I've used Lyman RCBS and Lee and come to think of it I have a set of Hornady in something. I have a RCBS Rockchucker and an old Lyman single stage. I have Dillon 450 and 550 progressives. I also have an old *** Lee progressive in a cabinet somewhere. That cured me on Lee progressives. I haven't had any issues in using any of the dies in any of the presses. The Lee dies are a bit short but are just long enough. I do wonder why they don't make them just a smidge longer but maybe they do now. I've been cranking out 44 mag with my Lee dies on my Dillon 450 and 550 for many years. They work well. The Lee progressive press was junk. I do like their little hand press for range work.
Who makes the best carbide reloading dyes for 44SPL/44Magnum
- Thread starter hassiman
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Eddie Southgate
Member
They all work the same . I have at least 5 sets in 4 brands and all work equally well .
Been reloading since 1968 and use RCBS and Redding. Never bought a set of Lee dies that didn't scratch the case right off the bat, 9MM, 10MM, and 45/70 that were horrible. Sold them at a gun show for $10 for the lot. Got a Redding 44 mag dual ring carbide die and will never change. Every new cartridge I acquire I always buy Redding first and Rcbs second. No others and both Manufacturers work great in My Dillons.
Qc Pistolero
Member
Any made in USA.And if you're hit by Mrs Badluck,they all have good aftersale service.
I've had experience with RCBS and Dillon and they are A1.I think Redding would score pretty good too.
Like I said,any made in USA. Buying a brand name should give you satisfaction.
The guy telling you this isn't a USA guy!Means a lot for the thrust I have in their products!
I've had experience with RCBS and Dillon and they are A1.I think Redding would score pretty good too.
Like I said,any made in USA. Buying a brand name should give you satisfaction.
The guy telling you this isn't a USA guy!Means a lot for the thrust I have in their products!
Loyaljeeper
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I started out with Lyman and RCBS dies, and then I borrowed a set of Lee dies. I really like Lee dies for pistol calibers. I have switched to Lee dies for every pistol caliber I load. I do use Lyman lock rings on my Lee dies.
typetwelve
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All I can talk about is what I have. I'm currently reloading a good amount of 44 spcl and using Dillon dies...so far I've been more than pleased with them. I do like that the crimp die is separate and that you can remove the center of the both the seating and crimping die to clean them on occasion without messing with your setting.
Been reloading since 59. Used all kinds of brands. Sopme re no longer made. These days I prefer Redding as they make some good stuff. But most makers dies are usually made well. The dies I choose not to use for the most part are Lee. They usually work but the company doesn't seem to pay attention to detail like the, yes...more expensive brands. I have multiple die sets for many handgun rounds for different loads. With the Dillon machines I use Dillon dies as they are loaded in large batches. With most of my rifle loads I use either Redding or RCBS competition dies as they are generally loaded in much smaller quantities. Customer service is generally pretty good from most companies but outstanding with RCBS Redding and Dillon. As an aside...the Redding dual ring carbide dies are awesome but of course ....expensive. Have two sets now but hope to purchase one more set just for another magnum round
prairieviper
Member
I prefer RCBS or Lyman but I have some Lee dies and can find no fault with them.
I also started reloading about 1990 - Lee dies and a turret press. Loaded probably 5,000 combined rounds of .38/.357, .44spl/.44mag, .45acp/.45 auto rim. Press slowly got loose, quit using it and sold it to a good handyman who fixed it up, and shoots cowboy, and he loves it. Now "upgraded" to a Lee "Value" progressive with lots of tools - powder measure, scales, trimmer. But, I also bought RCBS .38/357 dies for my first loads - carbide, and taper crimp. Rounds look like factory when done, and never an obvious "reloaded" roll crimp.
Looking at a Lee set for my M&P15, though.
Nemo288
Member
Be aware the you need 2 different copies of these for 44 special and 44 magnum.
I have these and will never need or use any others for .44 handgun cartridges.
They will last at least a lifetime given the proper care.
I also use the "M" die for mouth expansion as my Reddings are several years old.
Got them when they first came out and the 44 special version was kinda rare.
Redding also makes the famous "profile" crimp die which is reputed to have the best hold on bullets especially for full magnum loads.
If you are going whole hog, also get their taper crimp die and you will be set for just about any 44 project that could come up.
And now a comment or .02 about carbide dies in general.
When sizing, especially nickel plated cases, some galling can occur which may build up a bit of metal on the dies.
This will be noticed when the cases start to get scratched.
Chuck a .45 jag in a bat-drill and using some JB compound or similar "polish" the dies until they are clean.
I do this every few months on an irregular basis just as a maintenance routine.
This can be almost completely avoided by LIGHTLY lubing the cases.
