In my limited experience I've found that I have had no problem with RCBS carbide pistol dies or Redding rifle dies.

I bought the RCBS dies a long time ago because I always figured that I'd start reloading for .45ACP someday. The 200 rounds I've reloaded with them so far have been were consistant and shoot better then the cheap factory JRN rounds I had been buying (Win. USA and Rem. UMC). I bought the Redding dies because of Reddings reputation for excellent rifle dies. I got the 3-die set with full length and neck sizers and standard seater die. I've only used the neck sizer die so far, as I'm loading for a bolt action rifle and with 3 reloads the brass hasn't yet gotten too tough to chamber to warrant a FL sizing. But the neck sizer works great and the bullet seater die loads them nice and straight. I do plan on investing in a Redding Competition micrometer seating die, as setting a precise seating depth with the standard die is a lenthy and tedious process. But once set where I want it it never wavers. Very consistant. I'm sure that RCBS puts out good rifle dies too, but I'm interested in loading for superior accuracy, so the additional expense of the Redding dies I feel is worth it. If you're loading for economy, or just loading big game hunting loads where you don't sweat the difference between 1 or 1.5 MOA groups, then any dies should work fine. I also have a set of Lee .44Mag dies for their progressive press (with the powder pass thru expander die), and I really don't care for how cheap they look and feel. They are definately economy dies, and I'll stick with RCBS pistols dies.

Mike