Which DIE

[Jackalope33B]

Hey Guys!
Im just starting to get everything I need to reload .308 for precision shooting. Just so you know, I will be using a forster co-ax single stage press.
Now my question is, to get the best performance from your rounds, is it wise to use the DIES from the company that makes the press you are using? From what I read, it seems REDDING Competition DIES is a top notch maker for their DIES. But I have also read good things about RCBS Competition DIES.

Any help, ideas, or suggestions is welcomed.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Which DIE

Doesn't matter. Use whichever brand you like. I like Forster and Redding. JMHO

 

[vman]

Re: Which DIE

Yeh use whatever dies you like.

IMO Forster dies offer the best value for money.

Lee dies offer your the cheapest dies to get the job done.

Redding dies offer you a buy once cry once solution and a feeling of superiority that comes with a high price tag

RCBS dies work well as do Hornady dies.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Which DIE

IMHO, only the Forsters and Reddings can justify their high cost. All the rest are tied for second place.

The press couldn't care less what dies you use.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Which DIE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jackalope33B</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Now my question is, to get the best performance from your rounds, is it wise to use the DIES from the company that makes the press you are using?</div></div>

Does not really mater. Every press subscribes to the same common thread.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> From what I read, it seems REDDING Competition DIES is a top notch maker for their DIES. But I have also read good things about RCBS Competition DIES. </div></div>

Its the indian, not the arrow.

I happen to like the Redding competition dies. The sliding sleave holds the case concentric while the "other" operation is being performed. Whether this mechanism is better than the other guys mechanisms--I have no idea. It was, however, good enough to get my reloads to the accuracy levels I wanted--so I stopped looking.

 

[fish30114]

Re: Which DIE

Any dies will work as mentioned. I have used every die mfg I can think of and the only ones I have had true issues with have been Redding Sizing dies--only sizing dies (twice) and Hornady dies. Having said that, I still like both of them OK, and really like Redding Competition Seater dies. I pregfer Forster dies of both types, The 'Micrometer' seating die is a nice feature, but not really needed if your not gonna be changing bullet seating depth frequently, or if you are going to dedicate one set of dies to a particular rifle. Forster dies are top notch, and all the dies I buy now are Forsters if available in the caliber I am wanting. I use them in both of my presses, the Co-Ax and the RCBS Rockchucker.

 

[flashhole]

Re: Which DIE

I agree with the comments on the dies. One thing I have seen is you are better off with a shell holder made by the same company that makes the press.

 

[fw707]

Re: Which DIE

I'm using a Co-ax press with Forster and Redding dies.

If you get anything other than Forsters don't forget to get lock rings to fit the dies to your Co-ax press.
Lock rings made by Sinclair and Hornady are supposedly better quality than the stock Forster rings. I don't know that from experience, just from hearsay.

 

[18Echo]

Re: Which DIE

Redding comp dies are nice, but the forster ultra micrometer seater die set is half the price and works the exact same.

 

[Clark]

Re: Which DIE

In my co-ax press, I like Lee collet neck dies with the nose of the collet and the cup of the collet sleeve polished smooth, so it won't feel crunchy at the press handle.

I like the Forster benchrest seater die or Forster ultra micrometer seater die. In either seater die, I want to polish the cup of the seater stem with the lowest run out rotary tool I can find, so bullets won't get suck on seater or have ring around the ogive.


But way more important than brand of press or die is that I do not change a neck size by pulling a sizer ball through it.

Fancy presses, collet neck die, sliding sleeve seater die, all that money is just to chase the last .001" of runout on the loaded ammo. The sizer ball can screw it up .004", so that is the 600 pound gorilla of handloading improvements.

 

[fw707]

Re: Which DIE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
But way more important than brand of press or die is that I do not change a neck size by pulling a sizer ball through it.
</div></div>


So what do you do?
De-cap in a separate operation, and then run the case in the sizing die with the decapper pin/expander ball stem removed?
Neck sizing the outside dimension only?

 

[Furtaker_.223]

Re: Which DIE

I use nothing but redding compitition dies. A little expensive, but worth it. JMO

 

[Clark]

Re: Which DIE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fw707</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

So what do you do?
De-cap in a separate operation, and then run the case in the sizing die with the decapper pin/expander ball stem removed?
Neck sizing the outside dimension only? </div></div>

Yes. Yes.

Try it, you'll like it.

 

[fish30114]

Re: Which DIE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fw707</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

So what do you do?
De-cap in a separate operation, and then run the case in the sizing die with the decapper pin/expander ball stem removed?
Neck sizing the outside dimension only? </div></div>

Yes. Yes.

Try it, you'll like it. </div></div>

Clark, I do like this methodology, and share your disdain for expanders--what do you do when you have case neck dinged pretty good? Like when you eject it and don't catch it and it hits the floor and flattens a side, or they get banged when cleaning?

 

[dkw3]

Re: Which DIE

Redding dies have worked great for me.

 

[Clark]

Re: Which DIE

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fish301</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> disdain for expanders--what do you do when you have case neck dinged pretty good? Like when you eject it and don't catch it and it hits the floor and flattens a side, or they get banged when cleaning? </div></div>

Expanders bend necks if they are changing the necks size on the pull stroke.
Not nearly as bad on the push stroke.

When Bradshaw said that he never touched the 220 Russian brass with an expander ball to get it up to 6mmPPC, I was slow to understand how expanding with a mandrel was different. His answer to me back then went over my head.
Toby Bradshaw post 1994
"I turned the necks on 25 Lapua .220 Russian cases after expanding the necks to 6mm and running them through a Redding 6PPC FL die to set the neck/shoulder junction back (no expander ball used, *ever*). "
"..At 300 yards, the 28.5gr load had 4 shots with only 0.124 of vertical, and 0.601 horizontal.."

 

[Jackalope33B]

Re: Which DIE

Lots of opinons here lol.. Guess I have more research to do and see what is going to fit my needs best. Now, do I want a Ful length die, or just a Neck die ::scratching head::

 

[Clark]

Re: Which DIE

You can full length size without an expander ball and get a tiny neck inside diameter.

The seated bullet will expand the neck, and the ammo can be very accurate.

I have not had trouble seating jacketed bullets, even flat base.

 

[fw707]

Re: Which DIE

Clark, do you have any experience with the Forster sizing die?
The expander ball is set higher on the stem so it enters the case right before the neck of the case starts into the neck area of the die, supposedly reducing the run-out usually associated with expander balls. I just got some Forster dies, but I haven't gotten anything to measure run-out yet.

Seems like I can't buy everything at once, and I'm always needing something else!!

 

[Clark]

Re: Which DIE

I have read the instructions for keeping the sizer ball up high. It does not do anything for me.

I must admit that I have not done good controlled tests with the concentricity gauge.

I have by passed the issue and some annealing.

I have sent the full length sizing die body back to Forster to get the neck honed out on Forster's Hardinge collet lathes for $10 each.

I know I have done this for;
1) 6mmBR
2) 257 Roberts Ackley Improved
3) 30-30
4) 308
5) 30-06
6) 8x57mm
7) 338 Win Mag
8) 223

My current favorite die setup is to:
1) De cap with Lee decapping die, 2) neck size with the Lee collet die, and 3) seat with the Forster seater. When and if the shoulder needs to be pushed back, 4) use the Forster full length die with the neck honed out for the shoulder bump.

This works so well, that the weak link in the accuracy is me, not the ammo.