They say you don't need lube with carbide dies, but it goes WAY better with a small amount.
Even just rubbing them with your fingers is sometimes enough it takes that little.
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I have Lee,RCBS,Hornady and Lyman dies which all load great handgun ammo. I would really like to try the Redding dual ring die set but with what they cost up here in Canada I can by several of the others.
Oh well someday maybe.
Oh well someday maybe.
.
Lubing the cases lightly even with carbide dies is a positive thing to do. I routinely do it when loading handgun cartridges with the Dillons especially. Just makes things go so much easier. I use a light spray lube
I have one of those old RCBS 9mm carbide dies from 1980-something. It cost a fortune back then, but I figure it's because it has a full length carbide insert. I assume that was done because the 9mm has such a pronounced taper. I'm not sure how the die manufacturers handle 9mm carbide sizers now; perhaps that dual ring die works ok. Maybe people just tolerate un-tapered 9mms. I will say the RCBS die makes sized cases look like factory cases. There's no "wasp-waisted" look or bulges. Never have used lube with it.
I think the full-length insert is part of the reason you need lube - more friction despite being carbide. As another poster noted above, you may need to clean off brass deposits from the carbide. There are (were?) carbide dies available for the 30 Carbine and they needed lube. Probably because of the even longer full length insert. And to think my old 9mm dies were expensive, the 30 Carbine dies were way worse.
Green Frog
Member
This is like asking which brand of car is best... you’ll bet a wide variety of answers, some quite emphatic, based on the respondent’s experiences and personal biases... frequently in conflict with each other, again based on the individual. The fact of the matter is, you will get mostly good or even excellent, as well as some poor or rarely awful examples from ALL of the manufacturers, and your experiences with customer service will then kick in, also with great variation. 
My personal experiences lead me to prefer (in order) Lyman, then RCBS, then Lee, but if I have to order a set of dies quickly, I probably just buy Lee for the price and am able to start out like that, but likely as not I usually end up making an “upgrade” to Lyman before all is said and done.
That’s my experience, but I also prefer Chevvies over Fords and Pepsi over Coke. YMMV!
Froggie
My personal experiences lead me to prefer (in order) Lyman, then RCBS, then Lee, but if I have to order a set of dies quickly, I probably just buy Lee for the price and am able to start out like that, but likely as not I usually end up making an “upgrade” to Lyman before all is said and done.
That’s my experience, but I also prefer Chevvies over Fords and Pepsi over Coke. YMMV!
Froggie
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I used to load for 2 Ruger Redhawk 44mags, and a Charter arms 44spl carry piece, all off the same Lee carbide set and Lee turret. Also 38/357 and 45acp. Got good loads for all with the setup. Got away from reloading for a long time, now back, with a new Lee progressive, loading 38spl, 9mm, and 223, but with RCBS carbide dies. Their new dies taper crimp, which I prefer.
Greenjoytj
Member
After my experience with a single ring carbide sizing die that leave the completed cartridge with a weird looking wasp waist look, due to the ring down sizing the whole case body. The solid head remains is original size the body is reduced only to be swelled out by the bullet. This makes the case have a wasp waist appearance. I just accepted this until I read about the Redding Dual Carbide Ring sizing die. I bought the 357 size to try. Redding’s instructions recommend the cases be lubed just like when using solid steel sizing dies. Since no lube necessary is the only selling point for carbide sizing dies. Knowing what I know now about single ring carbide sizing dies I buy solid steel sizing dies. I Know the OP is looking for a carbide die, my choice would be steel first then the Redding Dual ring sizing die.
Nemo288
Member
The amount of lube you have to use with carbide is miniscule.
Like mentioned before, even just rubbing the cases with your fingers is usually enough it takes that little.
Normally I will set the cases up in a plastic strip type holder like the Sinclair stand back about a yard
and spray just a couple light sprits towards the whole lot.
You dont even have to lube them all.
Once the die gets a little on it, that will be enough for a couple more cases.
This is way less lube than a steel die usually requires.
I'll add a disclaimer that the only steel die I use frequently any more is for the 444.
And I have gotten away with "neck sizing" those as well using a 44 Mag dual ring carbide.
Like mentioned before, even just rubbing the cases with your fingers is usually enough it takes that little.
Normally I will set the cases up in a plastic strip type holder like the Sinclair stand back about a yard
and spray just a couple light sprits towards the whole lot.
You dont even have to lube them all.
Once the die gets a little on it, that will be enough for a couple more cases.
This is way less lube than a steel die usually requires.
I'll add a disclaimer that the only steel die I use frequently any more is for the 444.
And I have gotten away with "neck sizing" those as well using a 44 Mag dual ring carbide.
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