Duplicate set of dies?

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Hello everyone,

First let me start by saying that 9mm is pretty much the only caliber that I reload at this time. I currently use a single stage press and Dillon 9mm dies. I am planning to setup a Dillon 550 in the near future.

I will be using the 550 to make my bulk practice ammo and will continue to use the single stage for load development and to make self defense ammo.

I think I would like to get the Dillon setup and then leave it alone for the most part so I am thinking about getting a duplicate set of 9mm dies that would be setup for the single stage.

Should I go with a cheaper set of dies or another set of Dillon 9mm dies. Note, I really only need a seating die and crimping die because I will not be resizing on the 550 and I can continue to use Dillon 9mm resizing die on single stage.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Toprudder]

Why don't you do your load development on the 550? On the 550, you can insert/remove casings at any station by simply removing the locator pin at that station.

The way I do load development on the 550 is this: run all casings through the first and second stations (resizing and powder drop) and each time I manually advance the shell plate, I remove the casing at the third station. I don't have any powder in the powder measure, so all that happens there is the flaring of the case mouth. I run a batch this way, so I have enough casings resized/primed and flared. I then drop the powder in each casing manually, weighing each casing on my electronic scale. After I have powder in each casing, I run the batch through the Dillon, inserting back into station three (seating) placing the bullets on each, seating, then crimping in the last station.

In essence, I'm breaking the progressive reloading process in half, with two steps taking place with each pull instead of four. I've done at least 3000 rounds of load development in the last year with this method.

 

[wally]

I use my Lee Classic Turret for low volume calibers but I keep a turret with an extra set of dies to match my Dillon 650 which comes in very handy to fix the occasional error that would otherwise require flushing the progressive pipeline.

Not necessary, but a modest extra expense since you already have both presses that IMHO saves enough time to be worth it in the long run.

 

[TBH]

I prefer dillon dies for my 550 press. They run smoother.

 

[medalguy]

My experience has been that Dillon dies tend to run just a bit smaller than most other dies, making ammo easy to fit any weapon. I prefer them but I also have some Lee, RCBS, and Lyman dies from way back there.

I'd also recommend having a duplicate set of dies, especially in rifle calibers. It's always at a critical time that something happens to a die.

 

[cfullgraf]

Get another set of dies. Then you do not have to re-adjust them when moving from one press to the other.

As far as brand, everyone will have a different opinion. Any of the dies in current production will serve you well.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Partial set

Since you won't be sizing with the spare set of dies, you can save some money by buying a set of tool steel dies (cheaper than tungsten carbide). The belling, seating and crimping dies on even T-C sets are all tool steel. Or, you may fnd a used set of tool steel at a gun show or a set with the sizing die missing or damaged.

Just a thought. The savings is more just the joy of saving $10-$15 rather than the actual monetary value anyway.

Lost Sheep

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO a set of Lee Carbide dies ($29.99) will serve you well without spending too much cash. I use mostly Lee dies for handgun loading and RCBS dies for rifle loading although my 45-70 dies are from Hornady. All that said if I were to do everything over I just might buy Hornady handgun dies because of the Titanium Nitride sizing ring they use. Using a Hornady die seems to lessen the leverage necessary to resize the case.

Right now Midway USA has Hornady 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP dies on sale for only $39.99.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/68...die-set-with-taper-crimp?cm_vc=ProductFinding

 

[gamestalker]

I personally like having multiple bottle neck resizing dies, I like to dedicate some to certain rifles, I get consistent load to load results with less or no adjusting / tweaking.

But with handgun dies it just doesn't make much of a difference one way or the other. But in your case, using two presses for two different loading purposes it might be worth the money, and time saved.

But as far as pistol dies go, there just isn't enough difference in specification between brands to justify buying Dillon over RCBS, Lee, or what ever. As to one provides easier set up / adjustment / usage, that's something that has merit. But I've not really noticed any real difference in resizing dimensions, they're all supposed to be to SAAMI spec., which I've yet to run into one that wasn't up to snuff. And for me, Lee and RCBS have served well for many years, with my preferred handgun dies being Lee for ease of usage. At the end of the day, as long as a pistol die is made to correct SAAMI specification, a carbide pistol die, is a carbide pistol die. A different story altogether when regarding bottle necks though, small variations can make a difference for some.

GS

 

[bob4]

+1 on the duplicate set.

 

[Surly]

I would get the same set that you have in the 550. If one of those dies were to go bad, you would have a replacement on hand so you could finish out what you started and then order your replacement.

I bought my 650 used and it had a RCBS or Lee decapping/resize die and the thing didn't want to work right. I replaced that with a Dillon die and haven't had a problem since. I wouldn't hesitate to use Dillon dies in a single-stage press.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

My XL 650 works best with Dillon dies in it. Lee dies are to short and sometimes difficult to adjust on the 650. I have no problem with Lee dies on a ss/turret press. So I suggest use Dillon dies on a Dillon press.

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

"Get another set of dies. Then you do not have to re-adjust them when moving from one press to the other."

That action can be a potential hazard as the thickness of each press could be different and will throw you off causing the sizing to be too little or too much. If you have 2 presses exactly the same model then it may not be an issue. I made this mistake and it nearly cost me a rifle. The bolt seized, the firing pin bent and it was jarring to say the least.

For rifles at least having an extra seater die is handy when you need to switch between particular bullet styles on loads you have already developed.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Thanks for the input guys.

I have added a duplicate set of Dillon dies to my wish list. I definitely think I will appreciate having a set to leave in the Dillon tool head and another set to leave adjusted to my single stage.