RCBS or Redding 223 Dies???

K

Kevin R

New member
Hello,

I now have a set of RCBS 223 dies, but I am using a Hornady seating die because I like it better. I have a chance to buy a set of Redding dies, is there much difference or will I notice a big difference with using the Redding dies? Sizing,seating etc??

Just used for hunting loads in a bolt gun and I just have a small RCBS Partner press, probably not a great press??

Thanks

Kevin.
 
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In my opinion, for hunting loads it doesn't matter a whole heck of a lot as to what dies set you have. In my opinion die sets break down into three categories. You have your economy Lee dies, which work surprisingly well for the price, but may require a little tinkering during the first set up. You have your 'mid grade' dies sets which are your hornady, RCBS, redding, etc. and people love to get into ford vs chevy vs dodge arguments on these, and then you have your competition dies that the benchrest guys go for. Since you are doing hunting loads and already have a die set I would stick with that. I would also stick with that press unless you are planning on doing a fair bit of recreational shooting or just have money you have to spend.
 
Kevin,
As a matter of personal taste, I much prefer the Redding Dies over the RCBS ones. I like the flexiblity of being to make changes by turning the head bolts rather than having to grab wrenches each time I want to make adjustments or changes. RCBS dies are probably just as good, but I've just been using Redding dies too long. The Redding bullet seating die is especially more flexible if you like to quickly change seating depth of bullets you are loading.
 
I have both the RCBS, and Hornady 223 FL die sets. I fully agree with you that the Hornady seating die is a lot handier with small dia bullets, and way less likely to start a bullet off center. The Redding Competition seater is pretty much the same idea as the Standard Hornady New Dimention seater, less the micrometer, at double the price. You can get a Hornady micrometer seating stem for another $22 if that's what you want. For other than benchrest, I don't see the need for one. Both Redding and Hornady will give you very low run-out ammo. You can get the occasional round with more run-out with the RCBS and other standard seater dies. If your a little more careful, you can get quite accurate hunting loads from your RCBS dies.

The standard FL sizers in any of the brands named will do fine for your kind of reloading. I do prefer the elliptical expander in the Hornady FL die, but all case necks need proper lubrication or you can distort the necks or lift the shoulders.

Upgrading your press wouldn't be a bad idea if your going to be reloading much at all. Your number of rounds, and the number of different calibers should guide your choice of a new press. I won' tell you what press to get, but My favorite color is Blue.
 
Wouldn't start with the letter "D" would it? Mine are both green, but made by different companies. And then there's that red one collecting dust and sitting in the corner out of sight that we won't EVEN talk about.
 
Originally Posted By: ShynlocoWouldn't start with the letter "D" would it? Mine are both green, but made by different companies. And then there's that red one collecting dust and sitting in the corner out of sight that we won't EVEN talk about.

I use the BLUE presses for everything including single stage loading.

I was very impressed with the Redding T-7 turret press. It is built like a tank with no detectable flex in the turret or linkage. It has a great de-priming / priming system and about the best open access to the shell holder. It would be a great press for someone that was just loading for 1-3 calibers.

The Bonanza CO-AX is another great press with a lot to like. The priming system is not the greatest, but I like to hand prime anyhow. Having to use the Forster lock rings, is a minor drawback as well. Both of these presses handle the spent primers better than most.

I had a couple of the big GREEN presses over the years that also did a good job, and were trouble free. If I was in the market for a single stage press, it would be one of the these three for the task.
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Mauser98003.jpg
 
Lee collet sizer die, Redding comp seater or Forster micro seater, with Hornady lock rings on both.

I have Lee, Bonanza (Forster), Redding, RCBS, and Hornady dies.

I think the Hornady carbide pistol are the smoothest the Redding and RCBS are pretty much a tie. I realy like the Forster Seater die. A friend has the Redding Comp Die and It is a little smoother seater as far as the spring loaded seaters go. The Lee collet sizer die has no expander so your brass is worked less and is a really great sizer. The only other sizer that I would think about would be the
RCBS x-sizer in which I have never used but have read a bit on them.
 
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