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Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
If it's not green, it's gay!
If it's not green, it's gay!
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I have been looking into getting a reloading set up and wanted to post this same question. RCBS or Hornady? I am interseted in everyones feed back also.
I have been looking into getting a reloading set up and wanted to post this same question. RCBS or Hornady? I am interseted in everyones feed back also.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I run the Hornady LnL kit with RCBS dies. I really like the twist bushings for the dies and the 500 free .45acp bullets I got for buying it. The Hornady kit came with an electronic scale compared to the beam type for RCBS. Add the value of 500 free bullets, and it's a heck of a deal compared to the RCBS. I prefer the Hornady powder thrower because the adjustments are in the front instead of the rear. I grew up using a Rock Chucker kit, but I think the Hornady kit offers a better value.
I run the Hornady LnL kit with RCBS dies. I really like the twist bushings for the dies and the 500 free .45acp bullets I got for buying it. The Hornady kit came with an electronic scale compared to the beam type for RCBS. Add the value of 500 free bullets, and it's a heck of a deal compared to the RCBS. I prefer the Hornady powder thrower because the adjustments are in the front instead of the rear. I grew up using a Rock Chucker kit, but I think the Hornady kit offers a better value.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I have RCBS dies, IMO they're the best out there, you can't go wrong with them.
I have RCBS dies, IMO they're the best out there, you can't go wrong with them.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I run a Lee Challenger basic single stage with RCBS and Hornady dies. Can't complain about any of it! The only thing I would change about my set up is the way I measure powder. Really would like to get a electronic powder measure like the set up from RCBS. No worries about getting the right charge or any of that jazz.
I run a Lee Challenger basic single stage with RCBS and Hornady dies. Can't complain about any of it! The only thing I would change about my set up is the way I measure powder. Really would like to get a electronic powder measure like the set up from RCBS. No worries about getting the right charge or any of that jazz.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I started with the rock chucker supreme kit and have no regrets. I feel a beam scale is better than a cheap electronic scale as far as accuracy is concerned. I started out all RCBS but now I try ti select the best tool for the job regardless of brand. I like the Forster dies much better than the RCBS and I like the hornady lnl bushing conversion on my rock chucker. I will say that RCBS has kindly replaced everything of theirs that I have broken, which counts for something...
I started with the rock chucker supreme kit and have no regrets. I feel a beam scale is better than a cheap electronic scale as far as accuracy is concerned. I started out all RCBS but now I try ti select the best tool for the job regardless of brand. I like the Forster dies much better than the RCBS and I like the hornady lnl bushing conversion on my rock chucker. I will say that RCBS has kindly replaced everything of theirs that I have broken, which counts for something...
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
If I had to do it all over again... or better yet I would just start out with what I use now. RCBS rockchucker kit with the trim mate case prep center and chargemaster 1500 (I think Cabelas now offers this as a "supreme deluxe" kit and saves abit of $), you may want to upgrade the trimmer to a redding 2400 or something better eventually. Redding dies, the competition S type FL bushing die with micrometer seating die. Redding comp shellholders. RCBS universal priming tool. Hornady OAL gage with modified case of what you're reloading for. Sinclair bullet comparator with inserts and sinclair shoulder bump gage. Sinclair concentricity gage. Redding neck thickness gage. Frankford Arsenal makes a good, ecomonical tumber/separator.
That should give you an intermediate setup so your reloads meet their full potential, probably overkill for just starting out but that depends on what your goals are and why you're reloading in the first place. My philosophy is more of buy right, buy once. Read as much as you can from a variety of sources. I like the Hornady manual better than the Speer.
I guess the advantage of the powder measure and beam scale is that you can reload when the power is out. The Chargemaster and Trim Mate speed things up quite a bit in my opinion. Read as much as you can from a variety of sources.
