RCBS dies worth a try?

[98s1lightning]

I just ran across RCBS "X" dies

I have no experience with them and am considering them as a new choice?
I strictly reload for hunting and target, I'm no match shooter. But obviously if I can make better ammo I'm interested in learning more.

Are these an affordable upgrade over standard dies?

My application is for a bottleneck short action cartridge.

Any input appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

They don't really make much better ammo than my Lee dies, but they're finished better and they cost me less.

If you're eligible for their VIP pricing, I don't think I'd buy something from someone else if I could get it from RCBS.

 

[243winxb]

The X die is used to limit trim length growth. Brass is trimmed back from maximum .020" to start.

RCBS makes great die, but i would avoid the X die. Just because i feel brass is shorter then needed.

Read the X die instructions online.

 

[Mark_Mark]

RCBS???? never heard of them

 

[98s1lightning]

Maybe I'll just stick to standard dies and moving the shoulder back 0.005"+ for field use. Moving the shoulder back minimally has worked for me.

 

[Charlie98]

They are primarily for autoloaders... like AR-15's and M1a's, to limit the need to trim cases. Like 243 says, you have to initially trim them way back, and then move forward with them, but they are supposed to eliminate the need to trim thereafter. Unless you have a case stretcher... like an M1a... I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Blue68f100]

Maybe I'll just stick to standard dies and moving the shoulder back 0.005"+ for field use. Moving the shoulder back minimally has worked for me.

Way too much if you want your brass to last and not have a case head separation.

You only need to move it back 0.001"-0.002" for a bolt gun.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Anything they make is good.
But.......I own dies from RCBS, Lee and Hornady. There isn't a dime's worth of difference in the ammo they produce.

 

[mjsdwash]

I've never used reloading dies by RCBS, but I have used their powder check and lockout dies, and press mounted reamer, and consider the quality very good.

I'm one of those who actually like the Lee rubber band die nuts, and would recommend using those over the screw down type RCBS uses.

 

[gifbohane]

RCBS makes good equipment. If my choice was between Lee or RCBS, RCBS wins every time. When I am feeling rich and don't want to leave my children what is left of my cash, I buy Redding.

 

[edwardware]

Are these an affordable upgrade. . .

They won't make better ammo, but once set up for a batch of brass they'll save you trim time. You do need to have a good handle on bottleneck setup, since there's an additional variable to mistake.

Just because i feel brass is shorter then needed.

The mouth position of the XDie system is adjustable to whatever length you like. I set 0.005 short of my chamber when I used them for .223Rem.

 

[FROGO207]

I own 5 brands of dies. They all make good ammo. It comes down to the features you want and the total cost for those features. Lee dies are making ammo that is just as accurate as my RCBS in several calibers as I try to own multiple sets of everything whenever I can and try the multiple sets head to head. Can't shoot the difference. But I do not own any micrometer dies so that is not in my wheelhouse. YMMV

 

[brutus51]

When I am feeling rich and don't want to leave my children what is left of my cash, I buy Redding.

Been using RCBS dies for 45 years without a problem. What makes Redding dies so special?

 

[gifbohane]

Been using RCBS dies for 45 years without a problem. What makes Redding dies so special?

The cost. it does seem to me that I little more thought and engineering goes into their equipment, but like the man said "they all make useable ammunition."

 

[JFrank]

Been using RCBS dies for 45 years without a problem. What makes Redding dies so special?

Redding have some nice features most noticeable when comparing side by side, what separates dies in my little pea brain is how well a dies internal dimensions match the chamber im working with despite the name on the door.
As an example, a 3x fired and only neck sized case will for the most part be done growing ( length and width) now when you measure diameter with a caliper at case shoulder junction also the .200 before and after full length resizing you can record how much sizing your favorite flavor die is producing, personally I like about .002 on comp rifle yet slightly more on a hunting rifle, any more than .003 I start getting PO ed fighting the press and ultimately overworking the brass. Shoulder bump as people call it is typically just screwing the die down less or more while measuring each result.
Another example: sizing die reamers are based of the cartridge finish reamer print minus .00X
You'll hear of match dies meaning less resizing or standard dies that may offer slightly more for multiple chambers of the same caliber, blah blah .. or small base dies etc. We're only talking tiny amounts of variances but do add up so whatever the name isn't as important as what it does for ya.

 

[KentM]

RCBS makes both standard FL resizing dies and the X-dies. The X-dies supposedly extend brass life by limiting growth. You initially resize your casings, then trim them down to max length minus .020 (for the .223 anyway) and resize them again in the X-die. From then on, using the X-die, you should have very limited growth over multiple reloadings. My neighbor has been using them for years and says this is true.

I use the X-die for my .223 and find it very satisfactory. However, it does take extra steps to initially trim your casings and do two resizings. I soon realized that since I can pick up as much once-fired .223/5.56 brass as I want at my range, I will seldom need to reuse any casings many times over. I never have to trim a pick-up because if it is over length I just chuck it. I am fortunate that way, so I probably won't gain anything by using the X-die.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I like RCBS and Dillon equipment because it’s all excellent quality and they back their products 100%. RCBS even replaced missing parts for me after I let a careless reloader borrow some equipment and he abused it.
I’m still using the RCBS equipment I bought 46 years ago and have NEVER had to buy the same item more than once. The few RCBS items that have worn out or failed have been quickly and cheerfully replaced at no cost.
You may find cheaper equipment but you won’t find a better product warranty.

 

[merlynski]

YES