Redding National Match Dies

bradthemarine

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 14, 2012
68
14
44
I'm putting together a reloading operation for a 700 in .308 and I'm trying to decide on which dies to purchase. While I'm not looking to break the bank, I learned very quickly in the long range shooting game quality is almost always cheaper in the end. I wanted to see what everyone thinks of the Redding National Match dies and what added benefit to they bring vice regular dies. Is this worth the extra investment or is this just something more for a beginner to screw up? Thanks for your help.

Brad
 
There isn't really a need at all for a crimp die in my opinion. I also really prefer the collet neck sizing die with titanium nitride collets from redding and then use their body die to bump the shoulder. Then finally while their competition seating die is good if I could swap out for the Forster seater I would. If you go for the full competition die set from redding and use their seater its not a bad solution at all.

~Brett
 
Because you get lower runout and more flexibility with a separate neck sizing die.

~Brett

Been there, tried that multiple times but for me found it no better than what I can do with a full length bushing die like the Redding S. Curious as to what adds more flexibility with a separate neck die?
 
Been there, tried that multiple times but for me found it no better than what I can do with a full length bushing die like the Redding S. Curious as to what adds more flexibility with a separate neck die?

Mainly it allows me to lube then body size and throw it into the tumbler to take the lube off then later I can neck size with a TiN collet not using lube. I don't like throwing into the tumbler after the primers are removed as I then have to check the flash holes for media stuck in them. If I do it this way media gets stuck in the flash holes but when you do the neck sizing and de-priming it pushes that all out. Then over to the giraud trimmer.

I should comment that there are some well sourced articles that state that neck sizing before body sizing results in lower runout but I'm willing to accept that to not have to go through and manually poke out all the flash holes. I just got done going through about 1000 rounds of 308 this way and when the numbers get higher extra steps suck. Granted neck sizing then body sizing is two steps and FL sizing and then poking flash holes is two steps but I'd rather do things this way I guess...

~Brett
 
Last edited:
I recently went through a similar decision making process and decided upon the Redding Bushing S neck die set with the body sizer and the comp bullet seater. And since I am gearing up to do semis in addition to bolt guns, I bought a type S FL sizer die as well. Perhaps to some the extra die was not necessary, but I thought for an extra $50 or so it would not break the bank and might add more flexibility. Plus, I like finely machined gadgets!!!