dies for a 308

millertime2

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Jan 16, 2010
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I am new to reloading and going to start reloading for my 308 what dies should I get? This brass will only be fired in this gun so do I need just neck dies? Any help would be appreciated. KM
 
Re: dies for a 308

What kind of rifle do you have? Semi auto? Bolt?

I've had great luck with the Forster FLS/Ultra Mic set along with their bushing/bump die. I've had RCBS, LEE, Redding. Redding is great, but I don't see the value in them. Forster gets it done very nicely for less money.

Their bushing/bump die is better than sliced bread.
 
Re: dies for a 308

I would strongly recommend the Forster Neck Bump die rather than full length resizing every time. I don't think that I can promise that it will improve accuracy, although it should help using fire formed brass, it will definitely improve the life expectancy of your brass. After that I would also suggest the Forster Micrometer seating die. Both of these have work amazingly for me thus far.
 
Re: dies for a 308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: millertime2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bolt Savage 10FPC-K I bought RCBS Full length die set before I knew any better and I am wondering if I would have better accuracy with just the neck dies. </div></div>

Well, you need a FLS die anyway so all is not lost.
 
Re: dies for a 308

Any die set with ".308 Win." on them will work fine. Everyone needs an FL die. Not everyone needs a neck die and no noob needs a neck die, it will take a lot of learning before you attain the skill and knowledge level to explore that option.
 
Re: dies for a 308

I was a "noob" when I started reloading for rifles 20 years ago. There is no black magic to it, just a little fore thought and common sense.
If you are using new brass and the ammo will be for a single gun, I like the Lee collet dies. The way they size the necks, puts less stress on the brass and will help the longevity of it. You still need to FL resize but the brass will tell you when.
I FL after every 4 loadings and this seems to be fine in my rifle. If you FL each time, it works the brass more and you can expect to have to trim more often, not to mention having to anneal more.
 
Re: dies for a 308

Miller, it's no insult to be a noob. None of us sprang to life knowing a thing. Contrary to what some folk seem to want others to think, we all have to learn anything we want to try and it takes time. Nothing is gained by a noob in trying advanced things before the fundamentals are mastered. And Lee's very excellant collet neck die IS an "advanced" thing that no noob needs to fool with.

The effective difference in case life or accuracy between FL sizing and neck sizing isn't much and it may be none; the necks are what get's worked the most in any conventional dies and that's what tends to split in either type of die.

IF neck sizing could reliably and properly be done with a backed out FL die no one would ever buy a neck die.
 
Re: dies for a 308

Fuzzball, why cant a person neck size with a backed out f/l die. I respect your opinion on things and am not being wise, I am curious. I do not own a commercial die other than a few Wilson in line dies, but cant see why the backed out f/l die wont work.