Dies to keep and send NFS .

[RBHarter]

Like so many of us I've had many sets and brands often of a single cartridge. I don't know how many but I still have an as new set of 44 mag/ special Lachmiller after sending at least 4 sets on their way in Lyman , Lee , RCBS . I don't even want anything in 44 that's why I have the ability to shoot 6 45s .

I've recently received a set of 38/357 Pacific Durichome dies . I'm very tempted to send the carbide RCBS on their way to the kids box sets of tools . I don't see me loading over another 4-500 of each , I only have Grampa's 47' M10 and the Sec 6 , eventually I'll get the JM 1894C and the 5-5/8" RBH 3 screw back but I have 1k each factory or jacketed reloads put back and haven't fired a box in them combined in probably 8-9 years.

30-30 , 06' .
Same choices here but it's Herters vs RCBS .
The Herters has emotional significance but no parts available. I don't expect to see the kids in an 06' unless it mine and Grampa's . It is nice to have the extra sizer set up for each rifle but I have 3 sets of 06' and the Savage is tighter than the NEF but easily cams in shared 30-30 and the Savage brass plunks in the NEF. I neck size with a Lee 308 and it's .310 expander .

45 ACP , AR , GAP
4 cylinders,1 carbine . 2 loads , 1 OAL with 200 or 230 gr SWC . The Smith has tight chambers so no need to set up 2 sets . The Lyman has emotional significance. Plus Forster taper crimp die . I don't us the roll crimp in any of 3 sets .

25-06'
Dad had both RCBS and Pacific for his 25

All in equal condition . I don't have any particular brand favor I have 11-12 brands .
38/357 Pacific or Carb RCBS .
30-30,06' Herters vs RCBS
25-06' RCBS vs Pacific.
45 ACP, AR , GAP . Lyman vs RCBS all carbide.

Emotional attachment aside what's your choice ?

 

[358156 hp]

For handguns I keep a set of late model dies from Hornady or RCBS, plus a set of Durachrome non-carbide dies. I really don't like modern carbide sizing dies because I see them sizing the cases too small. Cowboy dies are better, and as an example I have one set of RCBS Cowboy dies, ane set of Durachrome carbide dies, and one set of Durachrome steel dies. If I have time I'll use the steel dies and case lube to size my brass, preferring their slightly tapered case dimensions. My 44 mag, and 45 ACP setups setup is very similar, except the sizing dies are Tn coated instead of carbide and aren't as tight as carbide dies have been for me. I'm starting to believe that carbide dies may not be the best choice for my needs since I really go out of my way to avoid using them.

For 30-06 I have an older set of Hornady New Dimension dies. When my rifle was rebarrelled, my gunsmith requested a few sized cases and some loaded ammo for test firing. Everything I had on hand had been loaded with this die set, and the other rifle was a very accurate Savage 110 with a tight chamber so that's what I supplied. That Savage chamber was tight enough that I had to cam over my sizing die to get cases to fit with only slight resistance when closing the bolt so the new rifle is like that too. I'm still working on the stock for the new rifle two years later. I may reevaluate sizing dies after I finally get to wring it out really well.

I'm pretty well out of the 30-30 game anymore but wouldn't even try to resist a clean Winchester if I found one. I still have my Hornady New Dimension dies for them as well. Additionally, I also have Lyman "M" dies for expanders, and even a few LEE collet style crimping dies for calibers like 30-30.

 

[Missionary]

I never knew how much I like the old dies until some of the "new" types got to us.
When it comes to dies I do think with the ability to mass produce them has taken a toll and for what it is worth "one size does not fit all".

 

[richhodg66]

I've kind of gun back to steel dies for my handgun cases too. I took on a challenge to try to load .45 ACP wuth .45 Colt dies and it worked well enough that I suspected the Lee carbide sizer was oversizing the cases. Never really was convinced carbide was all it's cracked up to be.

 

[Brad]

I am the opposite. Carbide all the way for me. I do size some cases just enough to get good neck tension and end up with almost a bottlenecked case situation. Not needing to lube cases and then clean the lube off makes a huge difference for me.

 

[Winelover]

Carbide for all pistol calibers. I'm lazy. However, I don't get the bottleneck effect with any of my RCBS dies. Most of the bottleneck rifle dies are the RCBS X-dies.................trim once for the life of the case.

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

Mine...

38, 357, & max. I like my cowboy set just for the sizer die
06. I have rcbs fl & a neck size only wish I would have gotten Redding bushing dies

22-250. I did get Redding bushing dies 3 or 4 different size bushings Man do they make noise rounds!

 

[Brad]

I have grown to really like the Dillon seating dies for pistol. Easy to clean the seating stem if lube builds up without messing with die adjustment.
Their decap dies have a spring that flicks off the primers that want to stick.

 

[462]

For .38, .357, .40 S&W, .44 Special, .45 ACP, and .45 Colt I've used steel and carbide from Pacific, Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, Krupp/Herters, and Redding, but it's now RCBS carbide. Seems that I'm the only one who found steel sizers to size smaller than carbide.

Because I'm now down to only two bolt action rifles -- the 03A3 and .223 Ruger American -- I've reassessed their die assortment. Dies for the 03A3 remain an eclectic collection, but I filed a shellholder for correct full length sizing and shoulder bump, and a $10 Forster Ultra Micrometer benchrest seating die was added to replace the Hornady that was used prior.

The Ruger was purchased in late January '20 and I started with Lee's Ultimate four die set. They worked well enough* till my gun-related downsizing project created a fair amount of discretionary funds. Now, the Ruger's dies consist of Forster benchrest full length sizing and seating dies (non-micrometer with one adjusted specifically for Sierra's 69-grainer and the other for their 77-grainer), and Lee's collet neck sizer. I've become so much of a Forster proponent that, last night, I took advantage of Larry's birthday pricing and ordered the Forster bushing neck sizing and shoulder bump die kit that includes three different dimensioned bushings.

* The Forster dies reduced the Lee groups noticeably.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

First the Carbide v. Steel sizing die question.

I understand the attraction of good quality steel dies and the dislike of carbide dies of dimensions that don’t work for you. However, for handgun dies, I’m solidly in the carbide club. The need to lube cases, particularly when loading on a progressive press is just too much of a PITA when loading hundreds of cartridges in a session.

For rifle cartridges, I load smaller batches and steel dies are fine. But I have some carbide dies as well.

Then we get to which brands to keep and which to send down the road. Clearly dimensions matter here and if you have dies that are particularly well suited to your needs – those go to the top of the list of keepers. The next criterion is quality. Now a die isn’t a super high-tech piece of gear, it’s a piece of metal with certain features cut into it. The material the die is made of, the accuracy of those features and the finish are about all we’re really talking about. Of course, those features must be concentric and precisely made to the correct form. Most manufacturers seem to do a decent job of this. That leaves us material and finish. Some of this may just be personal preference.

Like most of us, I have an eclectic assortment of dies. Because they are typically a “Buy it once” tool, If the price isn’t too far out of the ballpark, I’ll spend a little extra to get dies from manufactures I trust. (this doesn’t necessarily mean the others would fall short of the needed quality)

My first choice is typically Redding with RCBS a close second. However, I have plenty of others. And I agree with Brad that the new style Dillon dies are very handy.

I am very consistent with shell holders, they are almost all RCBS.