Which Die brand do you prefer?

I have RCBS, Hornady, and Lee on my bench. I bought the first two before I discovered Lee. I like Lee dies and really like their price.

How is it possible to have a poll on dies and not have Lyman listed? BTW i find Lee dies better for most, but not all of my loading.

Using dies for trading stocK?
Now that right there is a new one on me!

If I were doing that I would always pick older RCBS dies.
So I voted RCBS. But Redding should not be ignored either.
But I have about as many sets of new Lee's as old RCBS.

The quality of RCBS & Redding dies back in the day was second to none.
And used $60 MSRP dies are always going to be worth more in a trade then used $30 MSRP dies.

rc

The best dies for use on a single station press are the Redding dies bar none. For a progressive press, Dillon stands alone. My opinion after 40+ years of reloading.

I have a hard time discerning quality differences between brands. I use them all.
But I do think RCBS and Redding customer service is better than Lyman.

I prefer Redding dies. But have RCBS and Hornady as well.

When I start loading a new cartridge, if Redding dies are not available, I'll buy one of the other two to get me in business.

Lee dies are far and away the best value for your money, but just like a Hi Point or S&W Sigma, they aren't the best items for commodity trading. Their best value is to the one who is using it.

Anything but Lee. Most of my dies are Reddings, but I have several RCBS and Lyman dies as well.

Don

Redding

Overall I'd say Redding. But it all depends. Some of the RCBS dies are useless for various handgun calibers and functions. I generally mix-n-match the sets for various purposes.

For only price, Lee wins hands-down!

I have Lee, RCBS, and Lyman.

If you forced me to pick, I'd probably say RCBS... But, I just know that I would not buy Lee again.

There are 3 or 4 excellent die manufactures. Since I started with RCBS over 30 years ago, I have stayed with them. Excellent quality and customer service. There have been several times that I needed replacement part and they were very quick in sending it to me.

Redding for rifle / single stage, Dillon for progressive press.

I Have some Hornady dies in my LNL and I have already broken parts on them that had to be replaced, not so for my dillon dies in my 550 which have loaded 100x as many rounds.

JMHO YMMV

"I have a hard time discerning quality differences between brands. I use them all."

Ditto. In fact, I've found NO consistant difference in effect by brand alone. Features change some functions, a little, but that's a personal preference thing having little to do with what can be done with the dies. Some are a lot more costly and prettier than others but the ammo does't care about that!

On average, I find as much difference between dies of the same brand as between brands. And, after some 46 years of reloading and currently have some 50+ dies sets in about ten brands in some 30 calibers (all the current brands except Dillon, some no longer made, and have owned several more sets over the years) that I have actually measured the output from both sizers and seaters, I think I have a solid base to say that.

Only way I can suggest anyone can get a 'better die set' is to buy as many sets as possible for whatever cartridge and measure what each die does; keep the best single individual dies and sell the rest; you sure can't do it by buying your dies in a special color box! But, if it's any comfort to you, you can also be sure the output of any average die set will do very good work if you do your part.

I voted Hornady because they are the best value for the money when you take the free box of bullets they give you into account. RCBS, Dillon, Lymon and Redding also make quality dies. They're just more expensive. I'll buy any of those five brands.

But, the OP's question wasn't which was the best brand of new dies to reload with yourself.
Or which was the best value when you buy new dies.

The question was, which brand of used dies you find on a gun show table would make the best trading stock later on.

I still say it is older RCBS, or Redding.

rc

After 40 years or reloading and thousands of rounds, my wife and I both shoot IPSC,ICORE,ACTION STEEL, AND 3 GUN.
My rock chucker has RCBS dies. I have several sets of Dillon dies sitting in boxes on the shelf. All the tool heads for my 550 run Lee dies.

Any brand in calibers for which dies are no longer made or are hard to find or for which ammo is no longer factory loaded.

When the factories have all stopped making ammo for your favorite old 303 British bolt action, and all the dies are snapped up or outrageously expensive, you won't very much care what make the dies are when you finally get a chance to snag some.

It really depends on what I'm loading. For my high powered rifle loads I like to use RCBS. I have been using that brand since I first started loading metalic many years ago and have never had a single issue with them.

Now for handgun, I like Lee because of the powder die/belling die. I don't care much for their resizing die though, mostly because of the push up depriming rod.

I use Lee turret press
If I don't like a die in a set--I replace it with another Mfr.
If you check my turrets you will find more than one Mfr. in most of my turrets.

All I have ever used is RCBS... Runs in the family!

I attempted to give my allegiance to Hornady but after many broken Zip Spindles, I am phasing them out for RCBS dies and Lee dead length seaters never been happier.

Lee for the "normal" calibers they offer and for their collet die for ALL my calibers, even many of them custom.

RCBS, Hornady, Redding for calibers Lee can't supply as "stock".

CH-4D for ALL my custom calibers and wildcats.