Which die are you using for your bolt gun. I have a AI AXMC 308 and want to try a honed die. Should I buy the regular 308 die or the National Match 308 die and have them honed?
Question for those who use Forster Honed dies.
- Thread starter maggitas
- Start date
This link will take you to Forster's website that explains the three different .308 sizing dies. Scroll down and click on ".308 caliber info"
They are also easy people to speak with over the phone.
https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/full-length-sizing-dies/
They are also easy people to speak with over the phone.
https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/full-length-sizing-dies/
Only difference is that the National Match die is 0.003 shorter so it will bump the shoulder more if you tighten it down to cam over in the press. You should be measuring and controlling your shoulder bump relative to your own chamber and brass size, so IMO there's no need to get the National Match set. Either die should be able to bump the shoulder properly.
I'm using honed Forster dies for a couple calibers. I measure the OD of a loaded round at the neck, then have them hone the die to a size that is 0.0035 to 0.004 smaller. I then use a expander mandrel (Sinclair carbide turning mandrel, 0.002 under bullet diameter) for setting the final neck tension. It will expand the neck up somewhere around 0.0005 to 0.001. You could also run the normal Forster expander ball if you wanted a traditional one die solution that sized the brass on the upstroke of the press.
I'm using honed Forster dies for a couple calibers. I measure the OD of a loaded round at the neck, then have them hone the die to a size that is 0.0035 to 0.004 smaller. I then use a expander mandrel (Sinclair carbide turning mandrel, 0.002 under bullet diameter) for setting the final neck tension. It will expand the neck up somewhere around 0.0005 to 0.001. You could also run the normal Forster expander ball if you wanted a traditional one die solution that sized the brass on the upstroke of the press.
This^^^
Make sure you get the right die for your rifle. In general, you'd want the NM for the bolt gun. I went with the SB because I load for 7.62 for semi's. The micrometer seater is really nice to have too. By far my favorite dies. It may behoove you to call them and see if you can send in a case fire formed to your rifle and have the die matched to that.
As for honing, how would you know how much to go with? If you use thick walled cases I guess it's handy, but do you know if you need it, and if so, how much? That's usually where the spent case comes in handy for custom ordered dies.
Have you considered neck sizing fire formed cases in your bolt gun vs. full length resizing? I understand that's more desirable when applicable and what I'll probably be doing down the road for a couple of rifles I want to optimize performance in.
If you use thick brass, have them hone the neck to .335". That's the max they will go. A 335 die will produce a .334" sized neck due to the way the brass flows in the die. Then expand the neck for .002" neck tension.
Re the standard vs NM die, look at it this way: I have a TRG-22 and their standard die is only able to bump the shoulder .002" on a 1x fired case. This gets worse the harder the case is to size. A LC case 1x fired from a semi auto and sized in their standard die has basically zero clearance in my chamber. A 2x case causes the bolt to close hard. The die is unable to bump the shoulder more. My workaround is annealing but your workaround should be the NM die.
Re the standard vs NM die, look at it this way: I have a TRG-22 and their standard die is only able to bump the shoulder .002" on a 1x fired case. This gets worse the harder the case is to size. A LC case 1x fired from a semi auto and sized in their standard die has basically zero clearance in my chamber. A 2x case causes the bolt to close hard. The die is unable to bump the shoulder more. My workaround is annealing but your workaround should be the NM die.
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