Over the years you've used different brands or combinations of brands. *For those of us who actually enjoy handloading and using quality tools, regardless of speed, which do you favor? *Who will you buy from next? *Do you buy brand sets or mix-and-match (ie. decapper/resizer is RCBS but expander is Lyman, etc.). *Would just enjoy hearing from you on this topic.

(Edited by 6gunr at 10:49 am on Nov. 6, 2001)


(Edited by 6gunr at 5:25 pm on Nov. 6, 2001)

This should be a fun one to watch ...

For straight wall pistol cases I like the following:

RCBS steel (not carbide!) form die
Lyman M-Type Expander die
Hornady seat die
Redding Profile Crimp die for jacketed
RCBS roll crimp seat die (without seating stem) for cast

Handguns - Any die set for sizing/decapping, but Lyman "M" for neck expansion.

For pistol bullets, I usually modify the seating stems to be completely flat, for the wide-nosed LBT bullets.

I have gotten good results crimping with the standard die sets, as long as I seat/crimp in two steps.

Let's see. Hornady Floating seater die, Lyman M Die for everything including bottleneck cases.

Rarely buy a full set of dies anymore as I'll use the Hornady seater for compatible cartridges especially rifle. Like the Lee Carbides. Redding Form and Trim dies are excellent especially for forming.

Rifle sizer dies- I like CH/4D, RCBS, Redding.

Crimper dies- Redding, RCBS, CH/4D.

Shellholders- Lee, RCBS, Redding, CH/4D.


Regards, Ray

(Edited by Contender at 9:42 pm on Nov. 7, 2001)

Shellholders - one variable that I had forgot about.  I've been mostly using the Lee set, which is a pretty good bargain and covers nearly everything I'd ever want to load.  

But I did discover, much to my chagrin, that they won't work with the Hornady case trimmer or priming tool.  Not mine - worse, I advised a friend who was just starting to handload as to equipment to buy, and he ended up with that combination.

By great stroke of luck I discovered that a quarter-inch carbide drill bit would open the center hole in the Lee shellholder just enough to work with his Hornady stuff.  Did my set while I was at it, just in case I'd ever need the same functionality.

I have some RCBS shellholders, and a few Lyman as well.  Also one of unknown origin marked H6 or something that I suspect might possibly be Herter's.  All have worked fine.

I've used several different mfgs. of dies, but I think for strait cases a/i 3 die sets, I prefer the newer RCBS carbide. For bottleneck a/i 2 die sets, the Weatherby dies are great for Wby. cases and others, I prefer RCBS also. That's my preference....???

I've got RCBS and Lee dies...nothing else (except for my recently purchased old Herters').  The Lee dies seem to be best in pistol calibers and RCBS in rifle, although I've got Lee rifle and RCBS pistol too.  The only set that I can say I feel sorry I bought are the Lee in 22-250.  For some reason I can't get a consistent seating depth with them.  If I were an avid 22-250 shooter I'd have replaced these by now but am thinking of selling the rifle, so can't see spending the cash.

I am new to reloading,So all my dies are Lee.They were at a good price and they are carbide so I don`t have to use any lube.So far they are working fine.I have a cheap Lee single stage press set up for 45 Colt at this time.

Any one those you had mentioned are all good.  I use a combination betwen Rcbs and Lyman dies and equipment. My press is a single stage C&H that I had found at an auction that went real cheap (Brand new).  I had a Lee press I had nothing but problems with it.

i use die sets from just about every manufacture but anymore I buy only redding for rifles and lee for handguns

I got into reloading to save money, so every set I've bought has been Lee. Hard to beat their prices.

I use RCBS carbide dies for pistols.My favorites for rifles are RCBS and Hornady.I also use the lee factory crimp dies for some calibers.

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C.DUWAYNE RIKARD

RCBS has always been great on customer service:  whether I've got a question, a stuck case or breakage...they've always made it right no matter what the situation.

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I like the Lyman dies the best.The Lee dies are a good deal for the money but they need to put a locking nut on the dies so they stay put.

O.K. i'll bite,
Handgun Cartridge's (straight wall only) Lee Carbides.
Handgun Cartridge's (bottleneck) RCBS/Hornady
Rifle Cartridge's (bottleneck) RCBS/Hornady
Rifle Cartridge's (straight wall) Lyman
I am trying to buy/have machined Lyman "m" dies for all calibers. I really believe that it is the best way to go as far as expanders are concerned. With the Lee dies and RCBS straight wall pistol dies, i really shunn using the expanders that come with the die sets. I don't care for "belling" the case mouth. The only Redding die that i have is a form/trim die. I have vowed to make Redding my next choice for a rifle die set when i get a new caliber to load. I drool every time i scan their cataloge!
Scott

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