Reloading Die Comparisons

[sammass]

If this question has been exhausted ad naseum, please point me to the right thread.

Randall has made the point that quality reloading dies are required. I agree. But as a noobee to reloading, I am tsunamied by all the claims & '8x10 color glossy's with circles & arrows, and a paragraph on the back of each' that tout one manufacture over another: Redding, Wilson, Forster, etc etc. I know some folks swear by the Lee dies and have for decades. But improvements (metals, machines, & technology) up the ante.

I am looking for information to make reasonable decisions on purchasing dies for accurate long range cartridges. I may nominally shoot 200 yds, but if I know the round will be accurate to 800 yds, I can eliminate one more variable in my quest to put a bullet where I want it.

Your thought & input is appreciated.

Thanks, Sam

[milotrain]

It all depends but you really can't go far wrong sticking to Redding, and Dillon. I've had trouble with some Forster dies but generally they are good. Ideally you'll use a full length sizing die with a neck bushing set to a tension that your rifle likes to shoot but that's unnecessary until you get better and more consistent in your loading. A floating seating die is great and the Redding is very good.

Wilson dies are good but they are specifically built for arbor presses and I wouldn't use them unless you absolutely know you want them for a reason. For now start with a Dillon set, they will serve you well. When you feel that the seating die is limiting you then buy a Redding micrometer seating die.

[ar15barrels]

I am tsunamied by all the claims & '8x10 color glossy's with circles & arrows, and a paragraph on the back of each' that tout one manufacture over another: Redding, Wilson, Forster, etc etc. I know some folks swear by the Lee dies and have for decades.

I am looking for information to make reasonable decisions on purchasing dies for accurate long range cartridges. I may nominally shoot 200 yds, but if I know the round will be accurate to 800 yds, I can eliminate one more variable in my quest to put a bullet where I want it.

Two types of dies out there, threaded or hand dies.
Within threaded dies, you have standard design or benchrest designed seater dies.
Benchrest dies fully align the case and the bullet while the bullet is being seated.
Standard dies push the bullet into the case, but do NOT hold the bullet coaxially aligned with the case while the bullet is being seated.
Threaded dies screw into a reloading press.
Hand dies are used with an arbor press.
Hand dies are used by benchrest shooters and pretty exclusively have benchrest style seaters.
Most everyone else uses threaded dies.

In threaded standard rifle dies, I would rank the quality/features like this:

Redding
Forester
Dillon
RCBS
Hornady
Lyman
Lee

In benchrest dies dies, it's like this:

Wilson
Redding
Forester
RCBS

In handgun dies, I would go like this:

Dillon
Redding
RCBS
Hornady
Lyman
Lee

Hand dies trump threaded dies in quality across the board, but that means getting a different type of press.
Hand dies are best used for seating bullets.
Threaded dies/presses are better for sizing cases.

I size in a threaded die press using Redding or Forester dies.
I seat precision rifle bullets with wilson hand dies in a Neil Jones arbor press.

[LynnJr]

http://www.warner-tool.com/reloading.htm

Never look back

[shooting4life]

I like redding in rifle, and hornady in pistol. The hornady dies seem to work better in my progressive lnl press than other brands that I have tried.

Also, Forster will custom ream a resize rifle die to fit your chamber for you for like $10. You purchase a full length die set, send them the die with a few pieces of once fired brass and they will hone the die out to the size of the brass. You can get semi custom dies this way for very little money.

[huckberry668]

If this question has been exhausted ad naseum, please point me to the right thread.

I am looking for information to make reasonable decisions on purchasing dies for accurate long range cartridges. I may nominally shoot 200 yds, but if I know the round will be accurate to 800 yds, I can eliminate one more variable in my quest to put a bullet where I want it.

Your thought & input is appreciated.

Thanks, Sam

Sam, die quality doesn't guarantee your ammo will be 'accurate to 800 yds' or even 200 yards. Ammo accurate at 200 yards doesn't mean it'll be accurate at 800. Ammo accurate at 800 doesn't mean 'you' or your gun can shoot to its potential. From my 20+ years of reloading for accuracy, I found dies don't give you accurate ammo. What to look for and how you use them are more important than which one to blindly trust. Every brand has products on the outsides of the bell curve.

To the question of die quality... for rifle rounds I've used RCBS, Lee, Redding and Forster. For my sub 3/4 MOA 308 and 223 full-length sized loads, I use a combination of RCBS or Redding full length sizing die (floated), Redding Comp seating die (floated) on my 550B tool head.

For bolt guns, my 1/2 MOA capable 308 and 223 loads I use Lee Collet Neck die after fire forming on either Co-Ax press at home or Lee Hand Press at the range. I tried Redding bushing dies, RCBS neck dies but Lee works best and give most consistent neck tension regardless of neck thickness, least amount of run-out and cheapest. Sold Redding and RCBS neck dies.

For seating (after Lee neck die sized), I pegged the Lee seater against the Redding Comp seater and the loaded rounds have the same amount of run-out. Lee wins but I use Redding for the repeatable and easily adjustable micrometer.

1 thing with the Lee seater, machine work left a little nub in the center of the die cap where the seating stem stops. It gave .005" of seating depth variations. I ground it off and it's dead on now. I'd admit you probably wouldn't find that on a Redding.

The importance of 'precision' ammo is consistency. Like I said, how you use them has a great deal of impact than which brand to use.

[sammass]

Folks,

Thanks much for the insight and information. I will put it to good use. I appreciate all of you that took the time to respond and thoughtfully share of your experience.

All Be Well.

Sam :-)

[ptmn]

I like huckberry668's explanation. Detailed, but still in laymans terms so everyone can understand.