If I had to do it all over again... or better yet I would just start out with what I use now. RCBS rockchucker kit with the trim mate case prep center and chargemaster 1500 (I think Cabelas now offers this as a "supreme deluxe" kit and saves abit of $), you may want to upgrade the trimmer to a redding 2400 or something better eventually. Redding dies, the competition S type FL bushing die with micrometer seating die. Redding comp shellholders. RCBS universal priming tool. Hornady OAL gage with modified case of what you're reloading for. Sinclair bullet comparator with inserts and sinclair shoulder bump gage. Sinclair concentricity gage. Redding neck thickness gage. Frankford Arsenal makes a good, ecomonical tumber/separator.
That should give you an intermediate setup so your reloads meet their full potential, probably overkill for just starting out but that depends on what your goals are and why you're reloading in the first place. My philosophy is more of buy right, buy once. Read as much as you can from a variety of sources. I like the Hornady manual better than the Speer.
I guess the advantage of the powder measure and beam scale is that you can reload when the power is out. The Chargemaster and Trim Mate speed things up quite a bit in my opinion. Read as much as you can from a variety of sources.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
RCBS gets my vote.
If not that brand, Forster. Good dies, good presses.
RCBS gets my vote.
If not that brand, Forster. Good dies, good presses.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
Save your dough and get a CoAx!!!
Save your dough and get a CoAx!!!
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I went Forster coax, redding dies, and RCBS for everything else
I went Forster coax, redding dies, and RCBS for everything else
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
Rockchucker since 1974
Rockchucker since 1974
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I recently bought a RCBS case trimmer off of a member here and have been piecing odds and ends together. Is the RCBS Supreme Master kit worth it, or would I be better off piecing one together using the best random manufacturers, i.e.:
Lee Priming tool
Redding trickler
RCBS 505....
I recently bought a RCBS case trimmer off of a member here and have been piecing odds and ends together. Is the RCBS Supreme Master kit worth it, or would I be better off piecing one together using the best random manufacturers, i.e.:
Lee Priming tool
Redding trickler
RCBS 505....
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
Hornady dies are gay!
Hornady dies are gay!
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
Rusty: "I have RCBS dies, IMO they're the best out there, you can't go wrong with them."
Just as a matter of curosity, what do you base your "best out there" on and what other dies have you compaired them to?
Rusty: "I have RCBS dies, IMO they're the best out there, you can't go wrong with them."
Just as a matter of curosity, what do you base your "best out there" on and what other dies have you compaired them to?
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
Price wise they're the best, of course you can get some competition dies that will be way better, but you can't beat the quality of the RCBS dies for $30, this is comparing them to the Lee and Hornady dies used on the family press (don't own one myself yet, thats going to change very soon), there is a reason my uncle slowly progressed to using all RCBS dies.
Price wise they're the best, of course you can get some competition dies that will be way better, but you can't beat the quality of the RCBS dies for $30, this is comparing them to the Lee and Hornady dies used on the family press (don't own one myself yet, thats going to change very soon), there is a reason my uncle slowly progressed to using all RCBS dies.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
"Price wise they're the best,...there is a reason my uncle slowly progressed to using all RCBS dies."
I understand your opinion, and your uncle's, but saying they are the "best" in any price range tells us nothing; what is that "reason" you mention and how did you derive it?
I've been reloading for 47 years, now have some 50+ die sets of all brands for about 30 cartridges and have owned others that have been sold or given away. I've actually measured the output from all of my dies and, on average, have been unable to see any average advantage any brand has on 'better' or 'worse' dies - in fact, all of my dies are really quite good, IMHO, but I have found as much variation in specific dies of the same brand as between brands. I have found the costly Redding and Forster comp seater dies do have a consistant but small advantage over other brands of seaters but that's about it.
Therefore, I was wondering if your firm 'RCBS is the best" dies statement is based on valid measurements showing average differences on more than one or two examples of different brands you are comparing RCBS to, including Lee, Hornady, Lyman, etc. Or do you follow some other standard?
