Die Questions

[Enfield47]

I'm doing a little research into a set of dies for my new M1 Garand. I am not looking for a set of competition dies, these will be for creating accurate plinking ammo. I found the following FL die sets and an interested in your opinion as what you like or dislike about each die set. Do you have another set you would recommend? I like the Lee dies but I am looking to try something different this time around so I purposely left them out.

Has anyone used the RCBS X-Die. Does it really work as they say it does by virtually eliminating the need to trim brass after resizing? Does it increase case life?


RCBS 30-06 SPRFLD FL DIE SET GROUP A, S/H #3
RCBS 30-06 SPRFLD FL X-DIE SET, S/H #3
*
HRN 30-06 SPRFLD SERIES I FL 2-DIE SET, S/H #1
*
LYMAN 30-06 SPRFLD 2 DIE SET, S/H #2
*
REDDING 30-06 SPRFLD FL SET 2-DIE SERIES A

[mark501w]

I don't know what X dies are but I've been using Std RCBS FL die for yrs & they work great.

[sr71brd]

Yes, X-dies do help in minimizing the amount of trimming necessary. But for a Garand, where the chamber is probably a little on the loose side, a properly adjusted FL die set will work fine. The brass itself has alot to do w/ case life, & I've always used USGI brass for my Garand. Prepping the crimped primer pocket is really not that big a deal, & you only have to do it once per case.
As far as which brand dies to use, my personal preference is RCBS. I have had Lee dies in the past, but I don't like the lock ring set up & the finish inside the dies is always a little on the rough side & they tend to leave scratch marks on the brass. The price is hard to argue with, but I would rather spend a little more for a better quality finish.

[Enfield47]

I hadn't heard about X dies either until I happened to run across it at Grafs. It sounds like an interesting design if it actually works like they say it does.

Here is their description from RCBS:
The X-Sizer die is a uniquely designed full length resizing die for bottleneck rifle cases. This die not only full length resizes the case, it also limits the growth of the case. This eliminates the need for repeated trimming after an initial trim is done to stan- dardize the case. This die is not intended to shorten the length of the case, rather, as the case grows, the mandrel will reduce the normal rate of growth. This is the result of the case mouth coming in contact with the mandrel stop during resizing. Cases repeatedly sized in the X-Sizer die will grow a few thousandths of an inch ini- tially, and will then stabilize below the maximum case length. Using the X-Sizer die eliminates the need to trim after each shot. X-Sizer dies can be used for full-length resizing with or without the X feature. Partial neck sizing can be done but only without the X feature.

Here's a picture of the X die mandrel. You can see the lip at the top of the mandrel that the case mouth comes in contact with.

[Divernhunter]

I have heard about the X die but do not own one. I bought my RCBS small base dies in the late 1960's and the X die was not made then. I hear they do work.
My dies work fine for all my 30-06 rifles including several M1 Garands.

I do like the collet seating die in the Hornady sets. There is nothing wrong with their sizing dies either.

I have rifle die sets from RCBS, Hornady,Redding,Lyman and all are fine. I also have a couple sets from lee and I am not thrilled by them. I do not use the crimp die and hate the so called lock rings which I had to go out and buy real lock rings to replace. That brings the cost about the same as RCBS/Hornady etc and the non-lee dies have a much better warr and service.

[gandog56]

Almost all my dies are Lees. They ARE so much cheaper than the others. And I have never had one warranty problem arise to test out their warranties. And that's counting 35+ year old dies! I do agree I do not like their lock rings. But I replaced them all with RCBS lock rings from Berry's for 5\ for 6 bucks. Which kept the price of the Lee dies STILL well below the cost of other die sets. And if Lee makes a factory crimp die in a caliber I reload....I OWN IT!

[Divernhunter]

I may be wrong but I do not think that lee made "die sets" 35+ years ago. I have the "lee reloading handbook 1st edition" from the 1960's and nothing there for "die sets". Only the hammer type ones.
I also remember buying a RCBS unit in 1972 and do not remember any presses or dies from lee then. I do remember the Pacific brand which is now Hornady and bought one of their shotgun reloader in the 1960's to replace the lee hammer one I had. I remember Herters loading stuff and even have some of their wasp-waist bullets. Something that never caught on.

