Die set recommendations - 22-250 Rem, Tikka T3

O

OldNewGuy

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G'day all.....

I have a question which I hope some of the forum who reload 22-250 Rem can answer for me.

I just bought a Tikka T3 in that caliber, they were clearing 'em out before the T3X's come in (around $720 or something like that for the wood T3 Hunter at LeBaron). I picked it up because I want to head out 'yote hunting with some friends who have farmers call them in for control. I'm just starting my brass gathering (from what I shoot for sight-in & practicing with it mostly - maybe 60 rounds, and a hundred or so once-fired Win brass from one of the coyote group) and will likely have enough brass to start reloading for the rifle within a month or so.

I currently reload for 444 Marlin, 6.5X55, 30-06, 308, 270 and some handgun calibers. I have some dies which are Lyman (270 and 6.5X55) but the bulk of the rifle die sets are RCBS. Of course, the 9mm and 357/38 are carbide and both are Lyman sets. Overall, very happy with the RCBS dies, except for the 308. When I first got started, I used Lee die sets after graduating from the Lee whack-a-mole manual sets, but I've given up on Lee due to design and durability issues.

If any of you folk reload 22-250 with any die set except the Lee, can you let me know what you use, and why? Any die set manufacturers to avoid for the 22-250? Other tips for this caliber?

Thanks much, in advance.

O.N.G.
 
I don't load 22-250, but i always look to redding or forster before anything else. I like the deluxe redding die set and it gives you the option to add a micrometer seater stem if you want.
 
I'm also a redding and Forster guy, but there's no shortage of guys on here that shoot very accurately with Lee and RCBS.

Given that you're t3 is more of a hunter model vs a heavy barrelled varmint/precision, I likely wouldn't bother with bushings, but a micrometer seater can make a lot of difference.

-J.
 
I use RCBS full length and neck sizers that were made in 1975, still going strong.
I recently got a Lee collet set, and so far I'm happy with them.
I don't know what you are referring to as far as durability of Lee, I thought they were pretty much indestructible.
I have Redding .308 dies and they are my least favorite. I find they scratch easily, and the neck sizer is so tight it rubs the shoulder even with cases from a known tight target chamber.
 
Lee Collet,
Redding Body,
Forster micro seater

Fanboy of best die irrelevant of company.

Can you elaborate on the durability issue, all other post about Lee is great durability.
OldNewGuy said:
... but I've given up on Lee due to design and durability issues.
...
Click to expand...
 
I load thousands of rounds a year with Lee Collets and Forrester seaters. Never had an issue with the Collets and they produce very low runout. If you want to experiment with neck tension you can buy under and over sized mandrels from Lee for $5...beats the heck out of $25 bushings imo and not having to use lube on cases is a big bonus.
 
The Forster dies with the high mounted floating expander produce cases with the least amount of neck runout. This expander system works so well I fitted all my RCBS dies with Forster expander and spindle units.

Below a RCBS .223 full length die with a Forster expander assembly.

IMG_2140_zpsea657d9e.jpg


Below is a Forster cutaway drawing of the die, the neck of the case is held and centered in the neck of the die when the expander enters the case neck. Meaning the high mounted floating expander can not pull your neck off center. The rubber washer (W-10) allows the expander spindle to float and move and center with the die.

Sizer_Die_011_zpst2zm6m7y.gif
 
Really any die set will work fine...even the cheap lee dies. You have the rifle for coyote control not for 1200 yard PRS shoots. I use Redding/ Forster for my Precision rifles and RCBS for my hunting rifles.
 
Thanks to all for the input.

Regarding my Lee experience - it was many years ago, and probably just a one-shot [pun intended] issue but I had a Lee F/L set for my 270 Win - and the threads started separating from the body, leaving some little spiral pieces of metal on my bench. Likely just bad heat treating, but I've shied away from Lee ever since (and, no, at the time I didn't know about the warranty, this happened about 3 years after I'd bought them new - I didn't think any warranty would still be valid, so I tossed the things)

It turns out a buddy has a Redding premium die set for 22-250, with the neck sizer being the third die, so I made a deal to buy them since he went to a 223 from his 22-250 (he said the 223 was quieter, lower report - I have my doubts but whatever floats your boat).

Thanks again for the advice/recommendations.

Old New Guy
 
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