.308 Dies (Redding Comp not cutting it)

[Cold_Bore_88]

Any advice on a good CONSISTENT die set? I have been look at the Forster 2-Die Bench set or just the Forster Seater. I use the Forster Co-Ax press.

I have the Redding Competition S 3-Die set. It's a pain to use 2 dies for neck and body. The seater is also very inconsistent. I guess it has to do with the floating seat design. I constantly seat a bullet and find the depth is +\- .005. I then adjust and reseat/remeasure. Reloading takes enough time as it is.

To be honest, my $45 Hornady die set for 7mm Weatherby is more consistent than the $200+ Reddings.

Anyone have the same issues?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redneckbmxer24]

If it's not seating consistent then most likely it's either your technique running the press or inconsistent bullets. Make sure you're running smooth and consistent when seating, and that your cases have proper neck tension. If you still have trouble then sort and measure a few bullets to find out if it's them. As long as the press is ran consistently nothing should change there.

As far as sizing dies I ditched the two step a long time ago. A good FL sizer is the way to go. I really like the Redding FL bushing sizer or their standard sizer as long as there's nothing funny with the brass where it needs a bushing to properly set neck tension. The Redding master hunter sets come with the standard full length sizer and competition seater and run about $125 for a set.

As crazy as it sounds the newer RCBS dies are also very consistent. I have two 243 die sets, a 300WM set, 300BLK and 270win that I've bought in recent years and they all load damn straight ammo. A lot of their stuff went down hill when they moved manufacturing overseas but my experience has been that the dies actually improved. Their standard seaters leave a little to be desired though, and I've gotten a lot of run out with their comp seater. I run the redding comp seaters on anything that's really important anyway.

 

[acourvil]

Assuming that the bullet dimensions are uniform (have you checked?), consistent neck tension gives you consistent seating. What brass are you using and how is it prepped?

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

Assuming that the bullet dimensions are uniform (have you checked?), consistent neck tension gives you consistent seating. What brass are you using and how is it prepped?

I am using Berger 175 VLDs and Nosler brass. I spoke with Redding and they advised that the seater die is not ideal for compressed loads. It uses a floating seat design that can move.

Forster advised i check brass wall thickness and use a standard seater die.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

If it's not seating consistent then most likely it's either your technique running the press or inconsistent bullets. Make sure you're running smooth and consistent when seating, and that your cases have proper neck tension. If you still have trouble then sort and measure a few bullets to find out if it's them. As long as the press is ran consistently nothing should change there.

As far as sizing dies I ditched the two step a long time ago. A good FL sizer is the way to go. I really like the Redding FL bushing sizer or their standard sizer as long as there's nothing funny with the brass where it needs a bushing to properly set neck tension. The Redding master hunter sets come with the standard full length sizer and competition seater and run about $125 for a set.

As crazy as it sounds the newer RCBS dies are also very consistent. I have two 243 die sets, a 300WM set, 300BLK and 270win that I've bought in recent years and they all load damn straight ammo. A lot of their stuff went down hill when they moved manufacturing overseas but my experience has been that the dies actually improved. Their standard seaters leave a little to be desired though, and I've gotten a lot of run out with their comp seater. I run the redding comp seaters on anything that's really important anyway.

I thought about this but I have no issue using my other calibers with cheaper dies. Process of elimination would lead me to think the dies are at issue or the brass is not consistent causing pressure and tension to resist seating.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[spife7980]

I am using Berger 175 VLDs and Nosler brass. I spoke with Redding and they advised that the seater die is not ideal for compressed loads. It uses a floating seat design that can move.

Do you have the vld stem installed? Your bullets could be bottoming out in it. You can test by taking the stem out and seeing if a bullet will seat flat in it or if it sort of rocks around.

Also, youre measuring off the ogive and not over all length, correct?

 

[Cold_Bore_88]

Correct.

Pardon my ignorance. I didn't know there was a VLD stem. You can remove the stem from the seater?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mdmp5]

Yes you can remove the stem. You need to just full length size.

 

[spife7980]

Correct.

Pardon my ignorance. I didn't know there was a VLD stem. You can remove the stem from the seater?

You should just have to unscrew the micrometer and it should all pull out to where you can easily check it.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/r...urer_1=redding [IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","height":"1270","width":"571","src":"http:\/\/www.redding-reloading.com\/images\/charts2016\/Competition-Bullet-Stems.jpg"}[/IMG2]

 

[ubet]

I have Redding dies and once they're set I don't even worry about measuring ol. Most I've seen it off was .0005" and I don't shoot good enough where that makes a difference

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk