redding dies

[Quackaddict]

Hey guys, need to pick your brains with this one. I am tooling up for a new rifle in 243 winchester, I don't plan on buyng any factory loads and want to go right to handloads. For dies I would like to start with a redding Type S Match bushing 3 die neck sizing set. From what I gather I need to measure a loaded round and subtract the amount of neck tension I want and order that bushing size (example= OD of loaded round is .250 - .002 = need a .248 bushing for neck sizer die) IS this logic correct? For different bullets do you need different bushings? How do you come up with the correct OD of a round if you have no factory loads? Can I just measure any 243 round and go at it? I would suppose brass type would matter though.

Thoughts?

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: redding dies

Brands of brass 'may' have varying neckwall thicknesses, so you might need to get a couple of bushings. Also, if your chamber is blowing out your necks, say more than .005"-.008", you might consider getting a stepdown bushing to relieve some stress in those necks. If you're shooting a tight neck, disregard.

You can measure walls, get a average then multiply by two.

You can then determine how much neck tension you want and buy the appropriate bushing(s).

308:

.0145" neck avg. x 2 = .029"

I want .003" of neck tension.

.305" (.003" under nominal bullet diameter) + .029" = .334" bushing.

If your necks are softer and are giving you springback, you might get a .333" bushing, since the brass can yield a .001" expansion above the bushing's I.D..

You also can take loaded rounds and measure a bunch and average them all out and subtract .001" or .002".

I like to do the math and understand why what is what.

Chris

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: redding dies

Get the full length die set. You can neck size with it and bump the shoulders with the same die. Just back the die out 1/4 of a turn.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: redding dies

.248 bushing will not work. The bushing diameter means whatever goes threw there will be that diameter. Example if you pushed a 308cal bullet threw a 307dia bushing the bullet would have 307 dia instead of 308. Make sense ? What Chris said, neck thinkness x 2 + bullet dia. So youll need around 260 for your needs. What is your case neck thickness?

 

[slg888]

Re: redding dies

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Victor N TN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get the full length die set. You can neck size with it and bump the shoulders with the same die. Just back the die out 1/4 of a turn. </div></div>+1

 

[TCA4570]

Re: redding dies

Ya must have a mighty tight chamber, and thin brass, if you used a .307 bushing for a .308!

Pay attention to what the brass wants to do, and work around it.
Neck sometimes.
Bump the shoulder or neck.
FL resize is not the cure all.

Different seating die may get you through this.

Some have larger contact area and work differently.

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: redding dies

Mallard, the numbers I used we just used to make my logic make sense, I haven't bought any brass yet, and I don't even have the rifle. Im stuck between lapua and winchester brass, I can buy an assload of win brass for what it will cost me to get 300 rnds of 243 lapua brass. Whatever I use I will only use one type of brass to minimize the number of bushings and bullshit I will need to deal with.

OK, so reapplied logic. Bullet diameter is .243, average wall thickness is .0145 x2 = .029

.243+.029 = .272-.002 = .270 neck bushing needed. An if I have a large chamber blowing the cases out to say .280 I will need an intermediate bushing to step it down. Do I have this right?

As far as the FL die set, I thought that is what the body die was for in the neck sizing set, that die would bump the shoulder back without touching the neck.

Do they make a set with the bushings that has the FL die and the comp seater?

 

[repiv]

Re: redding dies

I just went through what you are going through. This is not as EXACT as you might think. I use Lapua brass and it measures an average of .0145 - .015 so .029 - .030 for both sides. Add this to the .308 bullet and I have a .337 seated round. So you would think if I wanted .0015 - .002 neck tension I would use a .335 or .336 bushing.

I ended up using a .338 bushing and the brass is .3365 - .337 after sizing (this is the part that I do not fully understand) but DOES hold the bullet well.

My fired brass is .343 so I am taking it down .005 with this bushing.

Anyway long story short don’t be surprised if you have to order 2-3 bushing sizes before you get it where you want it. Plus if you use different brass or neck trim the stuff you have it will change too. Oh and with this process you won’t be using the expander ball either unless you buy new brass and need to straighten up the necks

 

[ED_RN]

Re: redding dies

Get the Type S Match Neck Die Set
Type S Neck Size Die
Body Die
Competition Seater Die

www.gunstop.com

 

[Quackaddict]

Re: redding dies

Not gonna lie, I like the idea of the comp seater, but the bushings are starting to seem like a huge pain in the ass, especially considering my handloads with a plain jane neck and Fl sizing die shoot better than I can to 400 yds, plus I dont have to change bushings if I use a different brass.

Is there that much of a benifit to the bushing dies?