Which set of dies to keep?

[TOU]

Originally Posted by Dean2

I posted this somewhere else but to me it is very applicable here.

...The RCBS set works for the forming process but for ongoing reloading I will be getting a Redding 3 die set, with the NK, FL and Seating dies...to go with my existing 2 die Redding set for it.

Very interesting & informative. Thx for taking the time to post it Dean!

[TOU]

Originally Posted by Bill K

Hornet, either one. On the 17 Rem, RCBS. All are good and decent dies, but if you needed a part, Redding, Hornady and RCBS are fast, have parts and often will not charge you for them.

Makes sense, thank you Bill!

[TOU]

Originally Posted by Bayou City Boy

Like George said, I'd keep all of them. You never know....... And its not like you have a future house down payment tied up in these dies.

Agreed

In total, asking a bunch of diverse, mostly strangers to you, for advice like this is asking for more confusion that you might already have about what to do with a couple sets of dies.

Understood, however this crowd probably knows more than on most sites. My normal goto mentor for similar questions is no longer available.

btw - Is the RCBS just a singe FL die or a FL die set

It is the set.

[SS427]

I would make my choice based on which one produces the least amount of runout, provided you have a way to measure that. Any of those dies could be excellent or terrible based on my experience with dies.

[Bill K]

Originally Posted by TOU

Makes sense, thank you Bill!

One thing I did not mention, along and within the comments on the dies used to re-size brass.
For your purpose in sizing brass to reload and shoot in a given rifle, All of those dies will work just fine.
Now if you want to resize and rework brass to another caliber, as mentioned in my post along with another.
You need to obtain a set of forming dies, really, rather than try and make a standard set of FL dies work.
On same calibers it will work just fine. On many others, not so well, as you will have neck/donut issues, unless you use a good set of forming dies.
Just a thought to throw into the thread and for your information.

[Dean2]

Bill K. I agree, all of the commonly made dies will "do the job". I have RCBS, Lee, Hornady, Lyman, Herters, Weatherby, Wilson, Dillon, CH4, Redding, and even a set made by or for Rigby and Winchester hand dies. You are also correct that proper setup is critical on all dies. That said, some dies are consistently more concentric as well as much closer to the actual SAAMI or CIP spec for the cartridge. I try to judge stuff on what does the very best job, and is it worth the increment in price from the average. Also, can I get the cartridge I want in a particular make of die plays a factor. Parts and service is also a factor too, but I have never had an issue getting parts for any of the common dies like Hornady, Lyman, RCBS, or Redding. Lee on the other hand are inexpensive but their after market service sucks. If I had duplicates in a certain standard spec cartridges I would keep Redding, then Hornady, then RCBS because that matches my view of best on down for the large volume die makers. I would not keep multiple standard die set versions for the same cartridge as I really don't see the point. I believe that is the question that was being asked..

[TOU]

Originally Posted by Bill K

Just a thought to throw into the thread and for your information.

Thx again Bill...great info.

[TOU]

Originally Posted by Dean2

...that matches my view of best on down for the large volume die makers. I would not keep multiple standard die set versions for the same cartridge as I really don't see the point. I believe that is the question that was being asked..

Spot on Dean, I think we are similiar on minds set. You are correct, that was the question being asked. Tuck you all for taking the time.

[georgeld]

A box of dies sure don't take up much space.
Even if you're moving. You just want to make things
complicated.

Far as "dies worth enough to make a house payment?
Yeah, expect if all I have were added up they'd amount
to that much. Though it's been 18 years since I've had a
house payment. That's what you could call "relief"!
\
Hey bill: I still have my first press: Herter's C and some dies from then too.

[Bayou City Boy]

Originally Posted by georgeld

A box of dies sure don't take up much space.
Even if you're moving. You just want to make things
complicated.

Far as "dies worth enough to make a house payment?
Yeah, expect if all I have were added up they'd amount
to that much. Though it's been 18 years since I've had a
house payment. That's what you could call "relief"!
\
Hey bill: I still have my first press: Herter's C and some dies from then too.

I can related, George.... Wifey and I decided to swap homes roughly 2.5 years ago, so we moved out of the home we had lived in for 28 years, which is where we raised our kids and sent them off one-by-one into the big bad world since 1989.. No house payment for almost 7 years until we did that. Now its just something that happens each month and life goes on... Through out all of that I never considered selling any "extra" dies that I might have.

Kerist...!! I'd probably be amazed if I ever counted the number of sets that I have that haven't been used in more than just a year or so. Some I no longer own the rifle that they were bought for, but "you never know" what the future might bring.

As an example, my first set of dies bought about 1973 are Hornaday Durchrome dies for a 22-250. They still get used occasionally as they arfe excellent dies, but so do another set of Redding dies that I have for the same cartridge. I actually have no friggin' idea how many 22-250 rifles they have serviced in total..

To each their own.... I have a dedicated reloading area in my new home, just like I did in my old home, and space for some relatively small boxes was/is not an issue in either place. YMMV, as they say..........

I'm still in the "keep them all camp"..........

-BCB