Your Favorite Dies/Brands for 45/9MM/380/32 Auto

[smokeywolf]

Looks like we're adding a 380 ACP to the herd. Have bought maybe 2 or 3 sets of dies in the last 30 years. Many of my dies are Hollywood Gun Shop, CH or Pacific. I do have 3 (I think) Redding sets.

While one brand may shine for large-ish necked rifle cases, another brand for large straight walled cases, some other brand may be the cat's meow for the short straight-walled Auto/ACP cases.

What have you found works best for you?

 

[Outpost75]

Redding first choice. RCBS second.

 

[LEC Guy]

I have well over 120 sets for lots of unusual calibers. I know its a lot. Have mostly RCBS, Lyman, and Hornady. I avoid Lee as the first thing you do with them is swap out the crap lock rings. However that said I have a few Lee sets for calibers like .50 GI and 7.62 Nagant Revolver. They were the only companies that made them. I also have sets from Herters, Texan, C&H, Redding, Dillon(Solid Carbide .223 Sizer) and LEC(Lachmiller). I do have many sets for calibers I don't currently own but know I will someday find a gun in that caliber. Then I have many sets for use in Lyman 310 tools. Thats another subject.

Bruce

 

[RicinYakima]

With Outpost75, as for pistol calibers Redding is my choice. Then older RCBS, pre-2000, but used ones are sometimes abused. While I have a Lee set for 7.63 Mauser, I had to send the first two sets back; the first had a sizer for 30 Luger and the second had the seater post treaded crooked in the die body.

 

[Brad]

I have more Hornady than anything. Really like carbide dies for all handgun cartridges.
I have had good luck with RCBS as well.
Only Redding I own are for rifle cartridges and they are really good.

 

[fiver]

i got like 9-10 different brands of dies kicking around the loading room.
i kind of like LEE carbide size dies since they tend to run a little big, i've even swapped them in for several of my Dillon size dies.
Dillon i like for their primer ejector in the sizer, but not for loading cast.

i like Redding dies too, but you pay for that nice outside finish they have.
i kinda stick with RCBS for the most part though.

 

[JonB]

I'll just comment on pistol dies, since that is what you are buying.
Most of my sets are Lee. I use Lee's Classic Turret press with auto-indexing. One thing that's different about Lee's pistol dies is the Lee Powder-Thru expander die. I use the Lee Pro-auto Disk powder measure on the press and that mounts on the Lee Powder-Thru expander die. With Cast, sometimes you need a larger expander and the insert is easy to swap with a slightly larger one. I like Lee's Collect style factory crimp die, but they only have those in revolver calibers. I've been lucky that I've never had a problem with the carbide FL sizer die, I've heard others comment about the carbide being incorrect size.

 

[RBHarter]

Well I have CH , Forster , Herters , Hornady , Lachmiller, Lee , Lyman, Pacific, RCBS , and Redding .
Lee is a tool I buy if I need something and can't wait for something else to come along .
If I needed a match die , custom cat or exotic , and could wait , CH gets the go .
Redding and Forster are nice but I don't know that they are twice the price of RCBS nice .

I have in 45 Colts, 45 ACP, 45-70 , 38/357 ,06' , and 264 WM used Lee , Lyman , RCBS ,Herters Redding , Pacific, and Forster side by side. Obviously not all the dies in all the cartridges all at once .

Armed with all of that , I'd have no qualms with just straight up replacement in all RCBS.
I'd miss the CH 32 Rem set .
I don't do enough volume to miss the carbide pistol dies .

My Lyman All American sets are in black leatherette , blue velvet lined boxes . They are a dead heat for the RCBS carbide or steel for pistols .
If I need a necked case and I have to move the shoulder or neck down I won't use a Lee . Period .

Warranty and using it . RCBS I don't think has any real competition except Dillion

 

[oscarflytyer]

RCBS is/has been my go to for all std calibers. Lee for odd, and also Lee when I could get them low cost to get started in a caliber (same with their molds). I can honestly say I really haven't had any issues with Lee, and I do really like RCBS. RCBS Cowboy and cowboy exanders (when can't get the die set) for cast. And had excellant luck/use nearly all Lee FCD dies now.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Redding first choice. RCBS second.

/\ Ditto /\

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Generally speaking, I don't change manufacturers preferences with caliber.

Generally speaking I agree with Redding first, RCBS second.

For my rifle, I like LE Wilson, Forster and CH dies an aweful lot too and choose, as top choices, LE Wilson, Forester & Redding as the very best over all.

Almost every LEE set I have bought has failed or been bad from start.
Hornady is a better choice ta save a little.

