Die Set Recommendations Please

[mdslammer]

Hello,
I'm putting together my list of reloading gear.
Going with the RCBS Rock Chucker Supreme Master Kit.

I'm reloading for my Remington 700 5R MilSpec .308.
The loads will be for long distance precision shooting.

Do I need to spend more on a set of dies for "precision or
competitive" shooting or will a basic set of .308 dies be fine?

If there's a definitive difference between the two then I can
see spending the extra $$$.

Thanks very much.

Mark Dalzell
Las Vegas, NV

 

[arborpro]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

Get good dies you wont regret it. redding comps are alright. try
http://www.sinclairintl.com/ for some ideas and prices.

 

[Jumper]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

I highly recommend Forster die's. I have used redding in the past but have since switched to Forster.

 

[Longshot38]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

This question depends on how much you want to spend. Hornady makes a good set of dies for not much money. They even have a set of bushing style competition dies for 308 Winchester. Personally I like Hornady dies. However Redding has more options make some really nice dies. But they will cost you more.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

Forster and Redding are absolutely equal in precision. Redding is prettier. Forster service is second to none in my opinion.

 

[Mr.Kirk]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

Redding type s

 

[moosetracker]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

I've long stopped buying die sets because one or more of the dies are not top notch unless you buy the real expensive Comp. sets.

Here's what I buy for best quality/price/precision:

Lee Collet die
Redding Body die
Forster Ultra seater

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

"will a basic set of .308 dies be fine?"

Yes. Seriously. Premium dies (<span style="text-decoration: underline">Forster/Redding, only</span>), or even better, a mixed set of the selected dies Moosetracker just suggested is great BUT it will be a long time before your learn to shoot and reload better than a conventional die set can provide. 9By the time might want to move up you will probably have enough personal experience to make your own choices without asking anyone else!)

Strong opinions aside, for non-premium dies the brand and price hardly matters. Even conventional dies are quite good and they vary as much within the same brand as they do between brands. Some design features are slightly "better" than others but NO brand of dies is "made to tighter specs" than others. They're all made to SAAMI specs and that's a dimensional range, not a specific point. Anyone getting a very rare die actually made out of spec can easily get it replaced.

 

[vman]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

Forster dies are top quality and cheaper than redding

 

[Hookman]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

+1 Forster Bushing Bump Neck Sizer Die. It comes with 3 neck sizing bushings, very useful if you're going to reload with different brass (i.e. Lake City, Lapua, Win or Remington). Other bushing dies only come with one bushing and you would have to purchase other size bushing. You'll save some money with the Forster in the long run. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=814070

I also use the Forster Ultra seater die and Full length sizer for once fired brass (not out of my rifle)

 

[mdslammer]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

I want to thank all of you who've chimmed in with your advice/
suggestions. I'll do my homework and check into all the suggested
die sets.

Best.

Mark

 

[71firebird400]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: moosetracker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've long stopped buying die sets because one or more of the dies are not top notch unless you buy the real expensive Comp. sets.

Here's what I buy for best quality/price/precision:

Lee Collet die
Redding Body die
Forster Ultra seater </div></div>

This guy knows what's up. Only thing I'd do different is get the Bench Rest Seater Die since I don't use the micrometer on the Ultra dies and you can save $20. Seriously, get this setup and you will produce excellent ammo. Anyone who blindy says to use a bushing die has not measured runout on a case sized with a Lee Collet Die vs their bushing die of choice.

 

[vman]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

Nothing wrong with the micrometer if you know how to set it up and zero it... Its actually helpful if your testing out seating depths.

 

[Nessal]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

I use Lee Collet die and Redding Comp seater and it works REALLY good for me. So much so that I was entertaining getting the Redding sizing die but scrapped that idea. When they get hard to chamber, I do a FL size.

 

[BCP]

Re: Die Set Recommendations Please

RCBS FL die sets for 308 are all over ebay for ~20 bucks and they will work just fine. Don't buy an expensive set of competition dies until you know exactly what you want.