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Disappointed with RCBS dies

8K views 80 replies 34 participants last post by  Avirginian 
#1 ·
After reading all the glowing reviews here of RCBS dies I bought a set in 223. Replaced the Lee dies I was using. The first loading showed a scratch on the case as did the following cases. Closer inspection of the resizing die showed a burr which I removed. So much for the greatness of RCBS. Also while I had the resizing die apart I looked closely at the interior of the die and couldn't see any difference with the naked eye of the finish and of the Lee die.
 
#2 ·
Thanks for the report, I'm looking for some .223 dies and I was debating between the RCBS and Lee dies. I think I will go with the Lee dies as I have a Lee press and the 9mm dies that I use are Lee carbide dies and I am more than pleased with them.
 
#4 ·
That's not something you hear every day! RCBS has fantastic customer service and would have repaired or replaced the die quickly. They sent me every part I needed to get my 222 die set up and running after I stuck as case. They were so good about getting me what I needed that I picked up another set of 222 dies as well as 338 win mag and 338 RUM. I'm not brand loyal to any company but RCBS definitely takes care of their customers.

As for Lee dies vs RCBS dies, I find lee dies to size cases easier than RCBS dies of the same caliber. However, I'll use any brand of die as long as they aid in the making of quality ammo.
 
#11 ·
I just talked to RCBS Customer Service. I need a .223 pin for my 1970's era Primer Pocket Swager die. "No problem. We will send you one out today. What is your address?" No charge.

Also, I have a 1970's era powder scale that I am having trouble zeroing and the 1/10th scale sticker has came off and is lost. "No problem sir. Send it in and we will take care of it." Should I send return shipping? "No sir. We will repair it and return it free of charge."

Now I don't know about other manufacturer's because I only have RCBS and Dillion equipment. But these 2 companies have some great customer service.
 
#13 ·
I had an issue with me Lee .223 die and called them. "Send it in and we will repair it or send you a new one for free". Sent it in and had it back in less than a week from when I sent it. They sent it back the same day they got it. I got a list of what the did to fix the issue as well.
 
#17 ·
Did you do a quick inspection of the die interior and give it a quick clean prior to using it? If not what caused the scratched cases may have been eliminated at that point. The only issue I've ever had with any RCBS product was a carbide die set for .40 S&W. I purchased the die set through a mail order vendor and when they arrived the sizer die even though stamped for 40 S&W was for .44 caliber cases. A quick call to RCBS to explain the problem, the technician told me it was probably stamped wrong, no questions asked. Four days later a new carbide sizer die arrived in the mail.
After we got married I didn't have any place right away to set up my loading equipment, so I bought a LEE LOADER for .220 Swift. I didn't look inside the sizing die, put a case in it, sized it and then inspected my work. The case came out RUINED, I looked inside the die and it looked like they machined it with a chain saw and a cold chisel, I've never seen tool marks like that in anything. I called LEE about it and I got lip service and run-around. Finally they said to send it back and they would look at it to see if it was something they did or if I screwed it up.
 
#18 ·
I must be lucky. I have 2 sets Lee, 1 set RCBS, and 1 set Hornady and they all work very well. My only minus of all my sets is the Hornady .45 expander die. The point where my bullets fit well is really close to the point where the bell is too extreme. Careful adjustment is called for.
 
#20 · (Edited)
What I like about RCBS, is that their always coming out with new products to make loading/reloading ammo more convenient, like the combo case trim/chamfer cutter head for their Case Trimmer II. I recently perchesed one of these and am pleased with how much faster its makes trimming the case mouth and provide an even chamfer on both the inside and outside of the case mouth.

Also when one dulls a cutter head, they will replace it for free in a timely manor like other posters have stated. Also RCBS replaced for free a Reloader Special press after the I wore it out. I did have to send it back to them. The only cost to me was the sending it back as proof that it was indeed worn out.

With RCBS standered dies and one rifle I owned, a Remington 700 PSS in .223 Rem., I was able to load ammo that would consistently shoot 100 yard groups with a center to center spread of .0150.
The cases were neck turned, case mouth trimmed square, primmer pocket reamed to square, flash hole reamed and inside deburred, and then segregated by volume. Don't expect from your deer rifle to do that though.

I have six RCBS Case Trimmer II. Three are set up for case trimming, and the other three are set up with the RCBS Neck Turing tool. I have them set up for .233 Rem., .308 Win, and 30-06 Spfl. for Service Rifle competition.

As a side note. If I can get a consistent supply of virgin non primed Lake City cases for those cartage's, I'll offer them for sale to other shoots.

A good friend of mine has over 60 different RCBS loading die sets.

The Redding neck bushing dies is also very good if one turns there case necks and only neck sizes. I have one for .308 Win. and love it. I bought three different bushings to try different bullet setting tension. The bushing are Titanium Nitrite coated.
 
#21 ·
I have over the last 30 years replaced most of my early LEE dies with those of other manufacturers. In comparing the interior of dies 20 years or older the internal working surface finish of the LEE die was much less than that of RCBS. But a lot of water has gone under the bridge in the last 20 years. It might be possible RCBS down graded their dies (they are near the bottom of the market price wise) or LEE upgraded theirs so that today they are equal, interior finish wise (???). It is also possible you got a bad one. There are tolerance in any manufacturing process and you may have gotten one on the edge of acceptable. RCBS will make it right for you.

There are other things about LEE dies I don't like. First is the fact that they don't give you a lock nut for the die height adjustment. An O-ring is not a locking device so I have to add a locking nut to every LEE die. Then there is the "unbreakable" primer punch in the sizing die. It takes a gorilla to get its collet retaining nut tight enough to stop it from changing adjustment. Finally on my old LEE dies some show signs of rust that other manufacture's dies do not show with both being stored in the same environment. So my choice today is never LEE die sets unless they are the only one making the caliber. Whether today's LEE compares with today's RCBS I really don't know but the other poor features of LEE dies makes me chose RCBS.

LDBennett
 
#24 ·
Actually its pretty correct.

While going to college for engineering, I worked a pt job at a water meter factory. First 2 yrs there we had a qc dept, inspectors, etc, 2nd 2 us, they laid off 4 of the 5, and sent the 5th to 're work' dept. They handled repairs in and out of warranty. End user became qc dept.

I now deal with high end electronics, co I work for just sunk about 5$M into a facility renovation. All new gear, best of the best. For the first month we were getting large items returned and replaced. Not 300$ items.. Think 3000$ items...

End user is the qc dept now.
 
#25 ·
I take every die and mold apart and clean them before use. Not uncommon to find a leftover chip from machining, no mater who makes them.
I think this is where Hornady wins - the ease of taking apart to clean, but that is just one opinion.
 
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#27 ·
I've tried to purchase at least one die from each major manufacturer. The RCBS die set was fine, but nothing to write home about, likewise with Lee. The real disappointment is the junk that Lyman is sticking into the box these days. In my book Hornady wins on best value and Redding on quality. No opinion on Forster yet.
I use only Forrester for rifle and simply as I can put it, I will NEVER even test or try another brand rifle die. If Forrester made pistol dies, I would sell everything and switch. Alas, this company makes very few products, but what they do make, it made spectacular.

I have one set of Redding pistol dies. Honestly, I can't see the rave. They are nice, work well, but I can't tell a lot of difference between them and the Hornady dies in fit or function and truth be told, I think the Hornady more aesthetically pleasing. I am considering selling the Redding set and switching (357Mag with the extra taper crimp die - seat+crimp for roll, or use the 4th for taper). I ordered the wrong part number for the 4th die.
 
#28 ·
I didn't mind using Hornady reloading dies until they came out with the "Zip Spindle". Spent more time ordering replacements "spindles" than using the dies.:(:rolleyes:
Like Lee dies, Couldn't keep the primer pin in place so their dies ended up in the scrap bin along with their cheap a$$ reloading press. Never again.;)
 
#29 ·
You guy's make me think I'm missing something. I've got RCBS, Redding, Lyman, Lee and Herter dies. Worst thing ever happened was a broke primer punch pin now and then. My hands down favorite is the Redding but then it's that way because of the way they look, on the outside. All I know about the inside, the important part, is that whatever brand, they've always worked.
 
#31 ·
I don't think you missed anything - some guys like revolvers, some like 1911's, others like striker fired; or as my Daddy would say, "Son, I see you like girls with brown hair, there ain't nothing wrong with a redhead."
 
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#30 ·
Haven't had a zip spindle give yet - but I have not used them long either. Just got my first Hornady dies this summer and I will agree entirely, the zip spindle does not look/feel sufficient.
 
#32 ·
I just thought about it and I did have a problem with a company's quality control. Sport Dog tracking collar for my dog. First collar was bad and I didn't give it a though, just sent it back. Second collar went bad in under a month. Called them and they said to send it back. Same thing happened with the third collar but this time I wanted my money back. Couldn't do it. Had to go to the place I bought it for a refund, their warrantee period had run out. Gt another collar, and these were always new in box, not repaired, and it went bad too. Friend, lawyer, called the place I'd bought it from and explained that Oregon has a loss of faith law. Called them again after that and they had me send it back. Had them keep the refund and add it to a Garmin tracking collar and I sent them the difference. I guess that it could be that Sport Dog doesn't have a quality control. Never even gave that a though and have never brought another Sport Dog product either.
 
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