CW

 

[todd]

i guess i don't have favorite kind of die.....i have RCBS, Lee, CH4D, Redding, Hornady and Lyman dies. the Hornady dies are the best at necking up or down because of their elliptical expander. i am going to go against the grain, but i like Lee dies too. i have a Lee Decapping die, Lee Universal Expander die and Lee Crimp dies along with my other Lee dies.

most of my dies are RCBS and then Lee.

 

[Ian]

I go with what does the job.

The Redding profile crimp die for the .45 ACP is pure garbage. Lee makes the correct one. Don't be a brand snob and you won't get stuck in a corner.

 

[smokeywolf]

So far, the Hornady and the Lyman sets are looking pretty good to me. I'm leaning toward the Lyman because I have a couple of Lyman dies and a few spare decapper and seater screws.

 

[CZ93X62]

What Outpost said. Some of my 1980s-era RCBS tungsten-carbide sizing dies greatly under-size my brass, and I have replaced them with RCBS steel sizers.

 

[JonB]

I wasn't gonna mention this, because most here have RCBS near top of list...Me, not so much.
.
Before I started reloading, I bought out a complete reloading collection from an old guy in town (he had advertised on local radio, a show called Swap shop) Actually I bought 4 guns from him also. Anyway, it was all Herters dies and tools. Just because it wasn't name brand, I looked down on those dies. As I started loading, I started looking for RCBS dies at gunshows.
.
After I got about 3 sets of RCBS dies, all pistol dies, all the Size dies had the decap pin. Each of those pins would not stay tight in the die (lock nut wouldn't stay locked) . I bend numerous pins, due to loose nut, and pin not finding the flash hole. In frustration, I ended up selling those sets, and that's when I started buying Lee dies, as I much prefer the compression nut holding the decap pin assembly.
.
I decided to mention all this, in case there is something I was doing wrong? or something I was missing with that RCBS design having such a small threaded post to mount the decap assembly. I do currently have one RCBS pistol die set (38 spl), I use the seating die for one of my troublesome cast bullets.

 

[LEC Guy]

I wasn't gonna mention this, because most here have RCBS near top of list...Me, not so much.
.
Before I started reloading, I bought out a complete reloading collection from an old guy in town (he had advertised on local radio, a show called Swap shop) Actually I bought 4 guns from him also. Anyway, it was all Herters dies and tools. Just because it wasn't name brand, I looked down on those dies. As I started loading, I started looking for RCBS dies at gunshows.
.
After I got about 3 sets of RCBS dies, all pistol dies, all the Size dies had the decap pin. Each of those pins would not stay tight in the die (lock nut wouldn't stay locked) . I bend numerous pins, due to loose nut, and pin not finding the flash hole. In frustration, I ended up selling those sets, and that's when I started buying Lee dies, as I much prefer the compression nut holding the decap pin assembly.
.
I decided to mention all this, in case there is something I was doing wrong? or something I was missing with that RCBS design having such a small threaded post to mount the decap assembly. I do currently have one RCBS pistol die set (38 spl), I use the seating die for one of my troublesome cast bullets.

I have an RCBS Universal Decapping Die. I was always breaking and bending the Decapping Pins and Rod. I learned that leaving it loose in the Die Body allowed it to find the flash holes easier and the problems of breaking and bending components stopped. Flash holes are not always in the very middle of the case. Look at PMC, they are the worst.

Every maker will have quality issued on occasion. I've sent dies back to Lyman for work. Had to get replacement parts from RCBS. Sent items to Dillon for service. Try to buy new stuff if it is available. Used equipment at a Gun Show is too often a dumping ground for stuff that didn't work properly or the former owner damaged it. I did Gun Shows for about 5 years as an FFL selling guns and plenty of jacked up stuff was pawned off on me from people coming in the door during that time. I would not draw conclusions on any used product purchased at a gun show. Just my experience. Hope this is helpful.

Bruce

 

[JonB]

Oh, I had that RCBS Universal Decapping Die also...I gave it away via a PIF, with the warning, that I hated it...and you will too. LOL
.
I hate to Dis RCBS dies, because so many people like them...and they are a great company

 

[LEC Guy]

Oh, I had that RCBS Universal Decapping Die also...I gave it away via a PIF, with the warning, that I hated it...and you will too. LOL
.
I hate to Dis RCBS dies, because so many people like them...and they are a great company

The biggest beef I have with RCBS is lots of their stuff is made in China now. Their dies are made here. I will not export my money for cartridge loading equipment. Look at their Digital Powder measures and Lead Pots. Made in China. I'll buy an old one somewhere and get the working before I support the Chinese. Hell, I won't even go down the Chinese Food Isle at the grocery store! No China for me.

Bruce

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I go with what does the job.

The Redding profile crimp die for the .45 ACP is pure garbage. Lee makes the correct one. Don't be a brand snob and you won't get stuck in a corner.

Ian,
Its my understanding, that the Redding Profile Crimp dies are a roll style and not designed for cases that HS on case mouth.