S type vs competition neck die. Also seating die?

[little_scrapper]

I am looking at picking up a Redding S type neck sizing die like this one.: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GU5072/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3VDBPE82S43CG&psc=1

A micrometer seating die like this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GU94ME/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3TLY47US33C3C&psc=1

With a set of competition shell holders for 308. Any better/different options I should look at? Right now I have a redding basic 3 die set and my bumps are all over the place likely do to expander ball drag. *shrug* I use only NATO M118LR brass for now.

EDIT FOR SIMPLIFICATION: Which one is "likely" to give better results on necks? The S Type FL neck die or the competition neck only micrometer die? I dont turn necks.

Also, which is "likely" to give me less runout in a seating die? The Redding Match or the competition seating die?

 

[Dthomas3523]

Get the FL die. And the competition seating die is g2g.

To get much better you’ll have to get custom dies, or get an arbor press with chamber seating dies.

Or FL size without neck sizing and then run a collet die on neck.

 

[Pvt.Donut]

I agree with Dthomas, no reason not to use a FL die.

Also, Runout isn't controlled by the seating operation. It's a factor of all operations. To test runout you'd test it at every step of the process from fireformed through seating and determine which step is inducing runout and correct as needed. Typically runout is induced by the sizing operation.

 

[lightman]

I agree with the others. I have bought the carbide expander ball for most of my Redding dies.

I may be the odd man out on this, but I've never seen the need for competition shell holders. I would spend that money on other stuff.

 

[Steel head]

I like a lee collet/ Redding body die combo with a Redding or Forster seating die.
I wasn’t a fan of the bushing dies.

competition shell holders?

 

[Franko]

I tested a Redding S type full body die against a Lee Collet and Redding body die combo for runout. They produced pretty much the same runout (if you forced me to pick a winner it would be the Collet and body die combo).

I don't think you can go wrong with either approach.

 

[little_scrapper]

Or should I just get a VLD micrometer stem ($45) to insert into my regular seating die?

 

[natdscott]

Use the Forster BR seater die. More robust-er.

 

[want2learn]

i'm very pleased with the full length Forster sizing die that's been custom honed by Forster to the dimensions of my fire formed cases. It added very little cost. All i had to do was send in some fired cases along with the die.

Were i to do it over i probably should have paid a little more for the micrometer seating die over the standard, the latter works fine but i find i'm frequently playing with it till i obtain the desired seating depth as i try out different projectiles.

 

[little_scrapper]

What neck bushing to start with? I have measured the necks on several loaded dummy rounds. At the tip of the neck, the middle and the base of the neck. I have gotten from .3365" to .338". With the larger number being pretty much at the base of the neck. Probably from starting to flair out to the shoulder.

That being said I have about 60 prepped cases ready to load so I will have PLENTY of rounds to measure necks on.

I found one round in my scrap bag with a neck at .345". Lets assume that .345" is a fired case neck size. Should I start with something like a .340" bushing and then use a .335 or .336?