Recommended die sets

[Boots]

I've been reading up... researching on reloading and decided to start with a Lyman turret press kit. But I'd like to get some opinions from those that have experience with reloading as to which die set to get. (Lee, RCBS, Lyman, etc.)

From what I've gathered from looking at what Lee has to offer, there are different resizing dies you can use depending on whether you are loading new or fired brass... and different procedures depending on what type of rifle you are going to shoot with (crimp or no crimp)

So... I'm hoping someone(s) can point me in the right direction for the appropriate dies for the following use:

Once fired brass from LC, PMC and Hornandy for a AR15 semi-auto, magazine fed carbine.

Larry

[Cowboy T]

I haven't used Lee's rifle dies, but I do use their revolver dies. They work great and are a fine value. For your AR-15 or any other autoloading rifle, you should do full-length sizing. Neck-only sizing really applies to bolt-action rifles.

Another guy I know reloads .308 Winchester with Lee dies for his LR-308 and is happy. Looking at factory ammo for .223, I don't see them crimped, so that doesn't appear to be really necessary.

[Rule .308]

I have used Lee dies in the past and have not been pleased with them. I have reloaded 10's of thousands of rounds of .223 on RCBS small base dies with zero issues. I have used Redding, Hornady, and Dillon dies for a variety of rifle and pistol calibers with no issues either. I like the bullet seater die in the Hornady dies better than the others.

[jimflam]

.308 dies

IMO RCBS is fine, they stand behind all their products. If you are loading for a gas operated gun, which I do, I would suggest small base dies. Read the loading manuals and do not depend on the internet for correct information.

[shooting4life]

Forster dies are my favorite for rifle. Rcbs for handgun. Lee for the factory crimp dies only.

[Boots]

Cowboy_T, thanks for the info. Yeah, I was thinking the full length was a way to go. But looks like I will be getting a neck only soon as well because once I'm comfortable with .223, I have some .308's to do as well.

I was concerned about the crimping of the neck because of what I've read about magazine fed rounds and having the bullet pushed back into the shell. But I'm hoping it's not an issue since both my AR's are M4 ramped.

[Boots]

Thanks! Yeah, I was looking at going RCBS all-out, but I'm still going with Lyman kit.

[Boots]

yep... already bought the Lyman 49th edition manual. But I'm going to cross reference with one or two more before I do any loads.

[killshot44]

Check out the Redding 'full length S match bushing die'.
Allows full case sizing in addition to having a neck-sizing bushing that you can use different size bushings to adjust neck tension to properly hold the bullet without a crimp.
They were highly recommended to me and work perfectly.
A little spendy but they last forever. Excellent CS as well.

[swerv512]

i havent used anything but RCBS dies- competition seater (micrometer) die and FL sizing die and have only good things to say about them. when i bent my decapping assembly on a case with a flash hole way misaligned- rcbs sent me a new one plus a 5pk of pins for free. they arrived by the end of the week. that alone will keep me loyal. you may not have to go small base die, but probably better to just get a small base die from the start instead of having to buy one down the road.

[Twinspool]

RCBS' X-die is nice. I would buy again.

Hornady's seating dies are my favorite that I've used. I will use them every time I can.

I haven't tried a Forster yet.

[LGB Loader]

I am a huge Redding fan. I use exclusively for rifle rounds and really like them. The Comp dies are great. My 650 machines are set up with Dillon dies (1 for 9mm, 1 for 45ACP) but the seaters are Redding Comp dies. I like 'em. That said, I also have RCBS, Hornady, and Lee dies and they do the job as well. I am just partiall to Redding dies.

** as a side note, I use an arbor press and Wilson straight dies for my 6mm and 223 Rem target rifles and they are slow but worth the extra time.

Happy Trails...

LGB

[C.G.]

Redding or Forster are my favorite, RCBS are OK and I don't care for Lee.

[Fjold]

The only brand I ever had trouble with were the old Pacific dies.

[sequoia_nomad]

Cowboy_T, thanks for the info. Yeah, I was thinking the full length was a way to go. But looks like I will be getting a neck only soon as well because once I'm comfortable with .223, I have some .308's to do as well.

I was concerned about the crimping of the neck because of what I've read about magazine fed rounds and having the bullet pushed back into the shell. But I'm hoping it's not an issue since both my AR's are M4 ramped.

Regardless of what happens between the mag and the chamber, the loaded rounds in your magazine are still subject to the recoil pulse of the rifle. .223s operate at such high pressures I don't think I'd want to take a chance. I recently saw pics of what the pressures created by a too-deeply seated round can do to an AR upper, trust me you don't want anything to do with it. I'd suggest sticking to a bullet with a cannelure and a decent taper crimp.