I use Herters, RCBS, Forrester, and Lee. The only ones I don't care for are the Lee. I don't like the adjustment rings and have to replace them with Hornady lock rings. Lee will get the job done, but there are better dies. Sometimes an extra few dollars of investment is worth it.
Favorite Reloading Dies?
- Thread starter traub
- Start date
LittleCooner
Member
Mostly use RCBS and Redding from my stash of about 15 sets. Some of the RCBS dies are 30-40 years old now. I got into accuracy shooting with a rifle years ago and most of the newer dies and the ones I use are Redding. I have one set of Lee dies and need to sell them here, I replaced them with a set of Reddings. I think Lee is the very bottom end of quality and do not like the way they work. I have other Lee products that are great, but you can have their dies. Just last year purchased a carbide Redding resizer only for 44 Mag/Special and love the die. Top quality and since they last two lifetimes if taken care of after usage (son with inherit and use these dies) I will only buy top of the line stuff. For super accurate rifle work, I have a lot of hand dies, L E Wilson and Neil Jones. Neil Jones set for long range rifle loading is the very top of the heap, but most of you guys will shake you head when you see that a set cost $ 300 now. Like driving a Rolls Royce when the lee set is like driving a 1973 VW with the floor rusted out. To each is own.
Magload
US Veteran
I use Dillion locking nuts on my Lee dies. The Lee ones are just to big and on my 550 the spacing between nuts is to close to get a wrench on very well. Lee says because they have those rubber O rings they only have to be finger tight but I didn't think that was working well for me. Don
ggibson511960
Member
Any Brand but Lee.......Almost
You get what you pay for. Lee uses too much aluminum to get the first cost down. Few will ever wear out any kind of die, but I would never use Lee dies for any heavy reforming job required by cartridge conversion. That cheesy, galling, aluminum lock ring with an O-ring instead of a set screw just isn't going to stand up, but this kind of tough duty is uncommon. On the other hand, doing unusual stuff is what makes reloading fun and keeps some old calibers in business. I make all my 300 H&H out of other cases.
There is one Lee die that excels, the neck sizing collet die. These are wonderful for bottleneck cases where your rifle can swallow them, and the stress on the weak die parts is minimal. Glad Lee covers this neglected market.
You get what you pay for. Lee uses too much aluminum to get the first cost down. Few will ever wear out any kind of die, but I would never use Lee dies for any heavy reforming job required by cartridge conversion. That cheesy, galling, aluminum lock ring with an O-ring instead of a set screw just isn't going to stand up, but this kind of tough duty is uncommon. On the other hand, doing unusual stuff is what makes reloading fun and keeps some old calibers in business. I make all my 300 H&H out of other cases.
There is one Lee die that excels, the neck sizing collet die. These are wonderful for bottleneck cases where your rifle can swallow them, and the stress on the weak die parts is minimal. Glad Lee covers this neglected market.
I like Dillon dies with Dillon presses. I have RCBS, Lyman and Lee also. I like Lee the least due to much the same as others on here think. Redding makes some top notch dies. For the kind of reloading I do, I just can't justify the extra cost.
10mmauto
Member
Lee carbide four die sets. Assuredly NOT junk.
DWalt
Member
I have everybody's - Lee, RCBS, CH, Lyman, even some old Herter's. I cannot say anything bad about any of them. Most sets I have purchased recently have been Lee, as they are generally cheaper. I have no complaints about Lee dies. I bought one set with a burr inside the FL die, Lee replaced it immediately without hassle.
Squarebutt
Member
Dillon pistol die sets seem to work the best in my 550. I have one or two Lyman and RCBS rifle sets, but my favorite rifle dies are the Reddings in .223, .30-06 and even .35 Remington. I don't mind paying an extra $20 or so for their quality.
I've use RCBS and Lyman dies almost exclusively, mainly because my late dad was really good friends with a sporting goods wholesaler and I got my dies at dealer cost.
