I may have asked before, what do you think about the different die manufactures? I use almost all RCBS, but have a couple of sets of Lee that have given no trouble. Not familiar with the features of the other companies products though. Opinions and thoughts welcome?

Red
PS
I need 4 sets of dies that's why I am asking.

As you mention screw-in dies, there is no need to talk about in-line dies like Wilson or Neil Jones.
The concept of the Redding competition dies is different. They size from the outside only.

To make that statement clearer:
RCBS and Lee dies (same with Hornady and Lyman) insert a decapping pin with a mandrel into the case, squeeze the neck to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the mandrel. On the way back, the mandrel widens the case neck to the diameter required.

The Redding has interchangeable bushings in the die which will reduce the diameter of the neck to the dimension required. As brass thickness may differ between different brands, there is a great variaty of bushings to choose from according to your needs.
The in-line dies make use of the same prnciple.

The advantage of this way to go is threefold:
- less wear on the cartridge neck,
- if the neck sizing part of the die is worn (scratches on case neck), you have not to buy a new die but only a bushing. In addition, these bushings are available in steel or in carbide / surface treated. The latter makes operation remarkably smoother, and these bushings have very little wear,
- as you can choose the bushing size which yields the neck tension you want (ok, you may get mandrels of different size as well).

This is the reason why I started with Lee, then RCBS etc., and now that I am beyond the level of "a die is a die", I use the Wilson dies.

I had to take a set of RCBS back to the Bass Pro's and exchange them. They were marking the corner of the shoulder with two scrapes on every shell. Also, they were not chambering properly in my Savage 99. New RCBS dies, old brass, and some modest loads all chambered beautifully, except the one bullet that I forgot to resize all the way. I am told by EVERYONE... just kidding.... some people that I have talked to tell me that lee dies are just as good as any, and half the cost. Depends on the gun and how you feel about it. For my M1 Carbine, I would buy the lee dies. For my weatherby, I bought the RCBS. I think it is personal preference.

I have some of all RCBS Redding Lyman C and H Lee and some others I can not think of right now. I buy Lee dies now price is right and they get the job done. If your going to try and win a bench rest match you might want to go the more expense route to make your self feel better. Other wise the Lee dies will do everthing you want.

I prefer Forster and Redding for rifle and use Lyman for my handguns. I have to admit I`ve a few RCBS dies that have served me very well for quite afew years though.
I would use a Lyman M die for belling if I loaded cast bullets in my rifle loads or loaded straight wall ammo. I really like the way they bell cases over everyone elses,

Well, I have one set of Lee, one set of Lyman and one set of Pacific...all the rest are RCBS...

Gentlemen

I have Redding im most calibers. They have always been fantastic. I also had tree dies from Triebel which are very nice but costly

Cheers
/ JOHAN

R.C.B.S- For all rifle calibers,Reg,X ,and Comp. and thier Carbide Pistol dies for all auto pistols,only set I know of that comes with a Taper Crimper built into the seater die.

Hornady- Non auto pistol calibers ie 357 mag 44mag,thier rifle dies although good on the seater,the sizer die stinks. Have never been able to keep/get the friction lock tight enough to keep the decaping rod in place.

Never used any others.

RCBS or Redding for rifle dies. I use a Dillon for handgun ammo, so most of my handgun die sets are Dillon.

Tiny, if memory serves, Hornady's decapping stem has to be loose. Their philosophy is that a loose stem/mandrel will center better in the downward pass.