Best Reloading Dies for 300 Blackout – Reviews & Buyers Guide

With the price and availability of ammunition questionable at times, many people have turned to learn a new skill – reloading. This allows you to reuse the majority of your spent cartridges for a fraction of the cost after you initially invest in the proper materials. Reloading isn’t extremely difficult to learn either, it just takes some practice to get it right. 

Reloading a wildcat round such as a .300 Blackout is especially effective since it isn’t as available as other AR platforms and .30 cal options. We’ve grabbed some of the best reloadings dies for the .300 Blackout you can consider and highlight them below.  

Comparison Table of the 5 Best Reloading Dies for 300 Blackout

Reloading Benefits

Even though you’ll need to initially invest in some basic reloading tools and materials, and will need to master the skill, the time and effort is worth it. The major reason many people begin reloading is because of the cost savings that add up over time. Ammunition costs add up fast, and if you can shave a bit of that off, it just provides you more money to spend on your hobby!

Also, reloading allows you to control some aspects of the dimensions, ballistics, and quality of the cartridge. This customization is desirable for match shooters to help find the exact specs desired for competition and accurate hunting scenarios. Plus, the practice will provide you with a way to stay on top of ammunition advancements and the knowledge of accuracy techniques. 

Reloading Die Basics Explained

When shopping for reloading die, you need to know the differences in the sizes and overall design to ensure you get the best option for .300 Blackout ammunition. This is particularly important with a wildcat cartridge such as the .300 BLK despite its overall popularity growth in shooting circles which has kept its ammunition in stock a bit better than comparative cartridges.  

.300 Blackout Reloading Die Types

You can choose from three different types of dies to use with the .300 BLK round. These are labeled as a small base, neck, or full-length and each provides various pros and cons to their use – but all offer accurate reload needs. 

Full-Length vs Small Base Dies Explained

The difference between these types of dies can mean the difference between a smoother feeding cartridge for increased precision. Full-length dies resize the entire cartridge, allowing you to use casings that may not have been fired from the rifle you plan on using them in. However, this puts a lot of pressure on the casing and things it out – limiting their overall use. 

Small base die works like a full-length resizing die but is for use with semi-automatic rifles. The small base die compresses the casing a bit more to ensure smoother extraction. However, it also results in a compromised life of the casing. 

Neck Size Die Explained

A neck-size die is a popular choice to avoid putting too much pressure on the entirety of the casing and allowing you to use the cartridge over and over. You will be limited to using it only with the rifle you fired it from due to how it forms as it passes through the barrel and limits your use to control over neck sizing. When reloading for a .300 Blackout, this is an affordable and easy-to-use option. 

Bushing vs Standard Die

Bushing dies are of better quality for a very important reason. These allow you to tweak the stress upon the neck casing during the resizing process, providing a means of customization. This results in better performance. 

Standard die are very effective as well, but if you are competitive and need to count on a precise shot, you definitely need a bushing die set. Standard set may also stress the neck of the case over time and weaken it – resulting in cracking and waste. 

Must-Have Reloading Tools 

Even though you cannot reload your 300 ACC Blackout cartridges without reloading die, you also need a few more tools in your reloading kit. Take a look at some of the other important tools you’ll need for successful reloading besides a good reloading bench to set up shop on. 

Up-to-Date Reloading Manual

An up-to-date reload manual is a must for even the expert reloaders who have been doing it for years. These help you ensure you have the proper precision cartridge size and reloading specs. Be sure to purchase one that specifically includes the 300 Blackout reloading suggestions, tips, and tricks to learn from. 

Bump Gauge for Full-Length Die

A bump gauge, when used in conjunction with a full-length die, can make them much more efficient. They also help extend the life of the casing and provide a more customized fit similar to a neck-size die since you will be raising the casing as little as possible through the steps. 

Shellholder

Shellholders are a necessity and match the cartridge size reload to work with the die during the resizing process. Most die sets come with a shell holder in order to ensure you always have the proper size. 

What to Look For When Buying a Reloading Die Set

You can’t go wrong with what we are providing for your consideration below, but if you are new to this, look for a full-length sizer die set to help you learn the basics with an option that is made just for that reason. Also, take into consideration what you are shooting your cartridge through. There is quite a range of reloading dies to consider – such as dies made specifically for AR-style or semi-auto shooters, a competitive shooter, or bolt action rifle.

Knowing these differences can give you a more accurate edge with true custom-loaded ammunition and create a more accurate ammunition performance. Also, make sure it comes with a user manual and watch for additional accessory sets – such as the inclusion of a powder dipper and shell holder for precise reloading action. 

Best Reloading Dies for the .300 Blackout

Most reloading dies come in a set and is specific to the cartridge you are reloading. The suggestions below are some of the best for the 300 AAC Blackout, and choosing one over the other truly is dependent on your shooting needs. They all use excellent quality materials, are AAC rifle dies specific to the cartridge need, have affordable price points,  and are durable products to help you load thousands of rounds if you so desire. 

The RCBS AR Series small base taper crimp die sets make the top of our list due to the great quality and awesome affordability. Made for reloading for the AR-15 style rifle, these sets come in specific caliber use and offer both a small base sizing die and a taper crimp seating die. Combined, they create easier reloading for AR-style and semi-auto shooters. By using a small base sizer, you can ensure easier rechamber when reusing spent cartridges. Taper crimping also helps to eliminate case neck crimp bulges in the casing after crimping,  and buckled shoulders with cannelured bullets. 

Redding manufacturers offer an affordable product that is of amazing quality. Their focus is on providing the best shooting accessories and support, and their National Match Die Sets are specifically made for serious competitive shooters. This set includes a non-bushing, full-length die kit complete with a taper crimp die, and a competition seater. They are popular nationwide with the dedicated long-range precision shooter for obvious reasons, and if you choose to reload the 300 BLK, you won’t get a much more dependable choice. 

Hornady is amongst the finest manufacturers of machined craftsmanship. They provide articulated detail to their reloading die lines, provide amazing alignment and smooth functioning. Their 300ACC/Whisper 2 die set provides versatility and dependability and a lifetime of reloading. Guaranteed never to break or war out, this set comes with a full-length die and standard seating die for all your reloading needs. It comes with hard case storage to help keep everything where you need it. 

The RCBS full-length die sets are specifically for bottleneck rifles and pistols and include the seater die to ensure the proper fit. This basic building block of the reloading process is a must for beginners and provides the means to get started with the skill. The die works to bump the shoulder for extension in the press and should be used with a chamber headspace gauge tool. It also will size the body of the case for easy chambering. The seater die also has a built-in crimp ring if you desire to crimp the case into the bullet. 

The Lee Precision Pacesetter rifle die set is a 3-die set that includes everything you need to get started. This includes a full-length sizing die, dead-length bullet seating die, a Lee Precision factory crimp die, universal shell holder, powder dipper, and load data with instructions. Used correctly, this set is designed to produce factory-grade ammunition that works to increase accuracy and improved utility. It also all comes packed into a really nice storage box and a written lifetime warranty. 

Conclusion

Even though reloading die set is a simple tool, it is one of the most important to have in your reloading kit. These are all excellent sets that provide a great place to start for beginners, and even offer some more professional choices for competitive shooters. These also happen to be some top brands offered at an affordable option worth taking a closer look at. 

We are interested in which reloading dies you have found to work the best with the .300 Blackout reloading scenarios, and why you prefer what you do. 

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