best dies?

[tecknomage]

This has prob been covered , several times, but just getting into loading for Lucy ( what I call my AA Grendel overwatch) & had bad exp with early Lee Dies. ( only thing local store had in Grendel) So, since I'm gonna have to order a set, what would you recommend? I'm even considering Chamber dies.

Dave

[stokesrj]

Hi Dave, best dies are Redding, good dies are Hornady, RCBS and Forser, poor dies are Lee.
Bob

[mongoosesnipe]

Redding seem o be the best for Grendel I have a se of hornady and a set of redding that I count a deal on after I bought the hornady if cost isn't a factor get the redding if it is a factor I would go with the hornady in fact I will sell you mine I you want they are not doing me a whole lot of good now pm me if your interested

[albe1234]

What is problem with Lee dies for the 6.5 Grendel?
Thanks
Al

[parallax]

I'd like to know too since I'm using Lee dies purchased in the last 6 months.

[mongoosesnipe]

There is nothing wrong with lee dies they are just not as nice as some of the other dies I have found its more of a fit and finish factor more than function with lee products I have a casting mold but have never bought lee dies the reduced cost compared to others didn't justify not getting the higher grade dies I actually prefer dillon dies if available

[LR1955]

What is problem with Lee dies for the 6.5 Grendel?
Thanks
Al

Al:

The sizing die is too tight in the neck area and as a result of this, they will overwork the necks so greatly that your dollar a piece Lapua brass will be toast in four or five shots, if that many.

Also, their decapping pins are too big for the Lapua small flash hole and eventually you will pull a decapping pin out of the die with the pin stuck inside the flash hole. This normally means the shell holder gets stuck on the press but sometimes it only means the case gets stuck to the shell holder. And when you do get the pin out and put it back into the decapping stem, it will pull out much easier from then on. No matter how hard you try to tighten it.

Poor design, poor quality control, overall poor dies.

Of course you can always have a machinist polish the inside of their sizing die and turn down the decapping pin. That should make the Lee dies about twice as expensive as the Redding collet dies -- which are probably the best of the dies short of custom dies.

LR1955

[albe1234]

Are these also applicable to Hornady brass?
Thanks
Al

[stokesrj]

I've used Lee dies in other calibers with no problems. I have not used them for the 6.5 Grendel, but there have been many, many reported problems when used for the 6.5 Grendel. Most were internal finish problems. Some people report the work just fine so it must be an inconsistent problem.
Bob

[LR1955]

Are these also applicable to Hornady brass?
Thanks
Al

Able:

Dies are dies. They will do the same to Hornady brass as they will to Lapua brass.

Another problem guys were having with the Lee sizing die was that it couldn't bump the shoulders back enough for the brass to chamber.

Spend the extra thirty dollars and get Redding collet dies.

LR1955

[Captk]

I just ordered the Hornady dies for the Grendel. Any issues with these dies?
Ken

[LR1955]

I just ordered the Hornady dies for the Grendel. Any issues with these dies?
Ken

Guys:

The only dies that a number of people on the forum, including me, have had problems with are the Lee dies. Very few have reported problems with other dies.

Spend the extra money for one of the other makes of dies. I always recommend the sizing die be a Redding neck collet die because the Wolf brass is thinner than the Lapua and Hornady brass. And, the IMI 7.62 X 39 brass I have is thicker. So, I have three collets and so far I have not ruined a piece of brass due to overworking the neck.

I thought the Lee seating die would work but it uses a rubber gasket affair to lock the die in place. This means inconsistent seating depth and it will loosen up very quickly.

LR1955

[Variable]

I've used Lee dies in other calibers with no problems. I have not used them for the 6.5 Grendel, but there have been many, many reported problems when used for the 6.5 Grendel. Most were internal finish problems. Some people report the work just fine so it must be an inconsistent problem.
Bob

This. I have a set of the Lee grendel dies that I bought when they first started making them. Mine have always worked fine, but as everybody else has noted, a lot folks had problems with them. If I were starting out new, I'd likely buy the Hornady dies if I were on a budget, and the Redding dies if not.

[sneaky one]

As LR1955 always states-the Redding dies are best. I have an older Lee set, that I tweaked the H LL out of- in spare time-new caliber etc. from 4 yrs. ago.------ 3 yrs. ago I found a great price on a Forster ultra die set= they are fine,, can't override the lack of annealing idea tho-just by changing a bushing size-,,, as can be done w/ redding dies. I think it's a good idea to anneal every 6-8 shots , anyway. Someone on this forum claimed to use a Redding 6mm ppc die, then bought the proper sized bushing--all at a way cheaper price than the 6.5 Grr redding die. Do some research on here. Oh, BTW-I do use the Lee dies on the pile of AK brass I play -fireform with here & there. Gives nice tight neck tension=4-7 k., depending on manuf.-plinker ammo is the reason I still have the dies.

[tecknomage]

Redding seem o be the best for Grendel I have a se of hornady and a set of redding that I count a deal on after I bought the hornady if cost isn't a factor get the redding if it is a factor I would go with the hornady in fact I will sell you mine I you want they are not doing me a whole lot of good now pm me if your interested

for some reason it will not let me PM. but yes Im intrested
teckserve@yahoo.com