Reloading dies

[Germz]

I'm a hunter that demands accurate ammo.

I would suggest my personal favorite, Hornady. But I have always placed Redding and Forster up on a pedestal as far as superior quality.

[elk hunter]

0.5 MOA isn't an easy task in any large cal rifle one would actually want to carry hunting. Then there's carrying that whole benchrest while hunting too. This is why most hunters of large game, even those famous for their success, consider 1-1.5MOA perfectly fine. The rifle is just a small part of the equation of success in big game hunting. IMHO your expectations are unrealistic for the task at hand, especially if "budget" is even in your vocabulary. The best hunting bullets are seldom the most accurate as well. But knock yourself out.

Actually I not only carried that sub 1/2 inch gun last deer season but I shot a very nice size mulie buck with it. Nope I didn't carry a bench rest with me either and fired one shot at the bucks neck while he was running as hard as he could go to get away. A witnessed shot by Ed Lovell just one of the men I hunt with each season. I have said this several times and I guess I need to say it again "I am a hunter" not a benchrest shooter. I am not a gunsmith by the wildest of imaginations although I did study at the AMU at Fort Benning GA back in late 69 or 70 the Army later sent me to Germany for the balance of my 3 year RA hitch. I'm sorry that you believe that my trying to wring out every bit of accuracy from a rifle and ammo combination is unrealistic, I have always tried to get the best from something that I could it's who I am. I don't remember anywhere talking about cost or budget. I do not use match/paper punchers for hunting although they will work. I also have a degree of success in hunting, not as much as some for sure but probably better than the average.

Today I started my die selections and a base 2 die set was bought from my local dealer. It is a like new/unused but previously owned set of RCBS full length dies and the price was right 20 dollars while there he and I discussed a Lee collet die and a Forester seat die, decisions will be made. Thank you.

[pacrat]

What are the best "bang for the buck" quality made reloading dies? and why do you think they are the best.

elk hunter

I don't remember anywhere talking about cost or budget.

Your OP strongly suggested "cost" as a factor. You did after all ask for "opinions".

I hope whatever you decide on, works well for you.

JM2c

[elk hunter]

Your OP strongly suggested "cost" as a factor. You did after all ask for "opinions".

I hope whatever you decide on, works well for you.

JM2c

Just because you spend more doesn't mean you get more and just because you spend less doesn't mean you get less. there are break points between levels. Sometimes another 20 bucks more will get you a "lot" more. A budget sets a limit you don't cross over without doing a re-budget. I did not berate anyone for any opinion just the opposite is the fact I have repeatedly thanked people over and over again for the info posted. Have a nice day.

[JagerDog]

Actually I not only carried that sub 1/2 inch gun last deer season but I shot a very nice size mulie buck with it. Nope I didn't carry a bench rest with me either and fired one shot at the bucks neck while he was running as hard as he could go to get away. A witnessed shot by Ed Lovell just one of the men I hunt with each season. I have said this several times and I guess I need to say it again "I am a hunter" not a benchrest shooter. I am not a gunsmith by the wildest of imaginations although I did study at the AMU at Fort Benning GA back in late 69 or 70 the Army later sent me to Germany for the balance of my 3 year RA hitch. I'm sorry that you believe that my trying to wring out every bit of accuracy from a rifle and ammo combination is unrealistic, I have always tried to get the best from something that I could it's who I am. I don't remember anywhere talking about cost or budget. I do not use match/paper punchers for hunting although they will work. I also have a degree of success in hunting, not as much as some for sure but probably better than the average.

Today I started my die selections and a base 2 die set was bought from my local dealer. It is a like new/unused but previously owned set of RCBS full length dies and the price was right 20 dollars while there he and I discussed a Lee collet die and a Forester seat die, decisions will be made. Thank you.

You've got your $20 dies and TMK no rifle yet, so it sounds like you're well on your way.

If you've got a winning formula for making most any off-the-rack, garden variety, hunting profile, bolt-action rifle achieve 1/2 MOA with hunting fodder, why would you deviate from that?

