RE: RCBS VS. LEE dies
I just bought my 8th set of lee dies (RGB dies in .223). I did this after a side by side comparison with RCBS and Redding:
Lee RCBS Redding
FL sizing die x x x
Seating die x x x
shell holder
instructions x x x
price $11 $26 $29
Its a no-brainer.
I usually buy the collet die set as I love the collet neck sizer, but since I'm reloading for a semiauto, I'm not going to use it anyhow.
I might consider a set of Redding dies for 7.5x55 swiss. I own a pair of RCBS dies for that cartridge, but the dies are spec'd wrong for the rifles I'm reloading for. The dies are spec'd for the schmidt rubin 1911 rifle which has a slightly narower chamber than the K-31 rifle. The RCBS dies overwork my brass, while Redding has a set of dies spec'd appropriately for K-31 chambers. I'm a little annoyed that Lee and RCBS don't cut a die correctly for the k-31, and also don't specify that the dies ar emeant for 1911 chambers.