Differences in Redding Die Sets

[ColourCaseHardened]

Hey All,

Can anyone explain and/or share with me the differences between the various Redding 44 Mag/Special die sets?

I was researching online and from what I see the "Profile Crimp Die" is very good but it looks like it's only available with the most expensive set. Please advise?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I don't know if this is a "Profile Crimp" die or not. One of their most expensive seat/crimp dies in straight wall cases has a micrometer length adjustment. I have that in 38-55. It is great for fine adjustment to get a specific distance away from the refiling in rifles and single shot handguns. but would be pointless in revolvers! (Kind of a waste of money!" For bottle neck rifle cartridges, the Micrometer Seat die is a Godsend. Most Remington 700 factory barrels like one of two distances: Less than .005" or .050". This is where the ogive touches or almost touches the lands.

Every change in bullet would need adjustment and revolvers aren't that picky!

Ivan

 

[Rick H.]

Redding is re-doing their website which makes it difficult to find what you are after. Several stores seem to be out of the Profile Crimp die in various calibers, but some have them. The Profile Crimp dies from Redding can be purchased individually. To make matters more confusing there are several variations of these dies from standard ones to micrometer adjustable styles. Several years ago I bought a standard Profile crimp die for final crimping of my .38 Special wadcutter loads instead of just using a straight taper crimp. I think I had some information from this forum about using a Profile crimp versus a normal taper crimp for better feeding of my reloads into my Model 52's. In any event the Profile crimp works very well for me in these reloads and I am happy with it.

Even with the Redding website being down you can still call their telephone number and talk to a real person. I just did so yesterday on a question I had about powder measures and there was no waiting. I must have been lucky I guess.

Rick H.

 

[ColourCaseHardened]

I don't know if this is a "Profile Crimp" die or not. One of their most expensive seat/crimp dies in straight wall cases has a micrometer length adjustment. I have that in 38-55. It is great for fine adjustment to get a specific distance away from the refiling in rifles and single shot handguns. but would be pointless in revolvers! (Kind of a waste of money!" For bottle neck rifle cartridges, the Micrometer Seat die is a Godsend. Most Remington 700 factory barrels like one of two distances: Less than .005" or .050". This is where the ogive touches or almost touches the lands.

Every change in bullet would need adjustment and revolvers aren't that picky!

Ivan

Ivan that's great information and makes perfect sense! I think I'm on the way to finding what I need knowing that's not a necessity.

 

[ColourCaseHardened]

Redding is re-doing their website which makes it difficult to find what you are after. Several stores seem to be out of the Profile Crimp die in various calibers, but some have them. The Profile Crimp dies from Redding can be purchased individually. To make matters more confusing there are several variations of these dies from standard ones to micrometer adjustable styles. Several years ago I bought a standard Profile crimp die for final crimping of my .38 Special wadcutter loads instead of just using a straight taper crimp. I think I had some information from this forum about using a Profile crimp versus a normal taper crimp for better feeding of my reloads into my Model 52's. In any event the Profile crimp works very well for me in these reloads and I am happy with it.

Even with the Redding website being down you can still call their telephone number and talk to a real person. I just did so yesterday on a question I had about powder measures and there was no waiting. I must have been lucky I guess.

Rick H.

Rick,

I will probably do that!

 

[gwpercle]

Over the last 58 years I've reloaded a lot of ammo with dies from :
RCBS
CH4D
Pacific
Lyman
Herters
Eagle
And Redding ... They all were excellent dies .

Lee dies are made to a price point , cheap but they do work , just not as finely made as the others ...

Honestly ... it isn't the dies that make the good reload ...
It's the man pulling the handle and his attention to detail .

They all work just fine .
Gary

 

[TheTinMan]

My preference for revolver cartridges is a Lyman 3-die set plus a Redding Profile Crimp die. Lyman’s M-Die expander works better for me. The 2 seating die stems seem to cover every bullet ogive shape I need. And like the M-Die, the Profile Crimp die is a “better mousetrap.” Plus this costs less than a full Redding set.

Rifle die choices are more complicated based upon the cartridge, the rifle, and my objectives.

 

[zeke]

I don't know if this is a "Profile Crimp" die or not. One of their most expensive seat/crimp dies in straight wall cases has a micrometer length adjustment. I have that in 38-55. It is great for fine adjustment to get a specific distance away from the refiling in rifles and single shot handguns. but would be pointless in revolvers! (Kind of a waste of money!" For bottle neck rifle cartridges, the Micrometer Seat die is a Godsend. Most Remington 700 factory barrels like one of two distances: Less than .005" or .050". This is where the ogive touches or almost touches the lands.

Every change in bullet would need adjustment and revolvers aren't that picky!

Ivan

Redding also has comp seating dies for pistol (auto and revolver) cartridges, but they don't crimp. Not only the dial on top but closer tolerances to help bullet seat straighter. Not as precise as their rifle comp seaters, but imo noticeably better than their regular seating dies.

Particularly useful for the semi auto's am increasing case neck tension on. Am not aware if they are included in any sets, and are way more expensive now.

Tough for me to keep track anymore as manufacturers have been adding the micrometer adj on top of regular dies.