Which brand dies and presses

[DWalt]

Decapping pins? Those break from time to time, no big deal. All you need to do is to keep a supply of RCBS replacememt pins. They are cheap (last time I bought some they were about $3 for a package of 8), and are very simple to replace on RCBS dies - they come in two sizes, large and small. My son works for a surgical supply company and he got me some stainless steel rods of exactly the right diameter (large size) and they are plenty tough. I cut several dozen to length with a cutoff disc in my Dremel tool, and I'll probably never have to buy any again, as I don't think those will ever bend or break..

 

[91kid]

I was just sharing my experience with them, I don't have a stock of pins for any of my other dies nor have I ever needed one, I load about 1500 .223 every weekend, so I use the heck out of the dies, and like I said I just had problems with my rcbs dies breaking pins, which has not been the case with hornady/Lyman or lee dies

 

[Maximumbob54]

With the exception of the Dillon SB, I believe all dies fit all presses.

^^^ THIS ^^^

You have to find some pretty old dies that aren't going to fit in any modern press. I think it's RCBS that became the standard that everyone started to copy.

 

[rburg]

My father had an old Belding and Mull press and dies. Nothing was standard, but he was able to find dies in the calibers that interested him. I think I gave that press to my oldest son. Its more a family heirloom than a practical press. It kind of mounted flat on a bench,not upright like modern presses. Because my first press was a Lyman, I started with Lyman dies. The RCBS was the premium brand back 40+ years ago.

Over time I acquired other dies, that caused by me giving up on standard pistol dies and moving to carbide for 38, 9mm and 44. I remember when Lee products first started to appear around here in the late 1960s I think. Then the dies came along and everyone panned them because they looked and felt cheap. No way I wanted that. Then slowly I managed to pick up a set of .45-70 dies in a trade. Then I bought a set in another caliber.

I think I'm becoming senile because I've become liberal enough to figure some Lee dies might last a while. its still not my first choice.

I'm still cranking away with the same old press and see no reason to change. I really don't want a progressive press and I have no need for them. I'm also guessing you could turn out good ammo with any brand press or dies. Once you get the dies set they should retain that setting nearly forever. I've also noticed that somehow I manage to obtain 3 or 4 sets of 38 and 9mm dies. I have no idea how. Probably because I buy the carbide dies as part of a full set.

Folks who only load handgun ammo don't usually put a lot of stress on the press, just a lot of repeated strokes. Once you start forming cases and full length resizing long and fat rifle cases you really put pressure on the press. Its interesting how some folks rave about Lee products, but then RCBS markets a huge press thats even stronger than the standard press.

I have RCBS case trimmer just because I found one for sale. Mostly Lyman bullet molds because they make the most different molds. Last month I bought my son an RCBS swager/luber because we saw one for sale. I don't need new at this point in my life. I just assume the big names will last longer than I will.

 

[BruceM]

Decapping pins

I don't know what it is but I broke two sets in one day,

The odds are that you were doing military cases with crimped -in primers. I'm not a big fan of Lee products but their universal decapping die is just about indestructible and a necessity for first time military brass processing.

Even with the standard decapping pin in he RCBS dies, that part is more or less a consumable when doing .556/.223 and .308 military brass and breaking that user replaceable part should not be considered a failure of the product.

Bruce

 

[DWalt]

The only thing I don't particularly like about Lee dies is the way in which the decapping pin/neck expander button assembly is held in the die, with sort of a collet. I think the RCBS design is better. However once you get the Lee FL die set up, it works fine. The only problem I have experienced with Lee dies involved a new set for .303 Savage. There was a machining burr inside the FL die that scratched the brass. Lee replaced it promptly with no hassle.

 

[kimporter]

i like redding,and hornady,i have rcbs but i got those out of my dads stuff when he died,dont like rcbs or their customer service,long story there