BeerBaron Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 For example- lee 4 die set for 9mm - $42. http://www.titanreloading.com/pistol-reloading-dies/lee-deluxe-4-die-sets/9mm-luger-lee-deluxe-pistol-carbide-4-die-set- the lee sizing die is also excellent as it sizes closer to the base of the case than the dillon dies. I prefer the lee decapper system too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 On 1/9/2017 at 11:59 AM, Sarge said: IMHO the competition micrometer $80 die is a waste of money for pistol. I tried one and my oal was all over the place. BUT I did get the Redding Pro seater die for $30 from midway. Course threads into the tool head and very fine threads for tuning. Reminds me. I contacted Redding about oal concerns with the micrometer die and asked if it would hurt anything if I installed a lighter spring, they wrote back that a lot of folks shooting lead just run them with the spring removed & this is the way I have been operating ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCTaylor Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, BeerBaron said: Buy the lee dies. They do the 'rough' adjustment with the die body but the fine adjustment is done with an adjustable insert. So much easier to adjust and cleaning has never been an issue for me. I love most dillon gear but the lee dies are great. A full lee die set is about the same as an expensive micrometer seating die. The lee seating die also doesn't mark up the nose on lead bullets and lee will also make custom seating stems for you for about $5 for any bullet profile so that it seats properly by the shoulder. If you buy the 4 die set you also get the lee factory crimp die which also has that micrometer 'style' adjustment for crimp. So much easier than doing it with the die body and finding it keeps changing slightly after you tighten the lock ring... Aint that the truth. I ran Dillon dies on my 550, they worked but when the 550 sold the Dillons went with it and my new 650 runs a Lee die set. The Lee's are flat out easier to adjust, work just as well for half the price, depriming pin is in a friction fit - slip collar, along with the sizing/depriming die sizing down a little further. Edited January 11, 2017 by SCTaylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncie21 Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 (edited) On 1/11/2017 at 5:12 AM, BeerBaron said: Buy the lee dies. They do the 'rough' adjustment with the die body but the fine adjustment is done with an adjustable insert... I find the 'micro' adjustments on the Lee dies to be very useful as compared to loosening the large lock ring and making fine adjustments there. Just my $0.0001 cents being a new reloader Edited January 21, 2017 by muncie21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 59 minutes ago, muncie21 said: I find the 'micro' adjustments on the Lee dies to be very useful as compared to loosening the large lock ring and making fine adjustments there. Just my $0.0001 cents being a new reloader You are not alone. I use anything with fine thread adjustments over Dillon any day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superpipe9 Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 On 1/11/2017 at 5:12 AM, BeerBaron said: Buy the lee dies. They do the 'rough' adjustment with the die body but the fine adjustment is done with an adjustable insert. So much easier to adjust and cleaning has never been an issue for me. I love most dillon gear but the lee dies are great. A full lee die set is about the same as an expensive micrometer seating die. The lee seating die also doesn't mark up the nose on lead bullets and lee will also make custom seating stems for you for about $5 for any bullet profile so that it seats properly by the shoulder. If you buy the 4 die set you also get the lee factory crimp die which also has that micrometer 'style' adjustment for crimp. So much easier than doing it with the die body and finding it keeps changing slightly after you tighten the lock ring... Do you use the Lee or EGW undersize die for .40 or just the standard full size sizing die that comes in the set? I'm trying to find out if buying the U die is worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 8 hours ago, Superpipe9 said: Do you use the Lee or EGW undersize die for .40 or just the standard full size sizing die that comes in the set? I'm trying to find out if buying the U die is worth it. I don't load any 40 atm but I use the regular lee sizing die in 9mm (which can suffer the same bulge issues as 40) and 38 super. I've not had the need for the u die. I did try it in 9mm for a while but for me it wasn't needed. I would try the regular die set first and only run the u die if you have either setback issue or lots of case gauge failures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 6 hours ago, BeerBaron said: I don't load any 40 atm but I use the regular lee sizing die in 9mm (which can suffer the same bulge issues as 40) and 38 super. I've not had the need for the u die. I did try it in 9mm for a while but for me it wasn't needed. I would try the regular die set first and only run the u die if you have either setback issue or lots of case gauge failures. What is a U die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 27 minutes ago, IGOTGLOCKED said: What is a U die? http://www.egwguns.com/tooling/undersize-reloading-die-.40-s-w/10mm/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 (edited) 18 hours ago, Sarge said: http://www.egwguns.com/tooling/undersize-reloading-die-.40-s-w/10mm/ So If the case is sized further down (for the Glock issue) do you feel it in the stroke and does if then affect a smooth stroke? Edited January 23, 2017 by IGOTGLOCKED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 49 minutes ago, IGOTGLOCKED said: So I'd the case is sized further down (for the Glock issue) do you feel it in the stroke and does if then affect a smooth stroke? You better use good lube with a Udie. If properly lubed with lanolin based like Dillon or homemade it is no less smooth than any other die. But fail to lube or cut lube too thin you will instantly feel the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 16 minutes ago, Sarge said: You better use good lube with a Udie. If properly lubed with lanolin based like Dillon or homemade it is no less smooth than any other die. But fail to lube or cut lube too thin you will instantly feel the difference. Thx Top, interesting option. Perhaps this might take care of the mystery misfits..