- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Score Board
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- SEC Score Board
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: OB, I need advice on this reloading kit
Posted on 2/20/17 at 3:19 pm to saintsfan1977
Posted on 2/20/17 at 3:19 pm to saintsfan1977
quote:
Rcbs products don't load ammo better than Lee. That's a fact.
It depends on what your definition of "better" is.
I haven't used a Lee press before but I've used an RCBS Rock Chucker that my dad bought decades ago (I learned on this one) and then I got my own RCBS Partner Press (about 2/3 the size of the Chucker) that I've used for a few years.
But regardless of presses, I can tell you without hesitation that RCBS makes a better die set. All RCBS dies have set screws to hold the adjustment of the die rather than just a rubber o-ring like the Lee dies. They also have a much better system of depriming since broken decapping pins can be changed out much easier. RCBS's expanding die is also easier to use since it's not a thru-die where the collar chases the case and you have to slam the rod down to get the shell off of it. I've also found that RCBS seating dies don't start to shave brass off the top of the cases if you decide to give it a slightly tighter crimp, whereas I've noticed this with Lee dies.
Will Lee dies load shootable ammo? Absolutely. But the RCBS dies are higher quality and more user friendly.
And as another aside, the RCBS Universal Priming Tool is superior to the Lee Priming Tool since you don't have to purchase a flat shell holder for every cartridge you choose to load.
Lee products are good but I would consider the majority of RCBS products to be a bit better. But this is only my opinion and your mileage may vary.
3
Posted on 2/20/17 at 5:08 pm to bapple
I have a Lee universal decapping die. The pin has never broken. It will decap both pistol and rifle calibers.
RCBS dies do look better than Lee dies. The finish is much better. The lock rings can be changed out so it holds but lee uses a rubber seal to help center the die. They hold as long as you turn the lock ring and not the die.
The Lee seating die doesn't crimp so I don't see how it shaves brass. Lee has a factory crimp die for that.
The Rcbs hand primer is not superior. They both prime the case the same way. The cost of all the shell holders for the Lee primer is $15. The hand primer is $35. So both hand primers are $50. Pick the color you like or get the cheapest lee primer and prime for less. My classic cast has a built-in primer.
The best dies without question are Redding but you pay for it. I'm not interested in the looks of my dies. I have all Lee dies and no problems with them. The neck sizing die is great. The full length die does what I expect it to do.
You can spend more on Rcbs if you want but you will never see more accuracy in your handloads over Lee.
The OP is getting almost an entire setup for a little more than $100. He can upgrade later.
RCBS dies do look better than Lee dies. The finish is much better. The lock rings can be changed out so it holds but lee uses a rubber seal to help center the die. They hold as long as you turn the lock ring and not the die.
The Lee seating die doesn't crimp so I don't see how it shaves brass. Lee has a factory crimp die for that.
The Rcbs hand primer is not superior. They both prime the case the same way. The cost of all the shell holders for the Lee primer is $15. The hand primer is $35. So both hand primers are $50. Pick the color you like or get the cheapest lee primer and prime for less. My classic cast has a built-in primer.
The best dies without question are Redding but you pay for it. I'm not interested in the looks of my dies. I have all Lee dies and no problems with them. The neck sizing die is great. The full length die does what I expect it to do.
You can spend more on Rcbs if you want but you will never see more accuracy in your handloads over Lee.
The OP is getting almost an entire setup for a little more than $100. He can upgrade later.
Posted on 2/20/17 at 10:06 pm to bapple
quote:
But regardless of presses, I can tell you without hesitation that RCBS makes a better die set.
I own prob in excess of 30 sets of handloading dies. I've got dies made by Hornady, Lee, RCBS, Forster and Redding; I don't have Lyman dies. Most of my dies say "Lee" on them. I've been very pleased w/ them. I routinely load rifle ammo that's sub-MOA w/ all the different brands, including Lee. Admittedly, Lee dies aren't as nice looking as the others, but I have no qualms buying and using Lee dies. Nevertheless, w/o a doubt I think the highest quality dies I've bought have been made by Redding; many of them are more specialized dies (e.g. micrometer neck diameter dimensions), have a more refined appearance and are more expensive.
quote:I'm not sure what these problems are, but I've not experienced them w/ any of my dies.
RCBS's expanding die is also easier to use since it's not a thru-die where the collar chases the case and you have to slam the rod down to get the shell off of it. I've also found that RCBS seating dies don't start to shave brass off the top of the cases if you decide to give it a slightly tighter crimp, whereas I've noticed this with Lee dies.
quote:True, the RCBS tool doesn't require the shell holder set like the Lee, but the RCBS is usually a little more expensive, about the same expense as the shell holders. For me, it's a wash.
And as another aside, the RCBS Universal Priming Tool is superior to the Lee Priming Tool since you don't have to purchase a flat shell holder for every cartridge you choose to load.
Posted on 2/24/17 at 11:50 pm to bapple
Whoever said dump the balance beam scale and get a digital knows not of what he speaks. I have both. Used both. Get much more consistent results from my Ohaus M5.
The one die that Lee makes that everyone should use is their factory taper crimp die - it will give you smaller groups once you've found what your gun likes.
I have an RCBS A3 press that I bought in 1968. I use dies by RCBS and Redding. If you have the money, no one but no one makes better equipment than Redding, but its pricey.
The old saying spend once cry once applies to reloading stuff also.
The one die that Lee makes that everyone should use is their factory taper crimp die - it will give you smaller groups once you've found what your gun likes.
I have an RCBS A3 press that I bought in 1968. I use dies by RCBS and Redding. If you have the money, no one but no one makes better equipment than Redding, but its pricey.
The old saying spend once cry once applies to reloading stuff also.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News