Hornady Versus Redding dies

[Rflshootr]

As long as you're happy with the results you're getting, then go with it!

 

[freddiej]

Coldfinger,
This is just my opinion; so take it for what it's worth.
I believe the Deluxe or the standard or the professional hunter dies from Redding are worth the extra money.
I owned many Hornady die sets, I own many Redding die sets, I think the Redding are superior. the only die sets for pistol or rifle that are better are the Dillon's. the Redding double carbide ring dies sets for pistol are absolutely stellar. I would use them in any of my calibers any day of the week.
I have many other dies sets and have sold them off slowly due to replacement with Redding or Dillon. I will not use bushing die sets ever again. my 338 Lapua Redding set is a bushing die set and I have replaced it with the FL non-bushing set. I have the bushing seating die with micrometer but that is it. that combo works excellent. I have the neck only sizer and the body die. the only Lyman die I have is a 22-250 carbide neck sizer. just for the 2,000 pieces of 22-250 nickeled brass I was given for my predator (coyote) gun.
I was recently gifted a Redding deluxe set of 7MM Rem Mag dies, I checked out the sizing of the neck without the expanding ball. (side note: when I pulled the expanding ball through the neck of the brass it was so stiff I was thinking the necks were getting over worked on my friend's hunting loads/brass) I was shocked to learn that the neck of the brass was sized to an inside diameter of 0.273". if you do not know what the significance of that is: I will explain. 270 cartridges need a neck sized to inside diameter of 0.275". this means that I will not have to spend $300.00+ on a special set of dies. all I need is the 0.275 expanding ball for a 270 caliber die set and I have my 270-264 Win Mag die set without the huge price tag. I also found this to be true with Hornady 7MM R/M sizing dies, RCBS and another set I have sold off to get rid of them from my inventory of die sets.
back to the Redding FL sizing dies, I find them much better and much more consistant over their bushing dies, actually every bushing die I have ever used has had some really funky things going on with it. I now do not trust bushing dies. I have traded, sold, or given away all my bushing dies.

 

[Mike Matteson]

I working on switching to Redding bush dies for my rifles. I do want to set the neck tension. I have been watching and reading on the neck tension for quite sometime. Setting up to get the mandrel to expand my case also.
Long Range Shooting has changed my thinking over the pass few years. I was getting good groups at about 1/2" with my rifles, but want to tighten that up some. Looking to increase my range, and I want the best I can do to have tighter groups.
Thanks to all that have supplied the info.

 

[redleg1013]

I'm looking to upgrade some of my dies from Hornady to Redding full length dies. Don't really want to go to bushing dies. Are Redding dies worth the extra cost 3x compared to Hornady?

Yes. An acceptable substitute would be Forster (I have and use both)
My $.02 is that Lee, RCBS, and Hornady are entry level dies and that Redding, Forster and Whidden are in the upper class that folks will contend the merits of one over another like Ford vs Chevy.

 

[Greyfox]

I have used Redding, RCBS, Hornady, Lee, Whidden, and Forster. The Redding dyes have always been, and continue to be my first choice in dyes for precision shooting. In particular, I have not had good experiences with the quality and performance of the Hornady dyes.

 

[cape cove]

I believe that all the major die makers make decent stuff. Lately I found using a Redding body die for case sizing and shoulder bump in conjunction with a Lee collet die for neck sizing and a Frankford Arsenal universal seating die gives me great ammo. I purchased a FA seating die for some cartridges I have that I wasn't satafied with the seating die I had. Just can't get over how great this die works. Gives me as good run-out #'s as my Forster bench rest seater. Really good die. JMO

 

[ImBillT]

Yes Redding is worth the money. I haven't measured cases that came out of a Hornady sizer, BUT their seater is TOTAL GARBAGE.

 

[30dirty]

No Way !!!! Stay with the hornady die !!!! bushing dies suk **** !!!!!

 

[Chrsm]

after using multiple different manufactures dies. use the best you can afford and if that is Hornady it is ok they do a very good job. unless you have to put every bullet in the same hole and can afford custom matching chamber reamers and dies, there isn't that big of a difference among the better quality dies some oversize some undersize. so unless total custom is needed use the best you can afford Hornady or Redding

You, the first one to mention chamber. In a perfect world, all the let's say 308s would be cut with the same reamers. Have the same die made for that cut. Tolerances gentlemen, hell my sons 6.5prc shoots one holes, loaded with a lee! So thank you sir!

 

[338 dude]

Why do you want to avoid bushing dies? Just curious. I decided to give the Hornady bushing dies a try and I'm very happy so far. I've only used redding standard type dies a couple times and my results were no different than the cheap RCBS jobbies.

But yeah right now I'm using Hornady bushing die to FL size and forster ultra mic seater. They're both made well, are effective and the price was great. I'm still in load development so I can't say exactly what my groups are going to look like but so far it's looking preddy handsome. Can't really speak to the comparable reddings but I'd encourage you to try bushing dies. BIG reason for this: When you're trying to get very precise resizing of the body for exact repeatable headspace this usually involves multiple trips through the press. For me about 20 percent spring back for one reason or another, then I run those through again, occasionally a third time. (tips are welcome, different lube is on the shopping list.) If I was doing that with a standard die the necks would be beyond trashed.

Anneal them you will get more consistent results

 

[Satch6.5]

I use Hornady and Redding dies. I like the Hornady and they're cheaper. I FL size and bump the shoulders with the expander ball removed and set neck tension with a Sinclair mandrel. The Hornady seating dies work great and can be upgraded with a micrometer top for like $30. They also have a lot of seating stems available for different bullet profiles. I have loaded a lot of good ammo with Hornady dies and I don't feel they're holding me back any. Just my opinion.

Thats what works best for me too!

 

[Its204fast]

I cannot speak as to the accuracy difference of Redding over Hornady, but I can say the Redding die I have has not tarnished on the outside like my Hornady dies have, they all get the same treatment. Hornady gun cleaner & dry lube when first opened, and when ever they come out of the press for storage the same with a liberal coating and no wiping after.

 

[L.Sherm]

Every off the shelf Hornady die ive tried over works the neck, and i definitely dont like there seater.

 

[camodave7]

I'm looking to upgrade some of my dies from Hornady to Redding full length dies. Don't really want to go to bushing dies. Are Redding dies worth the extra cost 3x compared to Hornady?

Many of the best long range competitors I know use Lee collet dies