I'm looking to upgrade some of my dies from Hornady to Redding full length dies. Don't really want to go to bushing dies. Are Redding dies worth the extra cost 3x compared to Hornady?
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Hornady Versus Redding dies
- Thread starter Coldfinger
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Gstew1930
Well-Known Member
To me they are absolutely worth the extra money
Gamesniper19
Well-Known Member
Yes, yes, and yes...pay for the bushing die too. Worth it
Tagging in on this as I have considered this as well. What are the pros to upgrading?
MagnumManiac
Well-Known Member
Yes and no. I no longer use 'standard' dies and definitely don't use bushing dies.
I use die sets with honed necks, Forster supply this service and their dies are top notch. I also run special sized expanders because they induce virtually zero runout.
Redding dies are good IF you buy the Deluxe set, with FL and Neck die, then buy the comp seater.
I believe they do a set that incorporates the comp seater now, this is what I would get.
I also use body dies, these are invaluable for doing just the body, then you can use a mandrel or die then mandrel to get final neck size. Sometimes a combination of die, for neck, die for body and mandrel work out best. You want MINIMAL brass working, so take this into consideration.
Cheers.
I use die sets with honed necks, Forster supply this service and their dies are top notch. I also run special sized expanders because they induce virtually zero runout.
Redding dies are good IF you buy the Deluxe set, with FL and Neck die, then buy the comp seater.
I believe they do a set that incorporates the comp seater now, this is what I would get.
I also use body dies, these are invaluable for doing just the body, then you can use a mandrel or die then mandrel to get final neck size. Sometimes a combination of die, for neck, die for body and mandrel work out best. You want MINIMAL brass working, so take this into consideration.
Cheers.
after using multiple different manufactures dies. use the best you can afford and if that is Hornady it is ok they do a very good job. unless you have to put every bullet in the same hole and can afford custom matching chamber reamers and dies, there isn't that big of a difference among the better quality dies some oversize some undersize. so unless total custom is needed use the best you can afford Hornady or Redding
Gamesniper19
Well-Known Member
I run Redding Comp S series busing dies in every bolt rifle I have. The only place I don't is in my AR Style rifles.
Brass is going to stretch and need work throughout its lifecycle, especially in the neck. I use the bushing dies to ensure that when turning, I take the absolute minimum amount of material to ensure .001 tolerance in the chamber. What this means is as I take tiny bits of material in turning casing the neck to change thickness, I can ensure that I keep consistent neck tension throughout the lifecycle of the brass by using bushings at .001 increments - this instead of turning more or having to lost tension potentially through the cycle by using a standard ground/hones die set
Brass is going to stretch and need work throughout its lifecycle, especially in the neck. I use the bushing dies to ensure that when turning, I take the absolute minimum amount of material to ensure .001 tolerance in the chamber. What this means is as I take tiny bits of material in turning casing the neck to change thickness, I can ensure that I keep consistent neck tension throughout the lifecycle of the brass by using bushings at .001 increments - this instead of turning more or having to lost tension potentially through the cycle by using a standard ground/hones die set
I've got Forster for my 338 edge and had a set for a 6xc I sold. They were very nice dies
Forster, Redding, RCBS anything but Hornady. Never saw a Hornady die that wasn't difficult. I've switched to Forster for all the cartridges I own and a very large collection of Redding and RCBS for cartridges I don't own. Lee dies are the bomb for pistol and their decapping die is superior.
QuietTexan
Well-Known Member
To be specific about it, what are you loading for, and towards what end? There are many instances where the cost for Redding, Whidden, SAC, Forster, etc isn't necessary and a standard Lee, RCBS or Hornady FL die will work fine. And where are you at overall? If for instance you're using a powder drop and expecting to change to a mic seating die to tighten up your groups, you're upgrading the wrong tool at that point.
I have over a dozen sets of Hornady dies, they make perfectly serviceable minimum-spec rounds. Dies do different things, and you don't always needs to most expensive for everything. If you're trying to squeeze every ounce out of a 6BR at 1000 yards then yes the features Redding offers might benefit you. If you're making 300 BLK subs to shoot pigs with Hornady would be fine. If you're sizing to fit mag length a micrometer might not be all that useful to you. Some seating dies specifically say don't use to seat compressed loads. I keep the Hornady dies around because they're cheap enough to have for everything, and sometimes you need to size a case differently. I don't use them all the time though.
But the upsides to the more expensive dies are going to be more consistent QC in the dies' dimensions, more options around sizing like getting necks honed out, more functionality like bumping shoulders more consistently, better quality mic stems, more options regarding button sizes, it's a pretty long list because there are several variations past a standard FL die.
I've started to mandrel expand necks, so for me I needed to change to a bushing die to get better control over outside neck sizing before I open the case as the last step. No use in using a Hornady die to squeeze the neck down 0.003+ just to have to it right back up again. I could have ordered a custom honed FL die, but a bushing die is a more flexible solution with brass being hard to come by, meaning I have multiple brands/lots instead of one for the rifle I'm working on now.
I have over a dozen sets of Hornady dies, they make perfectly serviceable minimum-spec rounds. Dies do different things, and you don't always needs to most expensive for everything. If you're trying to squeeze every ounce out of a 6BR at 1000 yards then yes the features Redding offers might benefit you. If you're making 300 BLK subs to shoot pigs with Hornady would be fine. If you're sizing to fit mag length a micrometer might not be all that useful to you. Some seating dies specifically say don't use to seat compressed loads. I keep the Hornady dies around because they're cheap enough to have for everything, and sometimes you need to size a case differently. I don't use them all the time though.
But the upsides to the more expensive dies are going to be more consistent QC in the dies' dimensions, more options around sizing like getting necks honed out, more functionality like bumping shoulders more consistently, better quality mic stems, more options regarding button sizes, it's a pretty long list because there are several variations past a standard FL die.
I've started to mandrel expand necks, so for me I needed to change to a bushing die to get better control over outside neck sizing before I open the case as the last step. No use in using a Hornady die to squeeze the neck down 0.003+ just to have to it right back up again. I could have ordered a custom honed FL die, but a bushing die is a more flexible solution with brass being hard to come by, meaning I have multiple brands/lots instead of one for the rifle I'm working on now.
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nksmfamjp
Well-Known Member
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- Jan 5, 2004
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Frankly, I have and do use Hornady, Redding, Whidden and Forster dies. I measure my results.
I have gotten good results from each, but lack much Whidden experience to really make a solid response there.
My best results are with my 300 WSM Forster die set. With my neck turning and a custom expander, I get FL sized brass, -0.002" cbtd and 0.002" max runout. Loaded rounds are under 0.006" at the tip, if I remember right. For fun, I measured 350 Legend coming out of Hornady dies and I think it was similar!
I'd have to dig into my notes for specifics.
I have gotten good results from each, but lack much Whidden experience to really make a solid response there.
My best results are with my 300 WSM Forster die set. With my neck turning and a custom expander, I get FL sized brass, -0.002" cbtd and 0.002" max runout. Loaded rounds are under 0.006" at the tip, if I remember right. For fun, I measured 350 Legend coming out of Hornady dies and I think it was similar!
I'd have to dig into my notes for specifics.
Yes they are definitely worth the extra money
I use Hornady and Redding dies. I like the Hornady and they're cheaper. I FL size and bump the shoulders with the expander ball removed and set neck tension with a Sinclair mandrel. The Hornady seating dies work great and can be upgraded with a micrometer top for like $30. They also have a lot of seating stems available for different bullet profiles. I have loaded a lot of good ammo with Hornady dies and I don't feel they're holding me back any. Just my opinion.
ME TOO
