What die maker do you prefer?

[makeurownfun]

I have wanted to get into swaging for years now. I never took the plunge because the price of the equipment is just so high. Well I’m just going to go off the deep end

My plan is to buy a setup to convert
22LR to 223/5.56
22LR/17hmr/22wmr to 243/6mm
9mm to 40s&w/10mm
45acp/308 to 458

Swaging tools are not anymore expensive or cheaper than the next. Some use their own press while others do not. Which do you prefer and why? A press from RCE is $500, or 550 if you ever want to load BMG. I’ve seen some videos on BTsniper setup that has an auto eject part that you can put on a single stage press.


Its already going to be expensive, but this is something that I have always wanted to do and there’s just not many videos on YouTube that cover swaging

[rancher1913]

dont know if its my favorite because ive not used any other brand but all my stuff is btsniper and i do everything that you are trying to do plus some

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I think BTSniper's stuff is the way to go for the caliber's you list. If you need something more specialized, then maybe there is other's that can do that? BUT those other's have long wait times and more costly.
.
I've made the 40's and the 44's and a few 30 cal on a Lee Classic cast Iron press with BT's auto eject.

[deltaenterprizes]

I prefer Larry Blackmon’s dies because the price is right and he sells a ram to convert a RCBS Rockchucker to use his dies.
The Corbin S press is superior but expensive, I bought it and a couple sets of dies at a really good price but normally they are above my pay grade!
I have two sets of Corbin reloading press dies, 223 & 243 and they are good quality.
I also have a couple sets of CH dies, 38, 44 and 30 cal designed for 30 Carbine.
I don’t think they make them anymore, they were priced right and are used in a reloading press.
The other ones are an old set from Hornady for 30 Carbine and I had to modify one of their presses to make the dies work.
I used to see dies similar to the CH dies on eBay but I have not looked in a long time to see if they are still available.
The point I am making is that they all will make usable bullets unless you’re going for match grade bullets then expect to spend $5000 for just the solid carbide dies!
I forgot about the Herters 9 ton presses and dies for pistol.
I like them because the dies are 3 piece and easy to make.
I just get a reamer the proper diameter and make a nose punch and an ejector pin and I am finished.
The limitation is that the nose can’t be a smooth ogive.

[midnight]

Richard Corbin’s Walnut Hill presses & dies are king of the hill for me. With the adapter it’s a great reloading press too. I use his HydraSwage for the big 1 1/2 - 12 dies. It even extrudes my lead wire. Even his jacket making dies are first class. The down side is that when he finally decides to quit completely, they will only be available on the used market. I think Dave Corbin’s old company is producing a Walnut Hill die but I haven’t seen or used one. Time will tell how good they are. Even Richard’s jackets were great when he still made them.

Bob

PS: When I croak there will be a ton of RCE stuff on the used market plus all the dies I made.

[rolltide999]

Another RCE fan here.

I collect and use various examples of swaging presses and dies. I have samples of:

BT Sniper dies and auto eject system.

Herters 9 ton press and dies, Herters Super Bullet Swager press and dies, and Herters Reloading Press and dies.

CH-Swage-O-Matic press and dies, and CH Reloading press and dies

Dave Corbin Hydraulic Press and dies, H press and dies, and S press and dies, and M press and dies.

Hollywood Gun Shop press and dies.

Richard Corbin Walnut Hill presses of various designs (WH, WH-2, WH-50, WH-JM) and dies.

Any and all of them will get the job done.

I would get all the swaging stuff you can now. I heard Larry Blackmon is finishing existing orders now and retiring. Dave Corbin already retired and sold his company. Herters is already out of business, but their stuff pops up on fleabay. CH seems to be getting out of the swage die business and selling off remaining stock. Richard Corbin has retired once and come back, and is of a certain age where retirement could happen again anytime.

BT Sniper makes a decent reloading press die set and puts a nitride finish on his dies, which is really nice. Hands down I would say that ANY reloading press setup is a fair to poor choice except for calibers under 30. IMHO Reloading presses just do not have the leverage needed for bigger stuff without busting a gut, and maybe a press, and maybe a die. I have a set of BT Sniper dies in 50 caliber (bought when they were cheaper than Richard Corbin dies), but I use the dies on a Richard Corbin Walnut Hill press. BT Sniper makes decent dies, but at astronomical prices (You can buy a state of the art Richard Corbin swaging press and 5 state of the art die sets, 5 calibers, from Richard Corbin for what BTS charges for 1 weaker die set for a reloading press with less leverage, and that doesn't include the price of the auto eject, and you have to supply the press). There are some specialty companies that make reloading type swaging presses and benchrest caliber die sets. They are also terribly expensive but probably the best quality of the reloading type presses (by reputation since I have no first hand experience with them and never will. I would never pay that much for ANY reloading press dies.) BT Sniper has some good deals up on fleabay right now.

Corbins (previously Dave Corbins) current lineup of presses and dies have great leverage and also good quality. They are about twice as expensive as they should be, if not more, but they run a lot of clearance items on their website at better prices. Also some good deals on fleabay currently including an M press and dies. (M press leverage on par with reloading press.) Also some good deal on used dies in the S&S section of this web site currently.

Richard Corbin has superior quality presses and dies. They are second to none in my opinion and vastly superior to most in design and quality and durability across all caliber ranges. The geometry of his presses is superior to all other options except Blackmon's (which is similar to RCE in geometry, but small in size like a Dave Corbin M press with less leverage). The happy circumstance is RCE are also the least expensive of the currently in production options (If it is true that Larry Blackmon is no longer taking new orders). RCE are about 50% less than Corbins, and about 80% less than BT Sniper, roughly speaking. Also has dies on fleabay right now, as well as his regular web site.

RCE is a no brainer for me. Best design, best quality, best price. If RCE dies come available for which I already have dies by other makers, I usually buy the RCE dies and sell off the others (unless I am keeping them as collectors pieces), if that tells you anything.

[rolltide999]

I also forgot to mention that you can use reloading press swage dies (BT Sniper dies, and even the old Herters and CH dies made for reloading presses, and the exclusive benchrest die sets by various makers Ulrich, etc.) on the Richard Corbin Walnut Hill press. You can also buy an adapter kit from Corbins (formerly Dave Corbin) and use past and present Corbins (Dave Corbin) S dies and M dies on the Walnut Hill press.

Anyway you look at it, Richard Corbin's Walnut Hill press is the way to go if you are starting new at swaging and can afford a $500 press. If you can't afford a $500 press, you can't afford anyone else's dies.

[rcslotcar]

I started swaging several years ago using BT Snipers dies. I have been completely satisfied with his equipment. I use an RCBS Rebel press with an BT auto eject right now. Keep an eye out on Ebay for items as things are often mixed up in with other random dies.

[Reload3006]

+1 for RCE IMO Richard Corbin is by far the best value for the quality. The down side is he’s long in the tooth. I suppose that’s true for all. I have and have used everyone’s stuff except BT I’m sure he makes excellent dies. Larry Blackmon has by far the most affordable entry into the hobby however my experience is his dies was too brittle. Dave Corbin sold his business and the new owners seem competent but even more pricey than Dave was if that were possible. As a machinist / tool & die maker I understand the cost but ouch. Again making Richard Corbin RCE the best value for the robust dies he makes along with the quality

[Meatpuppet]

I’m a bit of a BT Sniper fanboy… I have been completely satisfied with his dies in 308, 355, 358, 40, 429, 451, 458… I may have gone a wee bit overboard, but they work great in the RCE Sea Girt press.

I have zero experience with any other swage dies.