best factory reloading dies
- Thread starter eagle478
- Start date
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Is the reloading for a factory rifle? If so I wouldn't spend top money for a sporter with a sammi chamber so I would go with RCBS, Hornady(they come with an inline seater) for the same price as rcbs.
guess i want custom dies at factory price. dies i m looking for is to build a 6mm/06 for long range varmint first target second, bullet choices are 58 to 75 grain= thank you any advice
Shynloco
You can lead a horse to water, but ........
Lou Murdica
Silver $$ Contributor
Yes Whidden first . Then Hornady
Forster,forster,forster if they don'thave what I need than Whidden
Last edited:
What is your definition of "best"? Best = highest quality? Best = makes most accurate ammo? Best = finest tolerance? Best = ......etc etc.
IF your question is based on getting dies that create ammo that fits your gun perfectly, then it depends on the ammo and the firearm it is being shot in. Most of my die boxes are green or gray. RCBS has a good reputation for quality and warranty. Redding also has a good reputation for quality, warranty, and availability of specialty dies. I also have Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Dillon, and a few others. I find that most companies are cognizant of these chat forums and are either monitoring, or occasionally searching, for comments related to their reputation. Within the last 30 days, I have had warranty replacement parts from Lee and Dillon. Was their product bad....no, operator error, but they both stood behind their product.
I find that as I develop into a better shooter and better reloader, my taste in gun quality is going up and my craving for better accuracy is going up. When I first started shooting some of my guns, the "best" dies were the ones I could afford, or the ones I could find. They were best for me because they allowed me to shoot my firearms with reloaded ammunition. As I get into better quality firearms, tighter tolerances, match specifications, etc, it takes a better quality die to match the quality of my firearm. The "best" dies are the next higher level to match the higher level firearm.
Caddilac dies will not make a VW firearm shoot like a Caddilac firearm. Chevy, Ford, or Dodge all make dependable cars, but we each have a preference on which we feel is "best" for us. It is not until you get into more specialized sport like dirt track racing, circle track racing, drag racing, or stock car racing that you find you need a more specialized car. Shooting is similar. Pick your Chevy, Ford, or Dodge dies to start. As you find you need a more specialize gun, get the more specialized dies. The dies you choose will only be the "best" when they can create ammunition capable of achieving the best accuracy out of your firearm.
My novel response on dies.......
IF your question is based on getting dies that create ammo that fits your gun perfectly, then it depends on the ammo and the firearm it is being shot in. Most of my die boxes are green or gray. RCBS has a good reputation for quality and warranty. Redding also has a good reputation for quality, warranty, and availability of specialty dies. I also have Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Dillon, and a few others. I find that most companies are cognizant of these chat forums and are either monitoring, or occasionally searching, for comments related to their reputation. Within the last 30 days, I have had warranty replacement parts from Lee and Dillon. Was their product bad....no, operator error, but they both stood behind their product.
I find that as I develop into a better shooter and better reloader, my taste in gun quality is going up and my craving for better accuracy is going up. When I first started shooting some of my guns, the "best" dies were the ones I could afford, or the ones I could find. They were best for me because they allowed me to shoot my firearms with reloaded ammunition. As I get into better quality firearms, tighter tolerances, match specifications, etc, it takes a better quality die to match the quality of my firearm. The "best" dies are the next higher level to match the higher level firearm.
Caddilac dies will not make a VW firearm shoot like a Caddilac firearm. Chevy, Ford, or Dodge all make dependable cars, but we each have a preference on which we feel is "best" for us. It is not until you get into more specialized sport like dirt track racing, circle track racing, drag racing, or stock car racing that you find you need a more specialized car. Shooting is similar. Pick your Chevy, Ford, or Dodge dies to start. As you find you need a more specialize gun, get the more specialized dies. The dies you choose will only be the "best" when they can create ammunition capable of achieving the best accuracy out of your firearm.
My novel response on dies.......
If you measure the internal dimensions of many, many sizing dies you will find that there is not a lot of difference in the top 3 being Forster, RCBS and Redding.
Forster's BR seater and top workmanship give it the best marks in my book. For some users there are 2 issues with Forster dies. They are more expensive and they are not made in a really wide array of odd ball calibers.
I rate RCBS first in uniform internal dimensions and a close second in workmanship. RCBS dies rate high due to the excellent customer service and availability in the widest array of calibers. RCBS has been in business more than 60 years and there is a huge number of used dies in perfect condition available in many calibers for bargain hunters.
Redding dies rate well dimensionally but they sometimes have mediocre to poor finish and form on the 7/8-14 threads. This finish is camouflaged by bead blasting. Redding makes good dies but they are not as widely distributed as RCBS or made in as many calibers. They are also produced in the high cost region of New York resulting in higher prices than they really warrant.
I also have Lee, Herters, Lyman, Eagle, Pacific, Hornady, CH, Bair and probably a few others. Within these brands I have dies that also produce good ammo but I also have a number of them that are stinkers and few real stinkers that include FL sizers that produce cases sized excessively producing dangerously short bodies. So I don't normally seek these brands out unless they make a caliber that I cannot find in another brand at a reasonable price. Since some of these are out of production there is no company to replace a bad die so be aware of that too.
Forster's BR seater and top workmanship give it the best marks in my book. For some users there are 2 issues with Forster dies. They are more expensive and they are not made in a really wide array of odd ball calibers.
I rate RCBS first in uniform internal dimensions and a close second in workmanship. RCBS dies rate high due to the excellent customer service and availability in the widest array of calibers. RCBS has been in business more than 60 years and there is a huge number of used dies in perfect condition available in many calibers for bargain hunters.
Redding dies rate well dimensionally but they sometimes have mediocre to poor finish and form on the 7/8-14 threads. This finish is camouflaged by bead blasting. Redding makes good dies but they are not as widely distributed as RCBS or made in as many calibers. They are also produced in the high cost region of New York resulting in higher prices than they really warrant.
I also have Lee, Herters, Lyman, Eagle, Pacific, Hornady, CH, Bair and probably a few others. Within these brands I have dies that also produce good ammo but I also have a number of them that are stinkers and few real stinkers that include FL sizers that produce cases sized excessively producing dangerously short bodies. So I don't normally seek these brands out unless they make a caliber that I cannot find in another brand at a reasonable price. Since some of these are out of production there is no company to replace a bad die so be aware of that too.
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
I usually just choose by who offers whatever features I need, because most of the die makers seem to have some niche products of their own. I think that all brands are pretty well made. For the most part, I choose from Redding, Forster and Lee, but I have also used Hornady New Dimension, and also Lyman for pistol because they have good expander dies. I generally do not use RCBS.
Danny
thanks to every one with advice an help
The best dies are the ones you have .
Without them you wouldn't be reloading .
Larry
Without them you wouldn't be reloading .
Larry
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