Lee or RCBS dies

[rebs081]

A set of Lee carbide 45 acp, 3 dies = 26.00
A set of RCBS carbide 45 acp 3 dies 48.00

Are the RCBS really that much better at almost double the price or would I just be paying for the name RCBS ?

 

[KLNC]

Personally, I think the Lee's are excellent in both function and value, although I don't like their expanding die and often replace it with a Lyman M die. For the price, they're hard to beat.

 

[max]

I have both. RCBS will replace stuff forever at no charge to you. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

 

[Roundsworth]

I have purchased Lee dies, especially when cost is an issue. For an oddball cartridge that I load only 100 or so per season, the Lee dies are fine. C&H has an extensive catalog and costs less than RCBS. I just bought their 11x52R Dutch dies at half the cost of RCBS. I buy RCBS for my large volume loading. The only thing I don't like about Lee dies is the rubber o-ring set-up. I guess I am one of the wierdos that sets my dies up every time I use them. I was forced into early retirement and have plenty of time to set up my dies and press! I outfitted myself for loading the 7.62x25 using the Lee die set, the Lee Factory Crimp Die, and the Lee carbide 38 Super sizing die. Now I can load the 7.62x25 without using lube, at a fraction of the cost of RCBS!

 

[kennyb]

i use rcbs....zero problems

 

[Smith357]

I have both and use both Lee and RCBS, I can't tell any difference between them other than the RCBS dies will rust faster if not kept oiled up.

 

[hawgleg]

Lee's dies work just fine, I like the 4 die set so I can seat and crimp separate. The powder thru expander die works great with Pro Auto Disk powder measure.

 

[steamloco76]

I too have both.

All my older dies are RCBS and I've loaded thousands of rounds with them. I got a bit tired of separate seat and crimp operations with my magnum revolver and auto pistol loads re-adjusting the same die. Bought a couple Lee Factory Crimp dies and loved them, so now all I buy are Lee 4 die sets.
They work just as well as the more expensive RBCS dies.

 

[gwpercle]

RCBS dies are sort of the Cadillac of dies with Lee being the ford or chevy. If you can afford the best and like the prestige then drive the caddy . Me I still drive a 1968 chevy and get from point A to point B just fine. Lee dies work just fine and I would rather have Lee carbide than RCBS steel any day. But I have been known to try and get the most value I can from a dollar and Lee products are a very good value. Most of the reloading equiptment purchased in the last years seems to be Lee items. gary

 

[Warren Sear]

... The only thing I don't like about Lee dies is the rubber o-ring set-up...

Same here; I replace the rings with set screw-type locking rings. Other than that, no complaints with Lyman, RCBS, or Lee.

 

[Maddog 521]

Wow I thought I was driving a Cadillac all these years. I'm crushed. Lee has been my go-to dies.

 

[orion1]

All of my die sets are RCBS. I also have a lee factory crimp die in each caliber. I prefer to crimp as a separate step.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

In my opinion Lee is as good as the others. The biggest thing I like about Lee dies is the rubber "O" ring locking nuts. They are so easy to adjust. I even bought extra's for some of my other dies. Don

 

[Titegroups]

I always use lee 4 die sets, loaded tens of thousands of rounds with them. Great value.

 

[spaniel]

Lee carbide are fine for pistols. That's all I use. For bottleneck cartridges, I much prefer RCBS.

 

[rebs081]

Thank you for the replies I appreiate it

 

[novalty]

I went with RCBS carbide for the 3 die sets I have, as the rest of my equipment is RCBS. They have worked well for me so far. Wouldn't hesitate to buy Lee, the o-ring lock ring can't be worse than RCBS's set screw.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I prefer the Lee dies for most pistol loading. The carbide sizer die has a more rounded edge that helps to center the case mouth for sizing instead of catching it and crushing it. Not that my RCBS dies do that often, but RCBS seems to put a flat instead of round edge on their die. Lee's PTX dies are easy to adjust even if you don't use their powder systems on them. If you are loading lead then I would rather use Lee's universal expander to set just a bit more of an opening for lead to not shave on seating. As for the seating/crimping die, you won't find a seating stem that is easier to adjust, period. The one fail is they only offer the one stem. So if it doesn't like your bullet's nose then you can see about milling it or shaping some JB Weld or other trick. I very much dislike seating and crimping in one step so I prefer to use another die for setting the crimp. The Lee Carbide FCD gets kicked around a lot and I think it's just because people don't know how to use it right or are expecting it to do something different. I only used them on autoloader ammo and they work like a champ. The carbide post sizing ring should just kiss the case wall unless of course you are using an oversize bullet or have some thicker than normal case walls. My lead bullets are all sized at .452" for .45 ACP and I use whatever once fired range brass I can find. Several thousand cartridges later I have only found A-Merc brass to suck hard enough that it doesn't work in these dies. But then I still say A-Merc brass is the devil and take special pleasure in smashing those nasty gremlins with a large hammer. If you want to load revolver ammo and have what I think may be the best thing in the world to crimp with, find Ranch Dog Outdoors and he has Lee make the rifle version of their FCD with the collet crimping for common revolver calibers. I freaking LOVE them and have bought them in all available calibers. You can make an amazing roll crimp that doesn't seem to over work the brass nearly as hard as a regular die that has the milled in edge to roll the case mouth. But the bottom line with all of Lee's products is that most people tend to have a love/hate feeling for them with little gray area. I like them enough that they comprise the bulk of my dies and the only remaining RCBS set I have is a .44 magnum set and all they load is .44 special as I have a Lee set for magnums. The only time I keep Lee's o ring lock rings is if I lock them down in Lee's own turrets for the Classic Turret Press. If I use those dies in the Rockchucker or LNL AP then I use Hornady's slit lock rings as I don't think there is a finer lock ring made. Set your expectations and read reviews or ask for others results and you will know what you want to purchase. Also, keep in mind Lee's deluxe carbide die sets come with the shell holder while RCBS makes you buy that separate like everyone else. Lee is quite the bargain.

 

[KarmannGhia]

I only have Lee dies (because I'm cheap). I've been using some of my dies since the late 1980s, and have no had problems with them.

 

[TSQUARED]

For rifle calibers I use the RCBS dies. In pistol calibers I use mostly Dillon dies although I do have a set of Lyman and Lee dies. I prefer the Dillon dies for loading lead bullets in pistol calibers since the seating plug is readilly removed for cleaning without disturbing the die alignment. Lee dies will do the job but I hate their O-ring sprung locking ring - I prefer a solid locking ring