Which dies?

[TMB]

I'm ready to purchase my first set of dies. They will be .45 colt for my BBB and NM Blackhawk. Which manufacturer should I use. Lee, RCBS, Hornady?

[clovishound]

Do you have a die mounted powder measure? Are you planning on getting one if you don't? Stick with the brand that your measure that you have, or plan to get is. You can often mount a different brand measure to your dies, but it can be tricky. Same brand mounting is effortless.

Everybody makes decent dies. I like Lee. I have had nothing but good service from them. I have a few individual Hornady dies (powder cop), and one set of RCBS. The only dies I've had any trouble with were the RCBS. Their customer service was useless. Nicely made dies, but couldn't get enough neck tension to properly hold bullets even with max crimp. Probably a fluke, as most folks have had good luck with RCBS.

[TMB]

I have a Lyman 55 powder measure that is stand or bench mounted.
I agree with your assessment of RCBS customer service.

[BruniX]

Hello,
I currently use LEE die to recharge 45-70, the set of 3 and the factory crimp.
no major concerns ...

Lee tools are inexpensive and seem to work well.
apart from the lead bullet sizer + alox, which I don't like at all.(using lub-a-matic instead)

(problem also with ALox during resizing case, i prefer lube pad...)

I do not know what it will do in the long term, because it is only a year old.

As my press is an RCBS, I mounted the DIEs on the Hornady Lock n Load die bushing, which allow you to change quickly without resuming the settings for each caliber.
This involves purchasing locknuts, which are not supplied with the Lee Dies.

from RCBS I also use the universal decaper tool, excellent tool very well finished, and the bullet puller.
both are delivered with the locking nut. which is practical.

To test, I ordered the die RCBS for the 38 special / 357, but I have not yet received them.

That said, if their quality is in proportion to that of other tools, it should be excellent. (Their rockchucker 4 press is a pleasure)

We often hear that the best are the Reddings Die , but I do not know and am not confirmed enough to judge.
they are in any case very expensive!

friendly,

BruniX

[Rifletom]

TMB, I use both RCBS and Lee. For my .45 Colt[Henry BB steel], I use the Lee 4 Die Set. Super easy to use, goes well on my RCBS Rockchukar press. You'll like the Carbide Factory Crimp Die; makes crimping a cinch. What press do you have or plan on getting? My RC is single stage and works perfectly for my needs. Hope this helps.

[BigAl52]

I also use Lee RCBS and Redding. My favorite are the Redding. But they are also one of the more expensive dies. Lee has a factory crimp die that works really well and many reloaders use it vs the seat crimp die that comes with many die sets.

[Ojaileveraction]

For Staight walled and pistol caliber I like RCBS
For Bottle Neck cases I like the Honady Coustom Grade Dies because they have a sleeve that comes done on the seating die that really helps seat the bullets.
Like to use a Lee Factory Crimp Die for crimping lever rifle ammo.

[Mistered]

One thing I would like to add is regardless of the brand of dies you get make sure is has a CARBIDE sizer die so you do not need to use lube when sizing your cases.

Because .45 Colt is straight wall no lube is needed with a carbide sizer and this facilitates reloading.

Also it has been mentioned before the advantage of the Lee Factory Crimp DIe to which I agree and use.

Rifletom referred to it as a CARBIDE factory Crimp DIe but I think he meant to say 'COLLET' factory crimp die which refers to the design of it having a 'collet' with four separate 'sleeves' that compress around the case mouth to in effect 'squeeze' the case to create the crimp on the bullet as opposed to standard dies (such as RCBS) which perform a Roll Crimp' around the mouth of the case.

Ojaileveraction mentioned the Hornady Custom dies and the seating die having a sleeve to facilitate bullet seating. While I have no experience with Hornady I do have a coupe sets of 'older' Bonanza dies which are similar in design. The sleeve aligns the bullet perfectly vertically with the case mouth for perfect seating every time. While NOT entirely necessary they are nice in that you will never have to manually ensure the bullet is relatively vertical in the mouth of the case with your fingers when seating. Typically however these dies are only offered in bottle neck styles so not really a consideration when loading straight wall ammo but maybe something to keep in mind if you expand into rifle ammo reloading.