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 1 hour ago, IGOTGLOCKED said: So I'd the case is sized further down (for the Glock issue) do you feel it in the stroke and does if then affect a smooth stroke? The u die doesn't size any further down than the regular lee die, it sizes 'smaller'. All the lee sizing dies (either u die or regular) do size closer to the case head than Dillon dies as the sizing ring is right at the mouth of the die and doesn't have the same level of lead in or chamfer at the mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 2 minutes ago, BeerBaron said: The u die doesn't size any further down than the regular lee die, it sizes 'smaller'. All the lee sizing dies (either u die or regular) do size closer to the case head than Dillon dies as the sizing ring is right at the mouth of the die and doesn't have the same level of lead in or chamfer at the mouth. Got it, thx Top. I have some that will not p&s for me an don't understand why as they are the same oal & crimp as others.... Perhaps this could be a possible solution... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1 hour ago, BeerBaron said: The u die doesn't size any further down than the regular lee die, it sizes 'smaller'. All the lee sizing dies (either u die or regular) do size closer to the case head than Dillon dies as the sizing ring is right at the mouth of the die and doesn't have the same level of lead in or chamfer at the mouth. EGW website seems to say theirs is different allowing lower sizing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Take a round that won't p&s and colour it with a blue sharpie. Then drop it in and turn it a little. Remove and inspect. If its the bullet itself it touching then its likely oal or bullet profile issue. Case mouth touching - crimp issue. Middle of case - likely oversize bullet or damaged case or not resized small enough - u die can help here. If its a ring near the case head then a u die 'may' help. But some brass gets a decent ring in the base that cannot be sized out without a push through die or roll sizer. Some just need to be tossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 11 minutes ago, Sarge said: EGW website seems to say theirs is different allowing lower sizing I could be wrong but my understanding was they meant lower sizing compared to other dies like Dillon. The regular lee sizer does go lower than Dillon as in the Dillon dies (and hornady from memory) the carbide sizing ring is slightly recessed from the die body and it has a tapered/chamfered lead in to help guide cases into the die if they come up to meet it slightly off center. The lee has the carbide sizing ring basically flush with the die body but still has a very slight chamfer at the entrance so it's possible the die that lee make for egw has that squared up which would make it size lower. If I can find my 9mm I die later I'll compare it with one of my regular lee 9mm sizers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 13 hours ago, BeerBaron said: Take a round that won't p&s and colour it with a blue sharpie. Then drop it in and turn it a little. Remove and inspect. If its the bullet itself it touching then its likely oal or bullet profile issue. Case mouth touching - crimp issue. Middle of case - likely oversize bullet or damaged case or not resized small enough - u die can help here. If its a ring near the case head then a u die 'may' help. But some brass gets a decent ring in the base that cannot be sized out without a push through die or roll sizer. Some just need to be tossed. Thanks BB, I will do that as I was baffled as to why some with the same oal & crimp p&s and some don't. I had even run them back through the seating and crimp stations. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 (edited) YIKES! These are pretty big. lol EGW U die LEE Standard die Dillon die Edited January 23, 2017 by Sarge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Note the EGW appears nearly flush with the bottom of the dies and has less mouth cut into it than the LEE standard die. Not a whole lot, but there is a difference. And of course the Dillon is well, a Dillon. Really rounded mouth and recessed pretty far up in the die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerBaron Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Great pics sarge. It's a bit hard to tell how much chamfer each one has at the mouth but the egw does look a little different at the mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 24, 2017 Author Share Posted January 24, 2017 I talked to a tech at Redding who was extremely knowledgeable and patient. The guy I spoke to last week was not a tech and was just filling in while the others were at the Shot Show... First I suspect everyone (except me) knows the Pro Series dies are made specifically for progressive presses... What I did learn regarding the differences between the standard Pro Series seating die and the Pro Series Competition seating die is the std Pro die does NOT have the micrometer. And the inside of the Comp die has tighter tolerances than the std Pro die to assist alignment with the case & projectile as it is seated. Also the Comp die for straight wall cases also does NOT have the "sleeve" that slides over the projectile and case to align the projectile and case prior to seating as does the dies for bottle neck cases... Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted January 26, 2017 Author Share Posted January 26, 2017 On 1/10/2017 at 11:29 AM, dillon said: If you are referring to the external die body threads, the 7/8-14 thread per inch count was pretty much standard by the 1950s. Ideal/Lyman Products used a 5/8-30 TPI die from about the turn of the century, but RCBS popularized the 7/8-14 TPI, and everyone has followed suit. For the larger diameter cartridges it is necessary. Other than the Square Deal B, Dillon reloading equipment is threaded for the standard 7/8-14 TPI dies, so customers can use the dies they often already have. Understood, thx! It's just that the course threads are extremely difficult for fine adjustments. Why can't Dillon offer a "version" of one with a micrometer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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