6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor : Which Reloading Die Set is Better for Your Gun?
6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor Compared
As a gun owner, your equipment jamming while in the line of action is something you don’t ever want to experience. The good news is; you can bypass this by using high-quality reloading dies for your guns. Not only do these high-quality dies help improve reload effectiveness, but you are also guaranteed to hit the target nine times out of ten – good marksmen only, please. To this effect, we are taking a look at 2 of the best reloading die sets out there: Lee Precision’s 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor.
In today’s article, we will examine both die sets, their features, performance, and at the end, hopefully, help you make a decision on the best one for your gun. Our impartial 6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor comparison looks at products, from the same manufacturer.
1. Lee Precision 90939 Lee Precision, Ultimate 4 Die Set (6.5mm Creedmoor)
Overview
Whether you are new to reloading or you’ve been doing it for years, the 6.5 Creedmoor ultimate die set is the perfect reloading set for you. This set is hugely versatile, with features for almost every situation. It is put together by the reputable Lee company with some of the best materials out there. Therefore, you can be sure you’ll get quality and value for your money.
Components
The ultimate 4-die set includes:
- A full-length sizing die
- One factory crimp die
- A dead length seating bullet die that can be easily adjusted
- Collet neck sizing die
- Shell holder
- Powder dipper
- Storage case
- Lee’s famous load data which contains info on common brands of powder – it makes for a good and useful read
- Instructions on how to use
Features
This reloading die set boasts a wide range of incredible features and high tolerance, hence ensuring it is a popular pick amongst gun owners. Let’s examine some of these features to see why the 6.5mm Creedmoor reloading set is rated very highly:
- With a total weight of just 1.65 pounds and a handy case, you can easily move the dies around. Its minimal size also means you can fix it in your gun without it impacting heavily on the overall weight of your weapon.
- The 6.5 Creedmoor set boasts a dead length bullet seating die. What this means is, you can adjust your bullet seating at any time without having to worry about a change in the sitting depth.
- Its full-length resizing die, used for restoring brass to default dimensions, means you can reload and reuse bullet cartridges fired from other guns. This feature is particularly useful if you want to save money.
- The crimp die helps provide a tight crimp for bullets with or without a crimp die.
- You don’t need to apply lube on the casing of this set of dies. The cases are highly durable and will last for the entire duration of use.
- The collet neck sizing die squeezes the case neck against the precision mandrel, ensuring a stable fit and machine-like accuracy.
Pricing and Warranty
While I can’t provide a definitive price due to variations and fluctuations, what I do know is that the 6.5mm Creedmoor is pocket-friendly and won’t take a chunk out of your finances. If you are operating on a budget, you can buy the four primary dies and the storage case, but if you’re looking to go all out, purchasing the complete set is the way to go.
The Lee Precision 90939 Lee Precision, Ultimate 4 Die Set comes with a 2-year guarantee and a lifetime warranty! You can, therefore, fire away knowing someone’s got your back.
2. Lee 6.5 Grendel Very Limited Production, 3-Die Set (6.5mm Grendel)
Overview
Another very good reloading die set produced by Lee Precision is the Lee 6.5 Grendel set. It is a 3-die set and is available in limited quantities. Regardless, it is as good as any reloading die set out there and, like the 6.5mm Creedmoor reloading set, boasts excellent features.
Components
When you purchase the 3-die set, you can expect the following to accompany it:
- Full length resizing die
- Adjustable dead length bullet seating die
- Factory crimp die with standard 7/8” to 14 threads
- Universal shell holder
- Powder dipper
- Storage case
- Instructions for use
Features
Some of the features on offer with this set include:
- Resizing of any shell case to its original dimensions as produced in the factory. The full length resizing die is responsible for this, but you will need to regularly apply lube to prevent it from wearing out due to friction.
- With the factory crimp die, you can effectively compress bottleneck rifle cartridges ensuring effective use of cartridges and significantly boosting your accuracy. Like the full-length resizer, you also need to lubricate the crimp die from time to time.
- The bullet-seating die contained in this set is compatible with nearly every point style bullet, and you can easily adjust it with one finger. Does your gun use automatic bullet feeders? There are tapered edges on the die that cater to this.
Pricing and Warranty
The Lee 6.5 Grendel 3-set die is relatively cheap and quite available. As I stated earlier, I can’t give information on the exact price because it varies from store to store. You can as well buy the dies individually (if you are looking to replace missing ones or otherwise) or add a few dollars and get the full set complete with a storage case.
Lee’s famous lifetime warranty for repair or replacement of faulty parts is on offer for this set; hence you can rest easy knowing you are always covered.
6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor Conclusion
There is no disputing the fact that Lee produces some of the best dies out there and that the 6.5 Grendel set and 6.5 Creedmoor set are two of its best products yet. However, if you were to purchase a die set, I would suggest you go for the 6.5 Creedmoor Ultimate 4 Die Set.
Both die sets have almost the same features and components. However the presence of a collet neck sizing die sets the 6.5 Creedmoor set apart.
Also, there’s the issue of lubrication. The dies of the 6.5 Grendel require constant lube application, and this can get tiring. With the 6.5 Creedmoor set, you won’t ever need to apply lube on the dies.
While the ultimate 4-die Creedmoor set is more expensive, mainly due to the additional die, the 3-die Grendel set has a slightly higher average price per die. What this means is you get more for less with the 4-die Creedmoor set.
However, both die sets are of impeccable quality, and whichever one you end up buying, you will be in safe hands.