45 ACP Dies, are there pistol dies like: Forster, Wilson, Whidden etc?
- Thread starter Linko
- Start date
I'd suggest a good carbide set. Pistol reloading is less for accuracy and more for functioning. Not sure if you'll get sub MOA out of a 45acp at 100y, but reliable feeding, functioning, and extracting with good charge load for desired velocity is more the goal.
Most switch to progressive for pistol to save time.
-Mac
Most switch to progressive for pistol to save time.
-Mac
Redding makes Competition seating dies for handgun calibers. Supposed to seat straighter I believe.
RCBS makes carbide dies that are taper crimp, I have used them on many 1000s of loads for 38/9mm/40sw/45acp and 44spcl and 44mag -they are as accurate as you can shoot.
I use them on my competition ipsc, ihmsa shooting for years, and at 200 meters they offered all the accuracy you can muster.
Bob
Linko
Silver $$ Contributor
So it's the big names.
Hornady
Redding
RCBS
Lee
Lyman
Redding looks to have some real nice options. micrometer adjustable seater and crimp dies. Dual ring carbide sizing dies.
RCBS has a great reputation.
Hornady has every thing you can imagine.
Lee must have come over with Columbus.
Lyman I think was at the Alamo.
And I can find the target now and then.
Just want to buy one real good set of dies and keep them for life.
Hornady
Redding
RCBS
Lee
Lyman
Redding looks to have some real nice options. micrometer adjustable seater and crimp dies. Dual ring carbide sizing dies.
RCBS has a great reputation.
Hornady has every thing you can imagine.
Lee must have come over with Columbus.
Lyman I think was at the Alamo.
And I can find the target now and then.
Just want to buy one real good set of dies and keep them for life.
Last edited:
tjtjwdad
Gold $$ Contributor
I've used Dillon, RCBS and Lyman 45 ACP dies and they're all good. Which ever ones you do get, make sure you get a dedicated taper crimp die, that's real important for functioning and accuracy. Dillon's come with one, not sure about the others do now or not, but they didn't use too.
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I like the dillons
Linko
Silver $$ Contributor
I am thinking I will get the Redding Carbine dies. Most likely the seater and crimp in the adjustable models. What about their dual ring sizer dies?
It is hard not to mention the Dillon press in this post since they are all about pistol.
I am going to buy one. Everyone is pointing me to the 550B. Is that my best choice?
It is hard not to mention the Dillon press in this post since they are all about pistol.
I am going to buy one. Everyone is pointing me to the 550B. Is that my best choice?
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
The 550 is nice, 650 is nicer, 1050 is even nicer. Just gotta decide what you need. Square deal b works also
hpshooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Loaded many thousand rounds of .45acp during 10 years of IPSC shooting. If I was only loading 1 pistol or revolver caliber I would go with the Dillon Square Deal. The dies are unique to the Square Deal. Dillon's conventional dies are first class.
Dillon has a great tutorial on their web site designed to help you pick the press that best suites your needs.
There is a 450 mounted on my bench set up for .308 for the M1A's and a 550B with tool heads set up for .223 for the match rifle, 30-06 for the Garand's and .45ACP for the hardball gun. Dillon stands behind their equipment and can still supply (generally at no cost) parts for the very old 450. Dillon just sent me two powder measure reservoirs at no charge when I ordered couple powder measure upgrades, fellow asked me if the old reservoirs were cloudy and when I told him they were he said they would send a couple new ones.
A Rock chucker and a couple "C" presses handle the 6.5x47L and everything else.
A progressive press is the way to go if you are going to be shooting large volumes of pistol or revolver ammo and can load great XTC ammo as well.
Dillon has a great tutorial on their web site designed to help you pick the press that best suites your needs.
There is a 450 mounted on my bench set up for .308 for the M1A's and a 550B with tool heads set up for .223 for the match rifle, 30-06 for the Garand's and .45ACP for the hardball gun. Dillon stands behind their equipment and can still supply (generally at no cost) parts for the very old 450. Dillon just sent me two powder measure reservoirs at no charge when I ordered couple powder measure upgrades, fellow asked me if the old reservoirs were cloudy and when I told him they were he said they would send a couple new ones.
A Rock chucker and a couple "C" presses handle the 6.5x47L and everything else.
A progressive press is the way to go if you are going to be shooting large volumes of pistol or revolver ammo and can load great XTC ammo as well.
I think the Redding comp dies are a waste of money for pistol. I use micro top Wilson seating dies for all of my rifle cartridges, but pistol is more "set it and forget it." There's no chasing the lands or dialing in a precise jump/jam. Your oal is more limited by mag length and what your pistol will feed reliably. Once you get that set the change in powder charge is mainly what I use to tune. You'll be surprised how accurate you can be compared to factory ammo with only 1/10 the fuss of tuning rifle rounds.
