Rosco Shooter
Member
9mm Dies
Other - Dillon
Other - Dillon
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What are your favorite 9mm dies?
- Thread starter kgpcr
- Start date
Wee Hooker
Member
I've used Lee (usually carbide) dies for all dozen or so of my pistol calibers for the last 20+ years. They always produce good quality ammo. I particularly like their depriming pin system over most others.
If a die is too short for the 650, you can sometimes get by if you put the die lock ring under the tool head instead of on top of the tool head.
I too voted other. I have dies made by all the major manufacturers out there, and they all do the job. Most of my dies are Dillon however. I like them because the seater and crimping die are super simple to take apart and clean without effecting the die adjustment. They are more expensive though.
m657
Member
It took me years to discover using Dillon dies in my Dillon press actually DID have considerable advantages. After all, they cost more than the various cobbled-together set of dies I used for so long.
Don't know if there's any advantage on other sets/presses, but for sure my vote goes to Dillon 9mm die set on Dillon 550/650.
Don't know if there's any advantage on other sets/presses, but for sure my vote goes to Dillon 9mm die set on Dillon 550/650.
muddocktor
Member
I use Dillon on 9MM. Good dies.
If the sizer die is carbide, you have a good die set.
rockquarry
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In the last 50+ years I'm sure I've bought at least seventy-five rifle and handgun die sets by many makers, except Dillon. I don't recall buying an inferior die set. I can't recall offhand what brand my 9mm dies are and I've been loading this cartridge since the late '80s. Whatever they are, they work fine.
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I use Redding Competition PRO for 9mm. The micrometer seating die is very cool if you like to experiment with different seating depths. But I kind of got a deal on them, I don't think I'd pay up $200 for a set these days.
I had a set of RCBS 9mm carbide dies. Worked well. Paid very little for them. Back during the "Great Stupidity" I sold them on eBay for $110 (?) and used that to help fund the Reddings, which curiously enough were in stock at Midway for $150 even when the shortage was in full force. Go figure. Looks like they run more like $200 now. OUCH. But I have less money in the Reddings than a set of RCBS costs these days.
Nice dies. But pricey. RCBS is good, but mostly I buy Hornady Custom Grade. Probably the best die sets for the money these days. Lee will often work, but every time I have had a real problem (which has only been a couple of times) the problem was a Lee (seating) die. But the vast majority of the time they work O.K.
In order of "Best to worst", with the caveat that they all work and you may not reap the benefits of "the best"...
#1 Redding
#2 Hornady
#2.1 RCBS
#2.15 Lyman
#3 Lee
Sizing dies all seem equal. Crimp dies are sort of equal. The Lee Factory Crimp Die and the Redding Profile Crimp Die are different from "regular" crimp dies.
The Lee FCD is a love/hate thing. I hate them but many swear by them. If you're loading jacket/plated bullets they are good. If you mess around with lead bullets of different sizes they can sometimes cause problems.
The Redding Profile Crimp die is a revolver only die, it's basically a taper and roll crimp die in one. Works great for preventing bullet creep in heavy magnum revolver loads.
Where the difference to me is in the seating dies. This is where I've had a couple of problems with Lee dies, and the Hornady's best feature is their seating die.
Since I use the Lee Auto Disk on my Dillon I kind of have to use the Lee Powder Through Expander Die. But they work OK for me so far. But I kind of have to make them work.
I had a set of RCBS 9mm carbide dies. Worked well. Paid very little for them. Back during the "Great Stupidity" I sold them on eBay for $110 (?) and used that to help fund the Reddings, which curiously enough were in stock at Midway for $150 even when the shortage was in full force. Go figure. Looks like they run more like $200 now. OUCH. But I have less money in the Reddings than a set of RCBS costs these days.
Nice dies. But pricey. RCBS is good, but mostly I buy Hornady Custom Grade. Probably the best die sets for the money these days. Lee will often work, but every time I have had a real problem (which has only been a couple of times) the problem was a Lee (seating) die. But the vast majority of the time they work O.K.
In order of "Best to worst", with the caveat that they all work and you may not reap the benefits of "the best"...
#1 Redding
#2 Hornady
#2.1 RCBS
#2.15 Lyman
#3 Lee
Sizing dies all seem equal. Crimp dies are sort of equal. The Lee Factory Crimp Die and the Redding Profile Crimp Die are different from "regular" crimp dies.
The Lee FCD is a love/hate thing. I hate them but many swear by them. If you're loading jacket/plated bullets they are good. If you mess around with lead bullets of different sizes they can sometimes cause problems.
The Redding Profile Crimp die is a revolver only die, it's basically a taper and roll crimp die in one. Works great for preventing bullet creep in heavy magnum revolver loads.
Where the difference to me is in the seating dies. This is where I've had a couple of problems with Lee dies, and the Hornady's best feature is their seating die.
Since I use the Lee Auto Disk on my Dillon I kind of have to use the Lee Powder Through Expander Die. But they work OK for me so far. But I kind of have to make them work.
Last edited:
GB
Member
I have used RCBS, Lyman and Lee. All did a good to excellent job. All cost about the same. Yes I know that Lee sells for a lot less but not when you factor in replacement of the garbage rubber band lock rings with something you can actually get to lock in place. So, I guess that I would pick them in the order I listed. I have not used Dillion but have heard good things about them and I like Redding dies but they cost more than most others. I will say that while I have not used Hornady in 9, my experience with them in other pistol calibers left a bad taste in my mouth.
Lee, and don't have to buy a shell holder..... 
Moe Mentum
Member
All my dies are Lee.
All of those brands...
All of those brands will work just fine.
All of those brands will work just fine.
Carbide...
Carbide dies are a LOT more affordable these days. No use not having them unless you are poor like me
Carbide dies are a LOT more affordable these days. No use not having them unless you are poor like me
Oh look! LEE is leading the poll
Go figure, must be cause they a cheap and poor quality!
Go figure, must be cause they a cheap and poor quality!
Oh look! LEE is leading the poll
Go figure, must be cause they a cheap and poor quality!
Cheap yes..poor quality?? Sometimes. I have had mixed results from Lee. I do have a set of 45 Colt that seem to be ok. A set of 500 S&W not so much. Sizer lasted 11 rounds. Never had a bad set of any other brand... even the old Herter's.
