Are reloading dies interchangeable? Will my RCBS die fit on a Hornady press? Can you use Hornady dies on an RCBS press?
If you’ve ever had these or similar questions about your handloading equipment, read on. We’ll break down die compatibility across major brands, what standard thread sizing means, and exceptions to watch out for. Whether you’re building your first reloading setup or adding new equipment to the mix, this guide will help you understanding how interchangeable reloading dies really are.
Short Answer:
While there’s many brands of reloading dies and presses, there’s one standard thread pattern, 7/8”-14. You can mix and match dies and presses from different handloading brands if they use the 7/8”-14 standard.
Originally standardized by RCBS, most of our dies – MatchMaster, Group A, B, C, D, etc. – all share 7/8”-14 threads. This standard thread pattern also means that other manufactures such as Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Redding, Forster, Dillion and others sell dies and equipment in this standard. This cross-brand compatibility is great news for reloaders.
EXCEPTIONS:
Some large diameter cases for cartridges like 50 BMG require larger, more robust dies. Dies for these large cartridges are threaded to 1-1/4”-12, and not in the standard, 7/8”-14 size previously discussed. You can still use these types of dies on RCBS’s presses like our Rock Chucker Supreme or Summit Press, but you’ll need to remove the 7/8”-14 sleeve located in our presses so that the press can use the larger sized/threaded dies.
For reloaders using cartridges like 50 BMG, RCBS’s AmmoMaster equipment is a line of dedicated, large-diameter 1-1/4”-12 sized presses, dies, bullet pullers, collets, trim dies, priming units, shell holders and more manufactured to this different size standard and designed to make loading for big cartridges easy.
Figure 1 7/8”-14 sleeve
Figure 2 50 BMG pack
ANOTHER EXCEPTION
some custom match dies are also made to a 1 ¼” spec. Like the AmmoMaster dies, these dies will fit into RCBS’s standard presses with the bushing removed. These dies will not fit into a standard press with the adapter/bushing removed.
CONCLUSION
In most cases, standard 7/8”-14 dies will work across nearly all reloading presses, making it easy to mix and match equipment. However, once you get into specialty calibers, progressive setups, or large format cartridges, non-standard threads and proprietary systems can complicate things.
Your best defense is awareness. Always check your equipment’s specifications, read manuals, and don’t hesitate to contact manufacturers if you’re unsure about compatibility. RCBS and Hodgdon Powder are two companies that can be counted on for your handloading questions.
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