You might want to take some time and study up on carbide sizer dies and crimping procedures to familiarize yourself with of these processes so you have a better understanding of exactly how they function in the scheme of reloading.

[Rifletom]

Mistered, I had to think about that. My Lee crimper for .45 Colt is indeed a roll crimp. I have the "collet" type for my 30-30. Different process, both work as advertised.

[TMB]

Thanks all I was leaning towards the Lee dies. This confirms what I was thinking.

[Mistered]

No experience with Lee dies but I sure read about many who are using them with no complaints!

[Shakey Jake]

I've got Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, Lee, and Redding dies. They all work. I personally would buy Redding Precision dies for all my calibers if I had the money. They're worth the difference in price in my opinion, BUT, they all work. I have to say I've had good luck with RCBS customer service. They've sent me parts for free in the past. Maybe things have changed.
Jake

[Mistered]

They're worth the difference in price in my opinion

I agree. Much like my Forster (Bonanza) dies they are in a different class and the price reflects it!

I only have one piece of Redding equipment, a powder measure, but it is vastly superior to many other 'popular' brands - but about twice the price.

[clovishound]

For clarification, Lee factory crimp dies in most rifle calibers are collet style. The Lee Factory Crimp for most pistol calibers are either roll or taper as appropriate to caliber, with a post seating resizing ring. I am a big fan of the collet style for rifle calibers, but don't see a lot of advantages of the FCD for pistol calibers. Note, there are a few specialty collet style crimp dies by Lee for a couple of pistol calibers.

[Mistered]

but don't see a lot of advantages of the FCD for pistol calibers.

The advantage with the COLLET FCD with pistol calibers is IF your brass varies in length you don't experience the aggravating issue of some rounds getting crimped more or less as you do with the typical roll crimping operation on the seating die.

I have a COLLET style FCD for .357 and love it! Set it, forget it and ALL rounds get crimped EQUALLY.

Unfortunately it is .357 only and I eventually need one for .38 Special as well.

[clovishound]

Well, when I said that I don't see a lot of advantages of the FCD, I meant the ones that use a roll or taper crimp. The only difference between them and a standard seat/crimp die is it separates the seating and crimping. This can be done with a second seat/crimp die, and may be of some value. The other difference is the resizing ring. There may be some advantages to this for a few circumstances, but usually if the dies are set up properly, this isn't an issue.

[JEBar]

since the mid '60's we have used RCBS dies .... in the last few years we have added Lee crimp dies .... must admit I have been a bit surprised at negative comments about RCBS's customer service .... granted over the last 50 some years of use I can only remember having an issue with one resizing die .... a call to RCBS and they sent a replacement

[clovishound]

Well, I called because I couldn't get enough neck tension to properly hold a bullet. The tech had me go through the steps listed in the instructions. I had already done these steps 4 or 5 times, but went ahead and did what he told me to do, with no change. I had even measured the neck sizing ball on the decap pin. He didn't have a clue as to why I was having the problem.

I told him I had borrowed an FCD from a friend and by using it I got good rounds. He told me if I wanted, I could ship them back to RCBS and they would look at them. I got the distinct impression he was not interested in making me a satisfied customer, just get me off the line. The RCBS dies seem to resize, decap and seat just fine, and since I could get an FCD for less than the cost of shipping my dies back to RCBS, I went that route. Needless to say, I haven't bought any more RCBS dies.

[TMB]

.......... I personally would buy Redding Precision dies for all my calibers if I had the money. They're worth the difference in price in my opinion

What makes the Redding worth the extra money?

[Shakey Jake]

.......... I personally would buy Redding Precision dies for all my calibers if I had the money. They're worth the difference in price in my opinion

What makes the Redding worth the extra money?

They're just made better and turn out a better round. I use them for 25-06 and .280.