Reloading Dies, The Best

[line052]

Just got my new .223 by Lee today from Bass Pro in the States. I have some used RCBS and Hornaday dies, plus I just got new Hornaday .308 last week. The Hornaday set needed a shell holder and requirement a lot of fiddling to set up, and then I busted/bent 2 of 3 primer pins on the first set reloads. No problem once I fixed the set up though. The Lee I got today is complete set with crimp die as well. It came ready to use right out the box, no pre-setting, and it also came with a shell holder, this is something I always had to buy separate in the past. I am impressed. Anyone else with this experience on Hornaday?

[terrym]

Never tried them. All my dies are RCBS.

[Brampton Mike]

RCBS & Lee were all i ever used!

[jaycee]

I am using Forster Bench Rest Dies , which I buy from Sinclair International In the U.S. have found that using these dies I get far less bullet run out than with most of my previous dies, brand names I will not mention as I do not want to start arguments here from others saying "we are using that brand of die and have no problems with them".

[rf2]

Yeah, this is one of those topics that can degenerate quickly into schoolyard name calling, as many threads have been doing lately. Some people are really opinionated regarding reloading equipment.
Personally, I have both Lee and RCBS dies, and they both work fine for what I am trying to achieve. I've never used Hornady dies, but I do use Hornady bullets, and I really like them, so I'd imagine that the dies would be pretty good quality.
One thing to look into is using the Lee Collet neck sizing dies - they really speed up the reloading process because you don't need any lube.

[line052]

This set came with a crimper, I have case lube and use it, just not willing to shell out for the titanium dies yet. I think those are the ones your talking about, seen them BP website, is this correct?

I am just really happy with this purchase and have all 3 types equipment as well.

[skypilot]

I always used Lee and RCBS on pistol and mostly Lee collet dies on rifle.

I use the Hornady HPBT and the Vmax a bunch and the Amax a little.

[Pijetro]

Are you shooting semi, or bolt?

[rf2]

No, I'm not talking about carbide dies or whatever. Collet neck sizing dies are simply a different design whereby the collet squeezes the neck around a mandrel, but doesn't touch the shoulder or body of the case. This does away with the need for any lubrication. I'm not sure if other companies make them, but I know Lee does - I use such a die for my 30-06. Theses dies are not very expensive at all. I like them, and I am thinking of ordering some other collet neck sizing dies for other calibers I load for. Lee will even make custom collet dies for about $60 if you send in two cases fired from your gun. This is useful if you reload for a wildcat cartridge, like I do.

As alluded to by Pijetro, these dies are normally only used for bolt action rifles, and normally you would only use cases resized with one of these dies in the gun that previously was used to fire the case.

By the way, I do recall hearing really good things about the Hornady system (I don't remember what it is called). Apparently, once you get your die set up, it is a simple matter of turning the special bushing(?) a quarter turn to remove your die and switch it for another die.

[line052]

.223 bolt
.308 semi and bolt
30-06 bolt
30-30 bolt

Are you shooting semi, or bolt?