45 ACP die sets

[palmetto99]

I've been hand loading for a little over a year. Started with 9mm. Then began .38 spl. Now looking at .45 ACP.

I've been using RCBS carbide 3-die sets for .38 spl. and 9mm. I've been very happy.

I would like to see what other folks are using out there.

All input welcome.

 

[epj]

I use the Lee 4 die carbide set. I have used RCBS and Lyman in the past, but the Lee dies have worked well for me for a long time and tens of thousands of rounds at half the cost.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I freaking love the Lee FCD for my 1911's. I also find that the sizing die is a little easier on the brass than my RCBS sizing die.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I've got some Hornady, RCBS, Lee, Dillon and CH4D sets.

I honestly can say that there isn't a dime's worth of difference in the way they perform. The only caveat is if you are looking at older, used dies as the old Lee and even some of the old RCBS have short bodies and won't really work on the newer progressive presses.

If you buy new dies, it won't be a problem.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Andy,

When I look at my Lee and RCBS sizing dies side by side I can see where the opening is rounded on the Lee while the RCBS seems to be cut more conical. I just find that the Lee sizing dies allow the case mouth to slip in easier than the RCBS. The only dies I have ever crushed brass with are the RCBS dies. That is the only reason I say they are a little easier on the brass.

When I go home tonight I can take a pic and post it if anyone is curious.

 

[Andy Griffith]

I guess I did forget to mention that some dies have little or no taper or chamfering on the bottom to allow a smoother insertion of the brass- which can be especially important when used with progressive presses and straight walled cases. They help to "throttle down" your reloading speed though- they still make excellent quality cartridges.

I've got a .45 Colt set of RCBS carbide dies that have very little chamfering on the sizer ring and have to "guide" each case into them by feel. Other than that, there is no problems in the way they load cartridges. I guess I have gotten used to loading on them and don't think much about it anymore. I have never noticed any difference in bottleneck cartridge dies- except perhaps the expanders, in which I do like the elliptical ones from Hornady, but it isn't something I notice a whole lot.

My newest set is a Lee carbide for .32 S&W which I was skeptical about working on my Hornady LNLAP. It works just fine.

I will add that if you load cartridges for lever rifles, the Lee "factory crimp die" that has the collet with the "fingers" is the "cat's meow" for .35 Remington, .30-30, .444 Marlin, .32-20 and any other calibers where you need a good tight bullet crimp- especially when using bullets without crimp grooves. I don't know how I got along without it.

I've become a die junkie- if it's cheap enough and I don't have it already, I'll pick up a set.

 

[novalty]

My RCBS Carbide dies have been very consistant so far. Not a fan of their lock-rings, but are set now, and working well. Apparently, a suggestion for the brass set screw is to take a single lead shot from a shotgun shell and put it in first then install the brass set screw and tighten. Personally using a different style lock-ring would be more beneficial if you have to adjust the seater for different style leads often.

 

[thndrchiken]

For the price you can't beat the Lee 4 die carbide.

 

[PhilOhio]

Well, Palmetto99, it looks like most of us have had the same experiences and agree.

I've been loading for half a century. I was always a loyal RCBS die user and still am, having many sets.

BUT, a few years ago I tried the much less expensive Lee dies, which often include a totally superior carbide sizing die. I now buy nothing but Lee dies, and load around 40 different cartridge types.

I would still be buying RCBS dies, if the people who bought the late Fred Huntington's trade name had been willing to change with the times, continue the same kind of direct and customer friendly service, keep prices down to a reasonable and competitive level, make minor improvements when possible...but they have not. Yes, they still make great products...which I would be stupid to buy at their inflated prices.

It's the story of Sears, McDonalds, and Wal-Mart's recent slow slide. When a successful corporate founder dies, self confident hot shot successors often feel they have "a better idea" and are subsequently proven wrong. Wal-Mart execs claim they have learned their lesson and are trying to go back to some of founder Sam Walton's proven home-spun principles. Let's see if the RCBS folks ever figure this out.

