44 magnum dies
- Thread starter Shotgun64
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Carbide, makes no difference what brand if quality dies are used, although I have had issues with Lee carbide dies.
I have had good results with rcbs carbide dies.
The Reddings are my personal preference - after 40+ years of reloading I have sold or traded most of my dies for Reddings. They work well and to my view are better machined and finished than most. Not that others won't work fine...
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
For me neither because they cost too much without a sufficient increase in quality to institute additional cost.
RCBS makes excellent dies at a fair price and they customer support is unrivalled. I also have had good success with Lee handgun dies and the cost is low.
For handguns I like the Hornady Nitride sizing dies, the Lee seating dies and the Lee powder-through dies for use on my turret press. For rifles I mostly use RCBS dies. I do have a set of Hornady dies for loading the 45-70 and they work very well for me.
Price isn't the only consideration but it is consideration. I see no reason to spend more for no discernible reason. (all IMO of course)
I have the Redding .44 magnum dies and their new pistol dies use a type "M" expander. The patent expired on the Lyman type "M" expander and Redding now uses the same type expander.
Below Redding dies and the center expander die has the type "M" expander. This type expander ensures straight inline bullet seating and keeps the bullet from tipping when seated.Cartridge Pressure Standards
Below a Lyman type "M" .223 expander, and you can see the larger .226 step on the expander. You just bump the case mouth on to the larger step and the bullet can be started into the case mouth with just your fingers. With brass spring back the case mouth is only .001 larger than bullet diameter. And crimping the bullet reduces this case mouth diameter.
Below Redding dies and the center expander die has the type "M" expander. This type expander ensures straight inline bullet seating and keeps the bullet from tipping when seated.Cartridge Pressure Standards
Below a Lyman type "M" .223 expander, and you can see the larger .226 step on the expander. You just bump the case mouth on to the larger step and the bullet can be started into the case mouth with just your fingers. With brass spring back the case mouth is only .001 larger than bullet diameter. And crimping the bullet reduces this case mouth diameter.
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Benchrest1
Member
Like others here I have and use RCBS dies. I've loaded everything from light 44 spl to 310 grain arm breakers without any problems.
DWalt
Member
Used dies. I have an old set of Lyman carbide dies I bought off eBay many years ago. They work fine for .44 Mag and .44 Special.
I started with Lee, because they were cheap, then tried Lyman and RCBS. I retired my Lee dies as I found their dimensional tolerances often left much to be desired. They may have improved since the 1980's, but I'm not going to buy new ones to find out.
My experience with Lyman and RCBS has been really good, but the big, round locking rings on the Lyman dies had to be replaced with RCBS rings in order to get them to fit my old 1990 vintage RCBS AmmoMaster progressive press.
My experience with Lyman and RCBS has been really good, but the big, round locking rings on the Lyman dies had to be replaced with RCBS rings in order to get them to fit my old 1990 vintage RCBS AmmoMaster progressive press.
Been using a set of RCBS carbide dies to load thousands of 44’s since the mid 70’s. They have served me well.
daniel lawecki
Member
I use RCBS dies they work just fine. If you don't weight your bullets or each powder charge I really don't think dies matter that much. I have different die sets and different manufactuers and really can't tell much difference.
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cowboy4evr
Member
Lee is all I use and have ever used . They work just fine for me and will continue to use only Lee .
RCBS now also uses the M die profile for their expander dies. One thing, you'll need roll crimp dies for the hunting bullets with cannelures or crimping grooves. A separate taper crimp dies for less enthusiastic loads with plated/swaged bullets would be a good idea, but you can seat those bullets deeper and roll crimp over the leading edge if necessary.
FWIW, I've been using Lyman .44 & .38 dies for decades with no issues. Unless you have a Dillon (or someone else's) progressive press, you'll still have to buy a separate neck expanding die if you buy Dillon pistol dies. Dillon rifle dies are the way to go if you're loading rifle on even a single stage press. But you'll need different locking rings if you're using Dillon dies on any press where you're changing dies to change calibers/operation.
FWIW, I've been using Lyman .44 & .38 dies for decades with no issues. Unless you have a Dillon (or someone else's) progressive press, you'll still have to buy a separate neck expanding die if you buy Dillon pistol dies. Dillon rifle dies are the way to go if you're loading rifle on even a single stage press. But you'll need different locking rings if you're using Dillon dies on any press where you're changing dies to change calibers/operation.
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S with most things it is pretty much personal preference and how much you want to spend.
They ALL work. 44 Mag is not like a precision 6mmBR
Some think that the more money they spend, the better their ammo and shooting will be.
Show me a 44 Mag loaded with XYZ dies vs one loaded with 123 dies and what's the difference?
They ALL work. 44 Mag is not like a precision 6mmBR
Some think that the more money they spend, the better their ammo and shooting will be.
Show me a 44 Mag loaded with XYZ dies vs one loaded with 123 dies and what's the difference?
Ivan the Butcher
Member
As to which quality brand of dies to use. I would also look at 2 more considerations; 1) Customer service. Everybody except Lyman it treating their unspoken warranty as a lifetime/forever warranty. That means if it isn't abused and it wears out or breaks, they take very good care of you. Lyman is a One year that they have been very flakey about!
2) Commonality. If you already have a brand you have been using and are happy with it, stick with it! When you have an event (target shoot, match or hunting trip) tomorrow and a part breaks, you can often rob parts off of another die set of the same brand and finish your batch of ammo.
I have been buying RCBS dies since 1979 for routine loading of rifle and pistol cartridges. When I started to load ammo for 1000 yard shooting, I wet to the Redding Competition Die Sets and have been very very happy with quality and the results. They also make some special seating dies for revolver cartridges, but for plinking, they aren't necessary. Have fun making small groups of big holes!
Ivan
2) Commonality. If you already have a brand you have been using and are happy with it, stick with it! When you have an event (target shoot, match or hunting trip) tomorrow and a part breaks, you can often rob parts off of another die set of the same brand and finish your batch of ammo.
I have been buying RCBS dies since 1979 for routine loading of rifle and pistol cartridges. When I started to load ammo for 1000 yard shooting, I wet to the Redding Competition Die Sets and have been very very happy with quality and the results. They also make some special seating dies for revolver cartridges, but for plinking, they aren't necessary. Have fun making small groups of big holes!
Ivan
Dies
All brand name dies are good. I've used Lee, Lyman and RCBS without incident. However, if you're using a Dillon press, Lee dies tend to be a bit short and you're far better off using Dillon dies.
RCBS is outstanding because if you do have an issue, they will fix it no matter how long you've owned the dies. And, carbide is carbide. Doesn't matter who makes it.
All brand name dies are good. I've used Lee, Lyman and RCBS without incident. However, if you're using a Dillon press, Lee dies tend to be a bit short and you're far better off using Dillon dies.
RCBS is outstanding because if you do have an issue, they will fix it no matter how long you've owned the dies. And, carbide is carbide. Doesn't matter who makes it.
oddshooter
Member
I luv my dillon 550b progressive. However, their dies are poorly made and their lock rings get frozen on the poorly made threads. It requires two wrenches; one to hold first lock, and the second wrench to turn. I've talked to them about it, but they say it is what it is. I could never recommend the Dillon dies. If you don't adjust or tune your dies to different bullets, then having them frozen in place is no big deal.
I spent some serious cash and got the Redding Competition dies and they are worth every penny. I adjust for new bullets constantly and these dies have saved me days of frustration and time on the dillon with their top adjustment knob.
I got the RCBS M die for 45 colt in my sw25-5 with big cylinder holes. RCBS is the only company I found that would send me a new stem for the seater which was a perfect .454" . All the other stems are .450 and swage down my special .454 bullets during seating. NO CHARGE !
Prescut
I've got the Ruger Bisley Hunter in 45 colt with Leupold scope and absolutely luv it !!!
I spent some serious cash and got the Redding Competition dies and they are worth every penny. I adjust for new bullets constantly and these dies have saved me days of frustration and time on the dillon with their top adjustment knob.
I got the RCBS M die for 45 colt in my sw25-5 with big cylinder holes. RCBS is the only company I found that would send me a new stem for the seater which was a perfect .454" . All the other stems are .450 and swage down my special .454 bullets during seating. NO CHARGE !
Prescut
I've got the Ruger Bisley Hunter in 45 colt with Leupold scope and absolutely luv it !!!
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It all depends on the user. I made some very accurate handloads with a Lee Loader and some so-so handloads with my RCBS dies. If the most expensive dies work better, in your mind, they are the ones to get (not a condemnation, just one does better with tools they like and are comfortable using). Today I use a Lee size/decap die, an RCBS seating die and a Redding profile crimp die and for my 44 Magnum rifle I use a Lee Collet Crimp die. I started with a Lee set and gradually worked my way into the "kit" I mentioned. The only change I thought really necessary was the desire for a better crimp die (and I had a 44 Magnum RCBS seating die laying around, tried it and was too lazy to take it out of the turret 
).
A sloppy reloader can't make good ammo even with the most expensive dies and a conscientious reloader will make good, accurate ammo on the cheapest dies available...
).A sloppy reloader can't make good ammo even with the most expensive dies and a conscientious reloader will make good, accurate ammo on the cheapest dies available...
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