I started with a square deal and have been transitioning to an xl650. The Dillon dies are nice, but honestly I haven't noticed any difference with with the Lee carbide dies (at half the price). Their factory crimp die is top notch.
I started with a square deal and have been transitioning to an xl650. The Dillon dies are nice, but honestly I haven't noticed any difference with with the Lee carbide dies (at half the price). Their factory crimp die is top notch.
hpshooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Totally agree with Savage 6.5 regarding the Lee Carbide sizing die and the Dillon taper crimp die.
Almost hate to admit that I own 3 Lee 1000 progressive presses and one is set up for 45ACP with the Lee dies. They got me started in the late 70's for producing IPSC, PPC and Bullyseye ammo but have been residing on the shelf since the early 80's when the 450 Dillon was purchased used. I will say that if you are very patient you can figure the Lee 1000 out and make good ammo on it. All of mine came for cheap from frustrated original purchases, can't recommend them.
Almost hate to admit that I own 3 Lee 1000 progressive presses and one is set up for 45ACP with the Lee dies. They got me started in the late 70's for producing IPSC, PPC and Bullyseye ammo but have been residing on the shelf since the early 80's when the 450 Dillon was purchased used. I will say that if you are very patient you can figure the Lee 1000 out and make good ammo on it. All of mine came for cheap from frustrated original purchases, can't recommend them.
If you're going to load any cast bullets, Dillon. I've got a set of RCBS & Redding that haven't been used since I got the Dillon. Most of my 45 shooting is cast and Dillon has got, by a long shot, the most convenient means of cleaning out the lube that accumulates in the seating die.
If 45 is the only caliber you'll be loading with the press, I'd seriously look at the Square Deal. Shorter stroke=less effort. I went with the 550B, thinking the interchangeable heads would be a distinct advantage. 58,000 rds later I have yet to change out to another caliber. But, I also picked up another 550B for small primer size and a 450. The 450 is dedicated to .223 service rifle ammo. Started with a Rockchucker (still have), then went to an RCBS 4x4 (still have), arbor press for my precision rifles, then I did some loading on a buddy's 550. Bad mistake, regretted getting the 4x4 decades back when I couldn't make up my mind on that or the Dillon. Don't get me wrong, the 4x4 did a huge amount of ammo manufacturing and I still like and use it for quite a few calibers. I just like Dillons better.
Al
If 45 is the only caliber you'll be loading with the press, I'd seriously look at the Square Deal. Shorter stroke=less effort. I went with the 550B, thinking the interchangeable heads would be a distinct advantage. 58,000 rds later I have yet to change out to another caliber. But, I also picked up another 550B for small primer size and a 450. The 450 is dedicated to .223 service rifle ammo. Started with a Rockchucker (still have), then went to an RCBS 4x4 (still have), arbor press for my precision rifles, then I did some loading on a buddy's 550. Bad mistake, regretted getting the 4x4 decades back when I couldn't make up my mind on that or the Dillon. Don't get me wrong, the 4x4 did a huge amount of ammo manufacturing and I still like and use it for quite a few calibers. I just like Dillons better.
Al
For Bullseye where you want each shot in the X ring use these and measure each charge.
And you cant beat Dillon for every thing else as recommended in previous posts.
I always chuckle when something made of carbide and steel is a 'waste of money'. Personal rule of thumb; if it's guaranteed to outlive me, then it's not a waste of money.
For 45 ACP, I'm a fan of Redding's dual-ring carbide sizer, expander die, micrometer-adjust seater, and standard taper crimp.
I've not had good luck with their adjustable taper crimp, but the standard works well for me.
The micrometer seating die is a no-brainer; saves a lot of time, especially if you reload several different bullet weights and profiles.
The dual-ring sizer was frankly something I bought just to get enough into an order for free shipping, since it was even money either way. I was very surprised at how much better it worked -- you'd think that it was just marketing, but the finished rounds certainly do look better, and in my case, they tend to feed better.
For 45 ACP, I'm a fan of Redding's dual-ring carbide sizer, expander die, micrometer-adjust seater, and standard taper crimp.
I've not had good luck with their adjustable taper crimp, but the standard works well for me.
The micrometer seating die is a no-brainer; saves a lot of time, especially if you reload several different bullet weights and profiles.
The dual-ring sizer was frankly something I bought just to get enough into an order for free shipping, since it was even money either way. I was very surprised at how much better it worked -- you'd think that it was just marketing, but the finished rounds certainly do look better, and in my case, they tend to feed better.
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