I also don't see an intersecton between "bang-for-the-buck" and wringing out the "best" in platform "X". You either want the best, or you're willing to compromise some level of excellence in exchange for some economy (bang-for-the-buck).

I don't know who Ed Lovell is. Maybe you're some fabulous off-hand running deer shot, or you got lucky, or..... I put one through the eyes of a running deer at 200 yards off-hand too...when I was 16. That wasn't really the intent (I figured I had to lead him), but it sure looked cool and makes a good story.

[elk hunter]

You've got your $20 dies and TMK no rifle yet, so it sounds like you're well on your way.

If you've got a winning formula for making most any off-the-rack, garden variety, hunting profile, bolt-action rifle achieve 1/2 MOA with hunting fodder, why would you deviate from that?

I also don't see an intersecton between "bang-for-the-buck" and wringing out the "best" in platform "X". You either want the best, or you're willing to compromise some level of excellence in exchange for some economy (bang-for-the-buck).

I don't know who Ed Lovell is. Maybe you're some fabulous off-hand running deer shot, or you got lucky, or..... I put one through the eyes of a running deer at 200 yards off-hand too...when I was 16. That wasn't really the intent (I figured I had to lead him), but it sure looked cool and makes a good story.

This has been one thing after another except about reloading dies, I'm tired of this BS and I'm done. Your right and i'm wrong, feel all warm and fuzzy now...good by.

[JMP]

Best bang for the buck are the Redding 3-piece competition sets with the micrometer on neck die and seater plus a few of the gold bushings per caliber. They come in all common cartridges, .223 Rem to .338 Lapua (only 7/8" threaded). They cost 10x more than cheapo Hornady dies, but the are infinitely better. You can get the cases just right, minimal working, and it's hard to get a case stuck or a die broken. The worst that happens is you need a $0.25 replacement decapping pin. I use this for all rifle calibers that they make. Otherwise, you gotta go custom to get the same quality, so, yes, I consider them a great buy.

[CSACANNONEER]

Actually I not only carried that sub 1/2 inch gun last deer season but I shot a very nice size mulie buck with it. Nope I didn't carry a bench rest with me either and fired one shot at the bucks neck while he was running as hard as he could go to get away. A witnessed shot by Ed Lovell just one of the men I hunt with each season. I have said this several times and I guess I need to say it again "I am a hunter" not a benchrest shooter. I am not a gunsmith by the wildest of imaginations although I did study at the AMU at Fort Benning GA back in late 69 or 70 the Army later sent me to Germany for the balance of my 3 year RA hitch. I'm sorry that you believe that my trying to wring out every bit of accuracy from a rifle and ammo combination is unrealistic, I have always tried to get the best from something that I could it's who I am. I don't remember anywhere talking about cost or budget. I do not use match/paper punchers for hunting although they will work. I also have a degree of success in hunting, not as much as some for sure but probably better than the average.

Today I started my die selections and a base 2 die set was bought from my local dealer. It is a like new/unused but previously owned set of RCBS full length dies and the price was right 20 dollars while there he and I discussed a Lee collet die and a Forester seat die, decisions will be made. Thank you.

Huh? "Accuracy" is all about having one's POIs centered around one's POA. So, proper sight adjustment is all you need to obtain "accuracy". You keep talking about "accuracy" like it is synonymous with "precision". Do you say "clips" hen referring to "magazines", "horns" hen referring to "antlers" or "the shoulder thing that goes up" when speaking of "barrel shrouds"?

[JagerDog]

This has been one thing after another except about reloading dies, I'm tired of this BS and I'm done. Your right and i'm wrong, feel all warm and fuzzy now...good by.

Gotta clarify the question before a valuable answer can be defined.

If 1 MOA isn't "good enough" for hunting, then the dies are a very small part of the equation, so "bang-for-the-buck" is contradictory to the stated goal.

Since you suggest you've arrived at the formula for various hunting weight rifles to achieve said goal (approaching 1/2 MOA), then what exactly is the question?