Glad you own the crimp dies. Need a 6mm cheap that I got in a trade?
Do you crimp all bullets such as Nosler BT ones or only ones with a cannelure?
I do not crimp any rifle loads(even for semi-auto) and have not had any troubles. I started with 30-06 in a Rem semi-auto. I have quite a number of semis/pump and one lever action rifles as well as bolt(including mags) and single shot.
I do agree the lee dies are cheaper. I see the rings for $3-5 each usually. Glad you can get them for that price. Is that recent or 35 years ago? I will remember that if they are still that cheap for myself and friends if we need any. Thanks for the tip. If you have never messed up a decap stem/pin assembly then either my hat is off to you or you have done little reloading in all the years you have done it.
I have tried lee service on several occasions and have NEVER gotten anything replaced without having to jump thru many hoops and produce the sales reciept whick I never keep. In short I have never had anything good happen with them including some "lifetime warr" stuff.

But this is why they build Fords/Chev/Mopar/imports. So everyone can have the one they want. There is more than one way to get to the same end spot. To each his own as long as they are safe.

[mark501w]

I don't quite understand the sizing process being the function of case growth. I checked it. From time to time & never noticed any increase with my old RCBS dies. Shooting is what moves the brass towards the muzzle.

[BigBronco]

I don't quite understand the sizing process being the function of case growth. I checked it. From time to time & never noticed any increase with my old RCBS dies. Shooting is what moves the brass towards the muzzle.

During the resizing of Bottleneck rifle cartridges the sizing ball and decapping pin passes through the neck and presses easily through the neck of the spent brass. While the pushing the primer out the case neck is resized to a smaller than desired diameter.

Upon withdrawing the freshly resized brass from the die the ball sizer passes back out the case neck setting the inside diameter of the neck for proper tension to hold the bullet in place. It is right here at this point as the ball sizer is being drawn out of the case neck that the case neck can stretch. While not always I have personally measured as much as .015" of Case OAL stretch during the resizing process.

Something to think about this if resizing did not contribute to case stretch then why would manufacturers market optional carbide ball sizer's to minimize case stretch and even RCBS come up with an X-die that claims to eliminate it.

[mark501w]

I've measured it never noticed anything significant .

[JagerDog]

During the resizing of Bottleneck rifle cartridges the sizing ball and decapping pin passes through the neck and presses easily through the neck of the spent brass. While the pushing the primer out the case neck is resized to a smaller than desired diameter.

Upon withdrawing the freshly resized brass from the die the ball sizer passes back out the case neck setting the inside diameter of the neck for proper tension to hold the bullet in place. It is right here at this point as the ball sizer is being drawn out of the case neck that the case neck can stretch. While not always I have personally measured as much as .015" of Case OAL stretch during the resizing process.

Something to think about this if resizing did not contribute to case stretch then why would manufacturers market optional carbide ball sizer's to minimize case stretch and even RCBS come up with an X-die that claims to eliminate it.

That's not where the x-die comes into play. The x-die acts to capture the case at the mouth as the sizer fully seats. Expanded brass has to go somewhere when sizing. The x-die help to eliminate the OAL being the path of least resistance.

[OpenSightsOnly]

For an M1, I just use and RCBS FL die. I don't think you will reap any benefit from using and X-die for an M1 since the M1 beats the brass that you will need to toss the brass after four or five loads.

I did consider the X-die for 223 since I go through about 200 to 225 rounds per month - trying to cut down on brass processing time. But I went with a cheaper alternative - trim the brass to 1.745" and that allows me to skip brass trimming for about two FL sizing. As long as I keep the length under 1.760", I'm good.

Then I got the Giraud Trimmer - no worries and smooth sailing after that

I'm doing a little research into a set of dies for my new M1 Garand. I am not looking for a set of competition dies, these will be for creating accurate plinking ammo. I found the following FL die sets and an interested in your opinion as what you like or dislike about each die set. Do you have another set you would recommend? I like the Lee dies but I am looking to try something different this time around so I purposely left them out.

Has anyone used the RCBS X-Die. Does it really work as they say it does by virtually eliminating the need to trim brass after resizing? Does it increase case life?


RCBS 30-06 SPRFLD FL DIE SET GROUP A, S/H #3
RCBS 30-06 SPRFLD FL X-DIE SET, S/H #3
*
HRN 30-06 SPRFLD SERIES I FL 2-DIE SET, S/H #1
*
LYMAN 30-06 SPRFLD 2 DIE SET, S/H #2
*
REDDING 30-06 SPRFLD FL SET 2-DIE SERIES A

[Enfield47]

Thanks guys. It sounds like RCBS is the die set of choice for the M1.

I finally got to fire my new M1 this weekend and it does fling the brass pretty far. It was flinging hot brass cases two or three tables away so hopefully they won't be too terribly beaten up after a few firings (if I can find them all).