Ok i'm probally opening up for a brawl but i will ask anyway.Who makes the best reloading dies?? and why?? i have some calibers that haven't been offered in awhile such as 303sav,22sav hp,308norma mag,i'm wondering where to find good quality dies for these and others?? thnx for your help

REDDING! Just compare them to the others. Redding machine work is head & shoulders above the rest.

Hard to argue with Bearclaw's post. I have Redding and RCBS. Slowly, I'll replace all of my dies with Reddings. Their machine work and design is much better in my opinion. With that being said, get a Lee Factory Crimping die to go with each Redding set you buy and you will be set for life!

And woodunt wee be safe in saying here that the only possiblee better dies wood bee those custom made with the same chambering reemers???

That's what wee dew hear: with evry gun, we take a set of Redding dies and run the reamer into them an inch or so. Weeve gotten meny letters back from custumers about this - sew meny, just haven't had time two reed them - warms our hearts!

Dewey ,Cheetum , and Howe
Custom Gunsmiths

RCBS work really well for me, I have a set of CH4 dies which I think are very nice as well.

Thnx for replyies so far it looks like i'll be spending alot of money on reloading dies but that is ok.so so far i should buy redding dies and buy the lee factory crimp dies for the calibers?i will start buying dies soon before i buy press to make sure i'm set with some of more used calibers.

[ 01-09-2003, 00:50: Message edited by: Longbob ]

I have not used redding but am very happy with RCBS.I have used lee,hornady and lyman and prefer RCBS.I do not crimp any cartridge as I do not find it necessary unless you have tubular magazines or are talking large bore handguns.

Forster! With Redding running a close second.

RSY

I really like my Lee Crimp die for my semi-auto's-

Thru the years I have used RCBS, Lyman, C-H, and Lee. For the Money, the Lee is hard to beat, and the Factory Crimp Die is super. I also Load 9 m/m and 40 S&W with the lee Factory CRIMP/SIZE die that guarantees that ALL the ammo fits the Chamber...I did not think I had a problem until I had a few of the .40's fail to enter the chamber 100% of the time, but after I got the factory crimp/size die....100% reliability....thats good enough for me.
On the 45/70 the factory crimp die has given consistent results with cast and jacketed, plus one other advantage...seat the bullets to desired OAL and then factory crimp it in place at THAT spot, forget needing a cannelured bullet.
Lee's also include the shell holder...I like that.
As a matter of fact I just ordered a lee pacesetter die set on www.gunbroker.com for my new .375 H&H. The pacesetter set also includes the factory crimp die. Best value.

Just my nickel,
ShondorP

.

[ 12-30-2002, 05:17: Message edited by: J Brown ]

I have lee Dies Lyman,RCBS,Redding,and Bonanza reloading dies.I have had the best luck with the Bonaza`s and the Old Lymans.

I've used most with sucess but like the Redding Competiton w/micrometer heads. However, most of my dies were done by Neil Jones who makes custom dies...either in-line or threaded....not cheap but THE BEST and all he needs is a few fired rounds.

Redding, but now I am going to order a set of Wilson "inline" dies (neck sizer and seater die).
This is a different tune, I know, but I want to find out if they really provide an increase in concentricity potential and prolong brass life (Sinclair's voice).

I am the only one here that probably would not purchase another set of Redding dies. The 1st set I purchased would not size the case down far enough to work in the rifle I had. The 2nd set for another caliber seemed to do the same. Would Redding probably fix them? Sure they would, but I decided to go back to Lee and RCBS.

Howdy,

First, let us assume we are talking about "screw-in" dies and not straight-line hand dies.

Second, let us all agree that even the cheapest, crookedest, worst finished set of dies out there can still make fairly decent "blasting" ammo.

Third, my assumption is that you are talking about "accuracy" dies.

It has been my experience that Lee, Lyman, Hornady, C&H, RCBS, Redding, Herters, and Forster/Bonanza dies all can make decent ammunition. My favorite dies because of ease of use in making "accurate" ammo are Forster/Bonanza. Redding ranks a close second, with a virtual tie between Lee collet and C&H dies for third. My least favorite dies are Hornady, and the most WARM FUZZY FEELINGS come from using those old, OLD Herter's dies.

There it is... for what its worth.

Coach

Warm, fuzzy, energized, elevated, dizzy, tearful loyalty, nostalgic angst, blissful remembrance, longing...SIGH!

P.S. Not to mention using them in a Herter's press!

[ 12-30-2002, 23:09: Message edited by: sonofagun ]

With a concentricity gauge, I can now see my Forster seating die with a sleeve is superior to my Lee and RCBS dies.

Howdy,

Clark.... I told ya' so!!!

Son-of-a-gun, I have used the Herter's press, Herter's scale, and I even have a small stock of .257 and .264 Wasp-Tailed model PERFECTION bullets. I'll never shoot them. I gave my Father and Brothers reprints of the old Herter's catalog for Christmas.... boy what a riot, just reading all that Hoopla. Dad says that by the time you get through reading about an article, you have already smoked all the "hokum" out of it.

Shoot straight.

Coach

I'll vote with the forester crew. I have em and like em alot. BUT for low $$$ dies my vote goes to hornady. After a little adjusting (which all dies need) I've been able to make match grade ammo with even the hornady's. I have only one set of redding--they are for .340 weatherby. I've fiddled and fiddled with them and cannot get consistantly below .003" runnout. I'm just not fond of the way they do their expander spindle.
Might have just gotten a bad die.