How to tell the difference between a full length die and a neck die

a1b3rt

a1b3rt

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I just got a Forster die set including two sizing dies. They look identical to each other, I couldn't tell any differences on size or shape, the only difference I could tell is the engraving where one says: FLS -U and the other says: N/M FLS -U.
Well, I can guess FLS stands for full length sizing, but I am not sure what does -U mean. "N/M FLS -U" confuses me big time.
Thanks for your help!
 
Did you buy those new or used?
FLS-U is your full length die
N/M FLS-U is a national match full length sizing die

forster makes 3 types of die, small base, national match and standard, marked with U, Q and something else to denote which series the dies are, I use thier micrometer seater dies and that's it so I am unsure of the letter designations, but what you have is 2 full length sizing dies, the national match die will bump the shoulder back 3 though and return the body of the case to minimum spec dimensions
 
Thanks Dave! I appreciate the information, very helpful!
I got them from someone else and told one is FL and the other is Neck die.
 
a1b3rt said:
Thanks Dave! I appreciate the information, very helpful!
I got them from someone else and told one is FL and the other is Neck die.
Click to expand...

sad to say he was mistaken, they are both full length sizing dies, U may be the die group which is sorted by cartridge type, in this case bottleneck case, either way both are okay to use and 1 may create more accurate ammo in your rifle, so size 20 pieces of brass in each die, load them with the same loads and compare the results on paper
 
Forster returned my call quick, very nice customer service.
-U is the year code they use.
Z means 2021, U means 2016
 
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