Dies

[wisconsinteacher]

I am guessing this is a Ford/Chevy, JD/Case thing but I will be buying a 7mmMag and 243 dies in the near future. I plan on getting FL dies because I will hunt with both rifles. What make/style would you buy?

LEE/Hornady/RCBS/Redding/Lyman

 

[gerry]

RCBS would be my first choice on your list after that I'm not sure anymore.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I did not just list those as options. I am open to others, that is all I could think of off the top of my head.

BTW=Ford and JD are the correct answers with the other choices.

 

[gerry]

Redding can be good although my 35 Whelen set doesn't resize the case enough for my chamber. In my limited experience with Lee and Hornady they have produced good ammo.

 

[muleman]

Hornady, Redding, RCBS in that order. Forster makes excellent dies just not available in all the unique calibers I play with sometimes. I like Hornady most because of their bullet seating mechanism and they have a stand alone micrometer seating attachment that is not die/caliber specific.

Scott

 

[IdahoCTD]

Hornady, Redding, RCBS in that order. Forster makes excellent dies just not available in all the unique calibers I play with sometimes. I like Hornady most because of their bullet seating mechanism and they have a stand alone micrometer seating attachment that is not die/caliber specific.

Scott

Plus you can buy the generic seater dies for cheap. Those and their neck dies have save me a boatload of cash on custom dies with some of my wildcat cases.

 

[sask boy]

I have used RCBS for most of my life. But now when available I will use Forster. They really are a better die :wink:.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[JD338]

Can't go wrong with RCBS.

JD338

 

[ElmerThud]

All of those dies mentioned should be just fine.....what really matters & makes the difference is how you set them up. I use RCBS & Redding. Good luck, ATB.

 

[dubyam]

I prefer Hornady dies. I have used all but Forster. I won't use Redding unless forced. Every set of their dies I've tried has had QC issues. I know people love them, but I won't use them any more unless I have no other option.

 

[SJB358]

I run Forster first, then Redding and if I cannot get either of those two, I will happily use RCBS. I am not a fan of Hornady dies, but it was a small sample, but I haven't had an issue with Forster and all of my Reddings have been excellent.

 

[DrMike]

If Forster dies are available, they will be my first choice. In part, this is because I enjoy using the Forster Co-Ax press; and in part because the dies themselves are excellent. Redding dies have worked well for me; I use quite a few Redding dies, in part because of the extensive inventory of specialty dies. I have made excellent ammunition with RCBS, Hornady, Lyman and Lee dies--all work well if I do my part in setting up the dies for production. Consequently, I have representative dies made by all these manufacturers. I have listed them in the order of my preference.

 

[AzDak42]

Over time, my opinion has evolved. I started with straight Hornady then started on a Redding kick with a few other dalliances along the way. As of now, I just don't think the die or the press, if properly setup, is really a meaningful limitation on the quality of the ammo you can produce. Bullet selection, seating depth, powder, brass prep and primer are the variables that have a far more significant impact on the overall results.

The selection of press and dies comes down to personal preference and understanding the nuances of each. You can't really make a bad decision here.

 

[Darkhorse]

I use both RCBS and Hornady New Dimension in both the 7mm and .300 Win.
The RCBS is used for all sizing operations both FL and Neck. I do not like the Hornady for sizing, it feels rougher that the RCBS and I have never gotten as good results.
I use the Hornady sizer with the expander screwed down past the die mouth, then the die is left loose in the press so it can float to center. There is a lot of play in 7/8-14 threads and you can see it move to center itself as the expander enters the case. If your sizer is set up correctly then the expander will not pull the case neck out of line.
I like the elliptical Hornady expander.
I use the Hornady bullet seating die as it has proved in the past to really tighten my groups if everything else is concentric.
One of the neat things about the seater die is it works across a wide variety of cartridges. For instance it seats .300 Win., then screw the die out and it will also seat .308.
I'm sure Forster and Redding and others will load a round superior but I already had RCBS from decades past and just built on what I had.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Forster is my first choice or Redding.

 

[Partisan]

For Rifle Dies I have stayed with RCBS because I like their sizing die. I do have a Forester set for one caliber and it works well, especially the sliding seating die. More pricey than RCBS obviously.

I tired one Hornady rifle die set and the sizing die was terrible.
That being said, I do use Hornady's Universal Seating dies for Rifles. I have several calibers and they can be used across several cartridges in the same caliber. Low cost and you can spring for a add-on Micrometer adjuster.

For straight-case Pistols I have been buying Hornady die sets exclusively.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I use RCBS Carbide dies for pistol calibers. Because they cost $30 more, they are better made.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I am thinking about a mixed set. RCBS sizer and Hornady seater????

 

[SJB358]

Just get the Forster and call it a day! Honestly, you can mix and match as well, but a good set of Forster's are worth the bucks in most cases I think. Plus, when you invest in your COAX in the future you'll already have the die rings :lol: