-06. It will be mostly for hunting but maybe one day for comp. I want to know what you think are the best rifle dies for progressives. Thanks.

Waldog · January 11, 2008, 09:13 AM

Bonanza Bench Rest Dies

Mach II Sailor · January 11, 2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Best Rifle Dies

very debateable, i have used RCBS for over 40 years and their warranty is one of the best, they have even customized dies for me.

gga357 · January 11, 2008, 05:58 PM

Mach do you recommend one RCBS die set over an other? thanks.

Mach II Sailor · January 12, 2008, 08:46 AM

for straight wall cases i recomend their carbide dies, you still need a light lube on the cases, and the best lube is one you can make yourself, one pint of 99% rubbing alcohol and a 4 ounce bottle of pure lanolin, warm both in a pot of very hot water, pour into a glass container, shake well and you will have enough lube to last a very, very long time, use from a spray bottle and very lightly.

craigcolorado · January 12, 2008, 12:26 PM

gga357....I'm refurring to only your 308 and 30-06 reloadiing.

I would use a single stage press configeration, wheather it's a RCBS press or Lee Precision...what ever the make. You have great control on the process, and remember, I'm not speaking about burnig a few hundred rounds of ammo one would use up capping a Ruger Mini 14 or AR 15 configeration.

For a very accurate and reliable reloading experience for the 308 and 30-06, but only if these are not auto loaders, the Lee Collet Dies work fabulous! No lubing, no case legthening, not much trimming, and cases "DO" last for many many firings! This is because the Lee Collet Dies neck sizes only the case, and does this very simply. God I LOVE THEM! I reload for my Savage Model 112 in 300 Win. and my Model 70 in 300 win. and my Savage model 111 in 30-06 with excellent accuracy results. Of course...I round filed my Leupold scopes and switched over to Bushnell Elite series of scopes. There is a difference I assure you.

I sometimes use my Lee hand press to reload and yes, you can use a Lee Hand Press using Lee Collet Dies. Very easily by the way. You should rotate the case 180 degrees after running the case up the collet die and repeat a second sizing operation. I notice no difference in accuracy using this hand press verses a bench mounted press but....I "ALWAYS" measure my powder charges on a scale. Remember...we are talking about hunting/target loads. But even with hunting, wouldn't you want the best possible accuracy one can obtain?

I've reloaded some of my cases well over 20 times! With full lenght resizing of rifle cases...you had better stop at no more than 10 reloadings...except if you're shooting extremely light rifle loads. Not much stress on the cases using very light rifle loads. But that is very very seldom I assure you! Almost non exsistant really unless you are fire forming brass usually.

What I'm saying here is this. One doesn't normally use that many rounds shooting a 30-06 or even a 308 Wincheter. Well..unless you have so much money you can rebarrel your rifles on a regular basis and buy lots of primers, powder, bullets and many replacement cases!

I'm into accurcy, and I've goten far better results using Lee Products than Lyman, Redding, RCBS, Heuters...but as always, there are those that believe Lee Products are not worth spit! Many a friend over the years where thankful I introduced them to Lee Products. Some were DieHard RCBS users at that!

Good luck!

Ry-guy · January 12, 2008, 03:06 PM

I was using Hornady dies for a while. I then bought a set of Redding for my .223 and never went back to Hornady. I actually sold all of my other dies on Ebay and replaced them with Redding because i liked them so much. I couldn't believe the difference in quality.

Just my suggestion but Go Redding.

gga357 · January 12, 2008, 07:15 PM

Ry-Guy Which Reddings do you use? I have Redding type S dies for .223.

gga357 · January 12, 2008, 07:29 PM

I had a lee aniv. set many years ago but after buying my 550b it has stayed in a box so long not sure I could find it now. I use the Lee factory crimp dies in .357 and 45LC

Ry-guy · January 13, 2008, 05:23 PM

gga357 they are Series "A". Part number 80111.

**Unclenick** · January 13, 2008, 08:19 PM

There is no fixed answer to your question. It really depends what your needs are? The Redding Competition Seating Die is excellent. I've heard others say the same about the Forster, but I've not tried it. The first Redding Competition Seating Die I bought worked so extremely well, I've never bothered to try anything else. Their other dies are all very well made.

Lee gets short shrift because they spend less effort on final finish, but they also have far more than the usual share of very innovative ideas. Their collet die, as mentioned earlier, is terrific. It works brass less than any other neck sizing die and does not create the "dreaded donut" at the neck/shoulder junction as conventional sizing eventually does, so you never have to inside-ream a neck sized on one. The Redding S dies and their Forster clone have the advantage of letting you adjust the sizing and not being stuck with just one size. That's and advantage with turned necks, where the brass may be a couple thousandths thinner and you may want to narrow it a little extra to get best neck tension.

The Lee sizing dies have the long expanders that you can set up near the neck portion of the die to avoid pulling a the neck off axis during expanding. The Reddings have carbide expanders available to avoid inside neck lubing.

Name your poison.

gga357 · January 13, 2008, 10:19 PM

I think I will try the .308 in the dillion carbid and .30-06 in Redding type s full length set.

UniversalFrost · January 14, 2008, 12:26 PM

List of the best (in my opinion) based on .308 win

redding competition dies
RCBS gold match
Redding type s
forster bench rest

These are also some of the most expensive.

January 10, 2008, 11:42 PM	#1
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	Best Rifle Dies?? I have been loading lot's of pistol ammo for some time. I have loaded only about 500 rounds of .223. I use a Dillon 550B. I have Dillion dies for the .223 and Redding comp dies. Have not used the comp dies yet. I am going to start reloading .308 and .30-06. It will be mostly for hunting but maybe one day for comp. I want to know what you think are the best rifle dies for progressives. Thanks.

