I need to get dies for hand loading 500 NE.

I have been looking at CH4D dies someone had mentioned, I do like the fact that crimping is separate than seating.

I have no experience with them. Are they worth the investment?

Edit: I had used the search feature but most of the negative issues were 10+ years ago and dealt more with customer service than the dies themselves. Any change?

Good quality product. I have them in 50 Alaskan and 35 Remington. Never a problem.

I've used both -

the issue is TIME - if ch4d has them on hand, go for it. if not, it's likely to take WAY longer than one might expect -

rcbs is 220 on midway, right this second ---

However!! Hornday is 110!!
https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...011077269?pid=917199

try ordering one a their presses and see how many birthdays pass b4 u get it!

Like others have said, CH4D is OK if the item is in stock. Waiting for them to produce something is quite another story. Then there's the quality issue. Sometimes steps like polishing get missed. They still work but finish can be an issue.

Every time I order from CH4D what I want is in stock. Maybe lucky.
Their dies are fine. Never had an issue and I order a lot of 400 Whelen dies from them.

To recap do not get it from CH4D is it is not in stock.

On CH4D expansion and crimping are separate dies. Not sure if the sizer also decaps from pics.

On Hornady I assume one would also need to get the universal decapper die. I also figure it expands while it resizes. And crimps while seating.

On RCBS it decaps while sizing, expansion is a separate die but it crimps while seating.

On pistol rounds I decap, resize, expand, seat and crimp in separate operations, so CH4D workflow fits what I am used to though obviously not on an automatic progressive press.

quote:

Originally posted by tanks:
To recap do not get it from CH4D is it is not in stock.

On CH4D expansion and crimping are separate dies. Not sure if the sizer also decaps from pics.

On Hornady I assume one would also need to get the universal decapper die. I also figure it expands while it resizes. And crimps while seating.

On RCBS it decaps while sizing, expansion is a separate die but it crimps while seating.

On pistol rounds I decap, resize, expand, seat and crimp in separate operations, so CH4D workflow fits what I am used to though obviously not on an automatic progressive press.

I don't see any issue with FL sizing dies that decap and expand and likewise a bullet seating die that also crimps. The seating die can do both these operations separately if wished but I have never had any problems seating and crimping in one step, it is just a matter of setting up the die correctly.
Maybe if talking of super accuracy for target or long range shooting, doing every step individually and carefully is possibly better but for big bores shooting big bullets at close to medium ranges a standard two die does the job.

If loading cast bullets a third die for flaring the case mouth is desirable. For loading cast for the .404J I just use a redundant 45 ACP case mouth sizing/flaring die having turned the sizing spigot down to slip nicely into the sized case mouth of the .404 case. The die is adjusted so the case shoulder butts the die mouth when the correct amount of flare is applied.

All I can say is I wish RCBS would go back to their raw steel dies. I feel they were much better quality then what they are currently making.

Nothing the matter with CH dies. They are better finished then their earlier dies. I know Dave that owns CH and he's a terrific guy. Lyman dies also look better then their funky chrome plated earlier ones.

I have CH4d dies in 256 and 30 Newton and they are just fine. The 256 dies needed a vent hole at the shoulder to vent trapped air when forming brass but for loading, they worked fine without the hole. No issue with the 30. Regards, Bill.

Thanks for all the info.

CH4D had everything in stock. I ordered the 3 die set, file/trim die and a separate crimp die from them today.

Plus, like supporting small businesses, especially in these uncertain times.

You cannot go wrong with CH, but in my experience RCBS is better and they have excellent product guarantee and replacement policy.