What dies to get?

[devildog999]

I have the Lee Precision Breech Lock Challenger Kit, and need to get dies. I am going to be reloading .223 and .45 ACP; also eventually .308. Which dies should I get for these calibers. There seem to be a few different ones for the .223 alone and don't want to get the wrong one/s

Thanks much

[Mac Attack]

I don't have .223 dies but do have dies for many other calibers. I have dies from RCBS, Hornady and Lee and they all do the same job. If I had to pick one brand that I feel is better I would go with RCBS.

[devildog999]

I don't have .223 dies but do have dies for many other calibers. I have dies from RCBS, Hornady and Lee and they all do the same job. If I had to pick one brand that I feel is better I would go with RCBS.

And all those brands will work with my press?

(I still have some reading to do on reloading before I actually do it)

In that case then, which product # from which manufacturer should I get?

[Jon Se]

With the breech lock kit the die holder is actually larger than your standard die. This is because its made to be used with quick release rings (breech lock rings?) Your kit should've came with 2-3. These rings screw on the die and the entire die/ring assembly is inserted into the holder.

As for the specific type of die, any standard threaded die works. I prefer the Lee decapping kit for my .308 over the RCBS one since their decapping pin is prone to breaking if the flash hole is misaligned. However the RCBS bullet seater die feels much more solid and seats bullets to a more consistant depth.

[devildog999]

It did indeed come with 3 quick release dies. How many dies do I need for .223 and do they come in a kit or do I need to buy each separately? Same question for .45

[markw]

I have had good luck/success with the deluxe die set from lee. What type of gun are you firing these in. If it's bolt, then you can neck resize, if it's semi, then you need to full case resize so they feed right.

[devildog999]

I am reloading for an AR 15 and XD .45. The .308 will be for when I get myself a Remington 700.

[nobs11]

Buy once. Don't buy Lee dies. QC is terrible.

Dillon, Redding, Forster, Hornady, even RCBS. Not Lee.

[rksimple]

I've had good luck with Lee dies for straight-walled pitol calibers, but thats it. I wouldn't use them for rifle. RCBS makes decent dies for the money, but get some Redding dies for your 308. Most all dies will be available in sets. Get a RCBS full length die set for 223 and your choice for 45. If you're going to load for accuracy with the 700 in 308, get the Redding type S FL die competition die set. Its a little more expensive, but worth it.

[Chaingun]

You can't go wrong with RCBS, but Lee is just as good.

Are you planning to process once fired brass, then get either a FL or SB FL set of dies.

Also order case gages (so far any manu.) for each rifle caliber.

[markw]

Buy once. Don't buy Lee dies. QC is terrible.

Dillon, Redding, Forster, Hornady, even RCBS. Not Lee.

I'm still trying to find someone who has actually had issues with Lee dies. I keep hearing this, but my set seems to work fine, my neighbors works fine, in fact everyone I know that reloads and has used Lee stuff didn't have issues with the dies. Did you actually have a die that was out of spec, or did you know of a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy that had a bad set? The only thing I've seen online was a guy got a mis-marked package that had .45 dies or something when he ordered 9mm. I will admit the Dillon setup looks nice at twice the price, and I may go that way in the future.

[Jicko]

I couldn't believe it.... but just merely using Redding Competition Bushing Neck Sizing die... I shrinks/improves my groups by 50%.... vs the regular Redding Neck Sizing/FL Sizing die...

[What Just Happened?]

I've not had problems with my Lee dies for 9mm or for 45acp. That said, I do not do any precision shooting. My loads are only for action shooting where the accuracy of the ammunition isn't as much of a factor as my own shooting ability.

But I do like the Dillon seating die. I can clean out the gunk (I reload lead bullets) from the seating die without removing the entire die.

[ilbob]

I think there is little difference in standard dies between manufacturers. In the precision die market, there is some, but unless you are a benchrest shooter, its probably not much of an issue.

[What Just Happened?]

I think there is little difference in standard dies between manufacturers. In the precision die market, there is some, but unless you are a benchrest shooter, its probably not much of an issue.

Lee crams it's seating and crimping into one die, has a powder-thru expander die, and it's decapping / sizing die only has a small ring of carbide, but sizes smaller than standard.

Dillon has a separate crimp and seating die and no expander die.

Those are standard dies.