So I am going to throw my .02 cents in here, I reload a lot for long range shooting and have had several sets of both. Both are great dies, but there is no question that the Redding dies are better quality. Following are reasons:
-Whidden uses too much aluminum in the parts of their dies. Redding dies are almost all steel or stainless steel, a much harder metal. Harder material is always going to be better when you are for consistency.
-Where Whidden does use steel it is mild steel/chrome moly and they tend to rust. This can be easily polished out but the more times you polish them the more you change the actual dimensions of the dies. If you are in it for precision, this is antagonistic to your goal.
-Whidden micrometer adjustments are where most of the aluminum is located, I found that these are not as precise on the adjustments as the reddings. Although its not always the case, on the reddings, if set up properly, a one thousandth adjustment on the seating stem usually results in exactly that.
-The problem with shoulders getting crushed is usually a result of too much case lubricant. Good dies shouldn't have to have a bleed off in my opinion.