Richard Lee, full of good ideas, founded Lee Precision. A son is running it, following the same business model. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just keep improving it.

Most of my friends have also switched to Lee dies and related products. You can't beat them for the money; and just on merit.

Don't want to sound like a commercial, but it looks like the rest of you feel prertty much the same way.

Lyman, CH, Pacific, and some of the others didn't make the cut at all. Too bad. Competition is not a bad thing. But hey, if one company takes over because they are efficient, quality oriented, and fair to us, I can live with that flavor of monopoly. Mike Dillon's company, while having no monopoly in the loading press or die business, is another standout example of how to do it right.

 

[TAROMAN]

Lee for me, too. I have both the 4-die and the 3-die sets. They live in Lee turrets. One is set up for auto loads and the other for revolver loads. Never any problems with them.

 

[palmetto99]

Thanks for the input so far folks.

I didn't mention that I'm using a single stage RCBS press. I assume that other manufacturers dies are threaded the same and will work in it or is there an adapter required?

 

[BE Mike]

I've used RCBS, Lyman and now Dillon dies. All have been outstanding. If it's for a progressive however, you just can't beat the Dillon dies.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I didn’t mention it at first because I don’t have one yet but I have heard really good things about the Lee Universal Expander Die. If anyone here has used one, I would love to hear what they think of it.

 

[Bugs Bunny]

Thanks for the input so far folks.

I didn't mention that I'm using a single stage RCBS press. I assume that other manufacturers dies are threaded the same and will work in it or is there an adapter required?

For the most part they are a standard size thread unless you come across some ancient odd die set.

I sent the Lee dies back I purchased, can't remember what I didnt like about them, we have two sets of RCBS dies for 45acp for the 3 RCBS presses we have setup.

Just never found anyone to impress on how the progressive loaders are faster or better or I would have them.

 

[38-44HD45]

If you ever think you want to load any Remington brass, you'll be best served with at least a Dillon sizer die. Last I checked, only Dillon made a sizer to original specs, which includes a slight taper. Remington brass is thin, and no amount of sizing will prevent bullet setback if the brass is not sufficiently sized.

 

[Fishslayer]

I use the Lee carbide 4 die sets in .38/.357, 9mm and .45ACP.

They work fine & I like that caliber change is a simple turret swap.

Remington brass is thin, and no amount of sizing will prevent bullet setback if the brass is not sufficiently sized.

True. I only use Rem brass for .452 lead boolits in .45ACP.

 

[DRSNINER]

I own nothing but Lee 4 die sets in 9mm, 38 super,45 acp 40 S&W,223 and I couldn't be more pleased with the ammo they prouduce.

 

[dickttx]

When I bought my original equipment in the late 60's and early 70's I basically bought RCBS rifle dies and Lyman pistol dies with their new miracle carbide sizer dies. They work just as good as they did then. When I started reloading again last year after several years absence I bought the Lee dies for 9mm (Lee didn't make dies when I bought my others) mostly because of the price difference. In about a years time I have replaced with Lee's for 357, 41, 45acp and 45 Colt. They work tremendously well. And my new Lee Classic Turret is a dream.
I absolutely hated the RCBS rings. As soon as you put that little lead shot in the hole and tighten it down, you might as well throw away the die instead of trying to made further adjustments.

 

[Lou_NC]

I started reloading decades ago on a Rock Chucker with RCBS dies. When I bought my Dillon 550 a few years back, I already had RCBS dies for all the calibers I was loading, with the exception of the .40 S&W, so I bought Dillon dies for that caliber.

If you ever intend to move to a progressive press, I'd definitely consider the Dillon dies. They aren't cheap, but I do like the fact that you can very easily drop the seating die and crimp die "innards" out of the dies for cleaning, without disturbing the adjustments. I load cast bullets and the lube does build up on the dies. The design of the Dillon dies does make them easier to clean, IMHO.

Lou

 

[Crimp]

I am totally happy with the thousands of rounds made with my Lee 4-die carbide set.