That connection is long gone so I recently bought Lee .45 ACP dies but they are a bit too short for easy use in a Dillon press. I contacted Lee and received a snide response from them. I no longer buy Lee dies.
That connection is long gone so I recently bought Lee .45 ACP dies but they are a bit too short for easy use in a Dillon press. I contacted Lee and received a snide response from them. I no longer buy Lee dies.
I've used RCBS, and Lyman but I now use Lee carbide exclusively. Use them on my Dillon 550. Never had a bit of problem and they cost half or less than the others.
I really like Redding Profile crimp dies for revolver rounds.
The Hornady seating dies with the guide built in is my favorite seater.
I use EGW U dies for my 45acp and 9mm range ammo.
I have multiple tool heads for my high use calibers, 3 45 acp, 3 357 and 2 9mm in addition to my other calibers.
In all I reload 11 handgun and 4 rifle calibers so I have dies from every manufacturer.
The Hornady seating dies with the guide built in is my favorite seater.
I use EGW U dies for my 45acp and 9mm range ammo.
I have multiple tool heads for my high use calibers, 3 45 acp, 3 357 and 2 9mm in addition to my other calibers.
In all I reload 11 handgun and 4 rifle calibers so I have dies from every manufacturer.
ageingstudent
Member
I have Lee, RCBS, and Redding presently. They all work fine they are all just a little different. The Redding set I have is for .401 WSL and is a nice set that I felt darned lucky to find.
I saw someone mention that Lee dies would not be good for forming above and that has not been my experience. I have done some reforming work and also loaded 500 S&W with Lee dies and it worked great and didn't damage the dies or my turret press. Use a decent lube. I have never had a Lee die come loose. I guess if the O ring got hard they might work loose, but those are easy enough to replace every few years. I think they work just fine. Inexpensive too. Also don't have to keep track of that darned little allen wrench.
I saw someone mention that Lee dies would not be good for forming above and that has not been my experience. I have done some reforming work and also loaded 500 S&W with Lee dies and it worked great and didn't damage the dies or my turret press. Use a decent lube. I have never had a Lee die come loose. I guess if the O ring got hard they might work loose, but those are easy enough to replace every few years. I think they work just fine. Inexpensive too. Also don't have to keep track of that darned little allen wrench.
gwpercle
Member
Good Idea, going to ditch those "rubber O-ring finger tighten" things that don't work worth a hoot . That's the only thing that bothers me with the Lee dies. That and the "sliding decapping pin".
Gary
Those decapping pins work pretty well. I broke one once on a piece of gravel in a .223 case. I then learned how to adjust them just tight enough and they have worked great ever since.
bigt5150
Member
I've never had a problem with myh 38/357 DIllon Dies but out of curiosity i purchased a set of Redding Progressive Dies. I hear great things about their crimp dies. I hope to use them this weekend.
I've got and used everything from LEE to Lyman to Bair, Herters, Hollywood, Pacific and others.
To tell you the truth, they all work. I really can't complain about any of them. I do like the split ring style w/tightening screw type of ring, but they all work. Even the latest LEE style w/the rubber ring.
I guess I just don't get too caught up in the technogenics of it all. They all do the same thing pretty much by the same methods.
I do hate it though when I don't put enough case lube on the brass and pull a rim off leaving the case stuck in the die. That's my fault,,and a home-made case extractor makes quick work of the stuckee.
To tell you the truth, they all work. I really can't complain about any of them. I do like the split ring style w/tightening screw type of ring, but they all work. Even the latest LEE style w/the rubber ring.
I guess I just don't get too caught up in the technogenics of it all. They all do the same thing pretty much by the same methods.
I do hate it though when I don't put enough case lube on the brass and pull a rim off leaving the case stuck in the die. That's my fault,,and a home-made case extractor makes quick work of the stuckee.
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Pistol: I like Dillon - pull a pin and the whole Die comes apart for cleaning - simple!
Rifle: RCBS
I have a few Lee Dies that were given to me - not a fan.........
Rifle: RCBS
I have a few Lee Dies that were given to me - not a fan.........
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