What dies are you using?

[HSNARC]

Ive got my .260 back from the smith, and ive got my IOR sitting on top of it, now all i need is some ammo. Im planning on necking up Lapua .243 brass, but exactly how do i go about that? Just run it through a .260 FL sizer die and call it a day? or do i need a special neck expander die? If i do need a special die where do i get it because ive looked quite a bit and cant seem to find anything on Midway, Sinclair, or RCBS.

And what kind of dies are you using for seating and FL sizing?

Do i need a FL sizer, and a Neck sizer or is neck sizing only just a way to prolong the life of your brass?

 

[psinclair]

Re: What dies are you using?

I just finished necking up 100 .243 Lapua brass into .260 brass using Redding type "S" match die with the expander ball and bushing in place....only wrecked one piece(split neck). I had to apply pretty good force to get it started in the expander. I used a bit on Imperial die wax on the inside of the neck and that seemed to help.

 

[NukeMMC]

Re: What dies are you using?

Take a look at the Hornady sizing dies, specifically the expander ball. It is elliptical and makes for much easier necking-up on brass.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: What dies are you using?

I use Forster dies. They are made by the same people that make Redding and they are a bit cheaper. That does not mean lower quality...the dies are damn near identical.

Run the 243 through a FL die and then use a tubing micrometer (get one) to measure the neck thickness and check for donuts near the neck/shoulder junction. You will probably need to use a neck turner to clean it up near that junction and support consistent neck tension.

Josh

 

[427Cobra]

Re: What dies are you using?

Redding Type S Bushing Die with a .290 TIN bushing, and floating carbide expander ball, this setup works great with Rem and Win 7-08 necked down, if you neck down no donuts, necking up makes donuts and neck turning is required to prevent/remove.

 

[HSNARC]

Re: What dies are you using?

well i guess maybe i should weigh my options. I really dont want to neck turn.

Whats involved in the necking down process? Im still fairly new to reloading. I was always told that necking down would result in an interior "Doughnut" around the inside of the neck, and that inside reaming would be required to fix this.

Maybe i should just buy the Nosler .260 brass but its almost a dollar a piece. Ive seen some people getting good results with RP brass but im hesitant to go that direction.

 

[bignada]

Re: What dies are you using?

Redding Type S Full Length and Forster competition micrometer seater.

Can use the FL die to size neck or portion of neck only.
Can buy die bodies and seating stems from Forster so don't have to buy a complete die for every ctg you load for. Forster die is nicer than the Redding. I have owned several Redding Comp sets. Not like I ever needed a mic head on a sizer die...

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Re: What dies are you using?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use Forster dies. They are made by the same people that make Redding and they are a bit cheaper. That does not mean lower quality...the dies are damn near identical. </div></div>

Where did you hear that they are made by the same people?

Forster patented their seater design, and only after the patent expired did Redding copy it as their Competition Rifle Seating die. Forster sells the die with and without the micrometer adjustment. Redding sells that design only with micrometer adjustment.

Forster has the better (cross-bolt) lock ring instead of the set-screw lock ring on the Redding. Redding has higher contrast markings on their micrometer head.

Andy

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: What dies are you using?

"what kind of dies are you using for seating and FL sizing?"

I can tell you but it won't help; the brand won't make much if any average difference in what you can expect to achieve with any of them. I have well over 30 sets of some 10 brands of dies in my loading room. I like 'em all but some do a bit better work than others, with the positive exception of Redding and Forster. That better performance of some isn't because of brand, it's just because the normal manufacturing tolerances sometimes work towards better performance in some individual dies. Rarely does the better sizer and seater come in the same set, you'll need to try multipule sets to find the better dies for each purpose.

But Forster and Redding dies are made by the same people? Goodness, that's not so!

Redding did copy the excellant Forster (originally Bonanza) seater design after the patent protection expired, just as they copied Lyman's M expander plug for pistol dies. The Redding/Forsters are functional equals and really are - usually - a little bit better than most conventional rifle die sets.

A Lyman M expander may well be the best choice for expanding necks up. Me, if I'm changing something I much prefer to neck down if it's possible - and it usually is. Doughnuts occur when necking up, not down, because moving up puts part of the shoulder into the neck. And neck turning really isn't all that big a deal for non-BR rigs, I reslly like to make my .22-250 and .243 cases from .270 or .30-06 because I can get perfectly fitted necks that way!

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: What dies are you using?

Big Jake,

I think I just misinterpreted it when I was told about it the first time. You and Fuzzball are correct. I have never used redding dies, so I had nothing for comparison other than the comment. Thanks for clearing it up.

Josh