Help on Die selection

Brewster20

Brewster20

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Hi there, I have been reloading straight wall pistol for years, but am just now getting into rifle reloading. I have purchased the Hornady Classic single stage press kit, but my discussions with long time reloaders suggest staying away from Hornady dies. I have searched the web, and have found the following: REDDING PREMIUM FULL LENGTH DIE SET - A - 223 REM
I am planning on loading for .223 Remington for my CZ 527 FS, strictly target shooting. Are there any comments on the Redding (or suggestions for perhaps more appropriate dies)?
Thanks
 
Redding are top notch, but so are forster and usually cheaper. RCBS dies are the inexpensive standard and have served millions just fine.

I suggest forster but the real question is how deep down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
 
I have Redding, RCBS, Forster, Whidden, and Lee.

The Whidden dies are serving me well in 6.5X47 but the finishing on them is pretty bad and the feel cheap. It shouldn't really matter but you pay premium die prices for them. I will probably go back though as Whidden just released a new Sizer die that has "clicks" in it that allow you to adjust your shoulder bump by 1 thou increments.

I like my Reddings and they are top notch as curseyou says but they are not cheap. I have some Forster dies for my 6xc and really like them, seem very high quality for non crazy prices.
 
I recommend Forster full length benchrest dies that have the high mounted floating expander that greatly reduces neck runout.

Below the Forster FL die holds and centers the case neck when the floating expander enters the case neck. This prevents the expander from pulling the case necks off center and causing neck runout.

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Below I installed a Forster expander on my Redding .243 die to reduce neck runout. I can see why many people do not like using expanders when they have to drag the longer Redding expander through the case neck.

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Below I equipped all my RCBS dies with Forster high mounted expander and spindle assemblies. On the left is a RCBS .223 expander raised as high as it will move.

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Below the Forster benchrest seating die that holds the case and bullet in perfect alignment and can even correct neck runout.

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Bottom line, the Forster benchrest dies produce cases with the least amount of neck and bullet runout than any other die I have used in over 47 years of reloading.

Trust me, I have tried a "few" .223 dies, I have two AR15 rifles and a Savage .223 bolt action.

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When you use a concentricity gauge and actually start checking what kind of runout different dies give you, it's a no brainer for me to use Forster dies for anything that has to shoot accurately.
 
Seagull said:
With a bolt you can make the brass last longer with a Neck sizing die as well. Lee makes one if you wan to stay on the cheaper side.
Click to expand...

If you want a neck collet die - they are good and make it quicker but before you buy try a fired case back in your chamber !
I just bought a set for my 6mm only to find my chamber SLIGHTLY out of round and they didn't work - I needed a full size die which you will need eventually when neck sizing also
 
Brewster20:

As with others above. I have had great success with the Redding dies and have many sets in different calibers. All of the ones that I have, however, are eitherr Type S dies or Competition sets. The difference in those sets versus the Premium Die Set is being able to change out neck sizing bushings. In calibers where I was unable to get the Redding dies I have Forster dies and like those as well. When I started loading 30 years ago and was substantially more concerned with budget, I used RCBS and Lee dies. Both the Redding and Forster are considerably higher quality dies than either of those and produce significantly better loaded rounds from the aspect of consistency and runout. The most useful feature I have found on any of the dies is the micrometer top on the seating die.

Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the replies, very helpful stuff. After much consideration and reading, I have settled on these: Redding Reloading Deluxe Dies set 223 rem found a set in Canada.
Cheers
 
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