"Price wise they're the best,...there is a reason my uncle slowly progressed to using all RCBS dies."
I understand your opinion, and your uncle's, but saying they are the "best" in any price range tells us nothing; what is that "reason" you mention and how did you derive it?
I've been reloading for 47 years, now have some 50+ die sets of all brands for about 30 cartridges and have owned others that have been sold or given away. I've actually measured the output from all of my dies and, on average, have been unable to see any average advantage any brand has on 'better' or 'worse' dies - in fact, all of my dies are really quite good, IMHO, but I have found as much variation in specific dies of the same brand as between brands. I have found the costly Redding and Forster comp seater dies do have a consistant but small advantage over other brands of seaters but that's about it.
Therefore, I was wondering if your firm 'RCBS is the best" dies statement is based on valid measurements showing average differences on more than one or two examples of different brands you are comparing RCBS to, including Lee, Hornady, Lyman, etc. Or do you follow some other standard?
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
i have an RCBS press as well as a dillon but still use the rCBS quite a bit. main thing I like about RCBS is their warranty (and dillons) are pretty much the best from what I've found (been a little while since i've had to use RCBS). Call them and they send you a replacement part. I have probably 5 brands of dies, and prefer Lee and RCBS for most, but I don't have the nicer micrometer dies or anything (yet).
i have an RCBS press as well as a dillon but still use the rCBS quite a bit. main thing I like about RCBS is their warranty (and dillons) are pretty much the best from what I've found (been a little while since i've had to use RCBS). Call them and they send you a replacement part. I have probably 5 brands of dies, and prefer Lee and RCBS for most, but I don't have the nicer micrometer dies or anything (yet).
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
"I don't have the nicer micrometer dies or anything (yet)."
Don't sweat that, micro seater heads are a user convienence only, they don't do a thing for the quality of the ammo that can be produced. What makes the Forser BR/Redding Comp. seaters a bit better than most others is the full length body sleeve that aligns the case and bullet in a straight line before seating begins.
Other "comp" seaters with a short sliding sleeve (RCBS and Hornady) only contain the bullet and a bit of the neck so they may or may not do a good job, depending on the tolerances of the sleeve and how well your ram/shell holder aligns with the die's center line.
"I don't have the nicer micrometer dies or anything (yet)."
Don't sweat that, micro seater heads are a user convienence only, they don't do a thing for the quality of the ammo that can be produced. What makes the Forser BR/Redding Comp. seaters a bit better than most others is the full length body sleeve that aligns the case and bullet in a straight line before seating begins.
Other "comp" seaters with a short sliding sleeve (RCBS and Hornady) only contain the bullet and a bit of the neck so they may or may not do a good job, depending on the tolerances of the sleeve and how well your ram/shell holder aligns with the die's center line.
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I personally prefer Redding stuff to either of those brands. I've used all of them though in my 36 years of ammo crafting and I just sort of drifted to Redding over time. Less problems with dies, Less problems with press alignment and wear etc. Check them out>
I personally prefer Redding stuff to either of those brands. I've used all of them though in my 36 years of ammo crafting and I just sort of drifted to Redding over time. Less problems with dies, Less problems with press alignment and wear etc. Check them out>
Re: new to reloading, hornady or rcbs?
I use a lot of RCBS but I hate their standard seater dies. I now have a Redding that I added a micrometer seater plug to.
For neck sizing, without having to bump shoulders, I love the Lee Collet Die. No lube required. Neck size with it until the bolt starts to close a little stiff then hit the case with a Redding body die. It seems like my cases last forever this way.
I use a lot of RCBS but I hate their standard seater dies. I now have a Redding that I added a micrometer seater plug to.
For neck sizing, without having to bump shoulders, I love the Lee Collet Die. No lube required. Neck size with it until the bolt starts to close a little stiff then hit the case with a Redding body die. It seems like my cases last forever this way.
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