January 11, 2008, 09:13 AM	#2
Waldog Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2007 Location: SOCAL Posts: 359	Bonanza Bench Rest Dies __________________ I am the Christian Conservative that CNN warned you about!! “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” Winston Churchill

January 12, 2008, 12:26 PM	#6
craigcolorado Member Join Date: January 12, 2008 Posts: 61	For hunting and target... gga357....I'm refurring to only your 308 and 30-06 reloadiing. I would use a single stage press configeration, wheather it's a RCBS press or Lee Precision...what ever the make. You have great control on the process, and remember, I'm not speaking about burnig a few hundred rounds of ammo one would use up capping a Ruger Mini 14 or AR 15 configeration. For a very accurate and reliable reloading experience for the 308 and 30-06, but only if these are not auto loaders, the Lee Collet Dies work fabulous! No lubing, no case legthening, not much trimming, and cases "DO" last for many many firings! This is because the Lee Collet Dies neck sizes only the case, and does this very simply. God I LOVE THEM! I reload for my Savage Model 112 in 300 Win. and my Model 70 in 300 win. and my Savage model 111 in 30-06 with excellent accuracy results. Of course...I round filed my Leupold scopes and switched over to Bushnell Elite series of scopes. There is a difference I assure you. I sometimes use my Lee hand press to reload and yes, you can use a Lee Hand Press using Lee Collet Dies. Very easily by the way. You should rotate the case 180 degrees after running the case up the collet die and repeat a second sizing operation. I notice no difference in accuracy using this hand press verses a bench mounted press but....I "ALWAYS" measure my powder charges on a scale. Remember...we are talking about hunting/target loads. But even with hunting, wouldn't you want the best possible accuracy one can obtain? I've reloaded some of my cases well over 20 times! With full lenght resizing of rifle cases...you had better stop at no more than 10 reloadings...except if you're shooting extremely light rifle loads. Not much stress on the cases using very light rifle loads. But that is very very seldom I assure you! Almost non exsistant really unless you are fire forming brass usually. What I'm saying here is this. One doesn't normally use that many rounds shooting a 30-06 or even a 308 Wincheter. Well..unless you have so much money you can rebarrel your rifles on a regular basis and buy lots of primers, powder, bullets and many replacement cases! I'm into accurcy, and I've goten far better results using Lee Products than Lyman, Redding, RCBS, Heuters...but as always, there are those that believe Lee Products are not worth spit! Many a friend over the years where thankful I introduced them to Lee Products. Some were DieHard RCBS users at that! Good luck! Last edited by craigcolorado; January 12, 2008 at 12:30 PM. Reason: bad spelling!

January 13, 2008, 08:19 PM	#11
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	There is no fixed answer to your question. It really depends what your needs are? The Redding Competition Seating Die is excellent. I've heard others say the same about the Forster, but I've not tried it. The first Redding Competition Seating Die I bought worked so extremely well, I've never bothered to try anything else. Their other dies are all very well made. Lee gets short shrift because they spend less effort on final finish, but they also have far more than the usual share of very innovative ideas. Their collet die, as mentioned earlier, is terrific. It works brass less than any other neck sizing die and does not create the "dreaded donut" at the neck/shoulder junction as conventional sizing eventually does, so you never have to inside-ream a neck sized on one. The Redding S dies and their Forster clone have the advantage of letting you adjust the sizing and not being stuck with just one size. That's and advantage with turned necks, where the brass may be a couple thousandths thinner and you may want to narrow it a little extra to get best neck tension. The Lee sizing dies have the long expanders that you can set up near the neck portion of the die to avoid pulling a the neck off axis during expanding. The Reddings have carbide expanders available to avoid inside neck lubing. Name your poison. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

January 14, 2008, 12:26 PM	#13
UniversalFrost Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,300	List of the best (in my opinion) based on .308 win redding competition dies RCBS gold match Redding type s forster bench rest These are also some of the most expensive. __________________ Lifetime member VFW and NRA "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (when all else fails play dead) -Red Green

January 11, 2008, 05:58 PM	#4
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	Mach do you recommend one RCBS die set over an other? thanks.

January 12, 2008, 08:46 AM	#5
Mach II Sailor Junior member Join Date: March 22, 2007 Posts: 480	for straight wall cases i recomend their carbide dies, you still need a light lube on the cases, and the best lube is one you can make yourself, one pint of 99% rubbing alcohol and a 4 ounce bottle of pure lanolin, warm both in a pot of very hot water, pour into a glass container, shake well and you will have enough lube to last a very, very long time, use from a spray bottle and very lightly.

January 12, 2008, 03:06 PM	#7
Ry-guy Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Proud to be Canadian Posts: 47	I was using Hornady dies for a while. I then bought a set of Redding for my .223 and never went back to Hornady. I actually sold all of my other dies on Ebay and replaced them with Redding because i liked them so much. I couldn't believe the difference in quality. Just my suggestion but Go Redding.

January 12, 2008, 07:15 PM	#8
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	Ry-Guy Which Reddings do you use? I have Redding type S dies for .223.

January 12, 2008, 07:29 PM	#9
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	I had a lee aniv. set many years ago but after buying my 550b it has stayed in a box so long not sure I could find it now. I use the Lee factory crimp dies in .357 and 45LC

January 13, 2008, 05:23 PM	#10
Ry-guy Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Proud to be Canadian Posts: 47	gga357 they are Series "A". Part number 80111.

January 13, 2008, 10:19 PM	#12
gga357 Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: New Mexico Posts: 15	I think I will try the .308 in the dillion carbid and .30-06 in Redding type s full length set.