24hourcampfire.com
24hourcampfire.com
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,820
Campfire Tracker
OP Online Content
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,820
What’s the consensus us on rifle dies these days. Almost all mine are RCBS, but I haven’t bought any in 30 or 40 years.

I just purchased a “budget “ rifle in a new-to-me cartridge (which shall remain unnamed grin) and wondering if a particular brand stands out. THANKS

HR IC

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,936
D
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
D
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10,936
Redding.

For whatever reason I haven't had any luck with RCBS dies.

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,293
R
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
R
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,293
If you're just looking to reload, then RCBS is good stuff. I have a lot of their equipment and no complaint. But if you want the moa stuff then Redding is my go to especially in the bullet seating.


I'd rather die in a BAD gunfight than a GOOD nursing home.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 55,890
Campfire Kahuna
Offline
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 55,890
Redding mostly but have a few sets of RCBS dies that do the trick.


I am..........disturbed.

Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain


Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,467
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,467
I use plain ol RCBS for .30-30 and .375 Winchester, but for my bolt guns it's Lee Collet dies for neck sizing, Redding body dies when needed, and Forster Benchrest seaters. If collet dies are unavailable for a cartridge I'll use bushing neck die. Haven't ordered a custom collet die, yet.


Don't be the darkness.

America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.


IC B2

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 56
G
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
G
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 56
Lee has been rising thru the ranks ...
give them a good look before you pull the trigger... no pun intended. smile

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 585
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 585
Forster fan here.


Do or do not, there is no try.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30,609
A
Campfire 'Bwana
Offline
Campfire 'Bwana
A
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 30,609
Originally Posted by NDHuntr
Forster fan here.


Yep.

I'm not a fan of run out, so I'm a Forster fan as well.


You didn't use logic or reason to get into this opinion, I cannot use logic or reason to get you out of it.

You cannot over estimate the unimportance of nearly everything. John Maxwell
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,792
H
Campfire Tracker
Offline
Campfire Tracker
H
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,792
Originally Posted by antelope_sniper
Originally Posted by NDHuntr
Forster fan here.


Yep.

I'm not a fan of run out, so I'm a Forster fan as well.


Me too.

John


If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 33
B
Campfire Greenhorn
Offline
Campfire Greenhorn
B
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 33
I just started using some Forster dies a couple of years ago and have been impressed so far. Not to hijack the thread but has anyone tried their neck bump dies? They sound like a great idea to me. Other than that, it's RCBS and Redding.

IC B3

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Originally Posted by antelope_sniper
Originally Posted by NDHuntr
Forster fan here.


Yep.

I'm not a fan of run out, so I'm a Forster fan as well.

My favorite. Redding a close second. Hasbeen


hasbeen
(Better a has been than a never was!)

NRA Patron member
Try to live your life where the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,313
L
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
L
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,313
For small to medium bores where I'm trying to get maximum accuracy, I generally buy an inexpensive RCBS or Lee sizer to start. If there's a Forester seater available, I'll buy that - great dies. If not I'll get a cheap seater too. Then in either case I'll make some fired cases and order a micrometer bushing sizer from Whidden and a seater too if Forester doesn't make one.

I almost always use a Lee factory crimp die. I've noticed no variation in accuracy or maximum safe velocity, powder charges go down a hair (making more case space), and the mechanical robustness of the ammo goes way up compared to just a couple thousandths neck tension.

I avoid Redding seaters because I'm sick of them not hardening them and then bitching when people want to shoot compressed loads. It's not 1957, powders have gotten slower, and Redding needs to get with the times.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,145
C
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
C
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 12,145
Forster benchrest die sets are my default choice.

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 23,881
O
Campfire Ranger
Offline
Campfire Ranger
O
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 23,881
Anybody use the the RCBS competition dies ?
The gold medal seating die looks good , bullet drops into the Die from a side window and rides in a sleeve keeping it entering the case straight thoughout the seating stroke .


PRESIDENT TRUMP 2024/2028 !!!!!!!!!!


Posted by Bristoe
The people wringing their hands over Trump's rhetoric don't know what time it is in America.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,467
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 14,467
Originally Posted by Llama_Bob


I avoid Redding seaters because I'm sick of them not hardening them and then bitching when people want to shoot compressed loads. It's not 1957, powders have gotten slower, and Redding needs to get with the times.



What's this all about?


Don't be the darkness.

America will perish while those who should be standing guard are satisfying their lusts.


Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 8,073
Originally Posted by ol_mike
Anybody use the the RCBS competition dies ?
The gold medal seating die looks good , bullet drops into the Die from a side window and rides in a sleeve keeping it entering the case straight thoughout the seating stroke .


I have some of the first they introduced. Came in wooden boxes. You can change the sleeve and stem and use the same body for different calibers. I like the Forster dies better.


hasbeen
(Better a has been than a never was!)

NRA Patron member
Try to live your life where the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,710
M
Campfire 'Bwana
Online Content
Campfire 'Bwana
M
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,710
The regular RCBS Competition seaters have not produced runout numbers quite as good as the Forster and Redding sliding support sleeve dies. The Gold Medal RCBS description mentions a floating and self centering bullet seating system, and I haven't used that version to compare.

Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,302
P
Campfire Outfitter
Offline
Campfire Outfitter
P
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,302
Forster
Redding
RCBS

In that order


I may not be smart but I can lift heavy objects

I have a shotgun so I have no need for a 30-06.....
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,239
Campfire Savant
Online Content
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,239
I mostly have RCBS, a few Redding, a couple Hornady dies.

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,545
J
Campfire Regular
Offline
Campfire Regular
J
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,545
Almost all of my reloading dies are RCBS dies. Redding are fine, and I have some of them, too. I use RCBS competition seating dies in some calibers, and I have an old Vickerman seater I use for the 30-06. I like and use Lee Factory Crimp dies for much of my ammo reloading. RCBS customer service has been top notch in my experience.


NRA Endowment Life Member, G.O.A supporter
Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  RickBin 

Link Copied to Clipboard
YB23

Who's Online Now
669 members (10gaugemag, 12344mag, 160user, 10gaugeman, 10Glocks, 12308300, 58 invisible), 3,150 guests, and 1,277 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums81
Topics1,187,742
Posts18,401,213
Members73,822
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023


 







Fish & Game Departments | Solunar Tables | Mission Statement | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA
Hunting | Fishing | Camping | Backpacking | Reloading | Campfire Forums | Gear Shop
Copyright © 2000-2024 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
(Release build 20201027)
Responsive Width:

PHP: 7.3.33 Page Time: 0.118s Queries: 15 (0.005s) Memory: 0.8950 MB (Peak: 1.0446 MB) Data Comp: Zlib Server Time: 2024-03-29 13:51:45 UTC
Valid HTML 5 and Valid CSS