New to 338 lapua looking for die suggestions

bscriver

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I am just beginning to reload 338 lapua. I have lots of experience loading handgun and 223 on a progressive but this is my first accuracy cartridge. I was planning on getting both a full length and a neck size die as well as a bullet seater. I don't want to go straight to a competition bushing die yet, but would like to get a very good set to start. As I have said loading for a bolt gun is completely new to me and would welcome any suggestions. Ill be using hornaday brass and most likely retumbo powder. Any help finding a supplier with stock would help.

Thanks
Brad
 
Redding !

I'd suggest you spring for the competition bushing dies now if your budget will accommodate it. Point being, you save so darn much money building your own .338LM's that almost any expense you go to you'll recoup in nothing flat. The only thing difficult to "justify" might be a .338LM die collection.
 
I have Redding also. I have a Redding body die, Type S neck bushing die, and a Forester precision micrometer bullet seating die. They all work great and produce very consistant ammo and I am loading on a Lee 50th press. I have a Redding "lathe" type case trimmer. It's the only thing I could find to trim the cases. Buy the good dies now. You want these cases to last as long as posible to get the most bang for your buck.
 
could someone clarify if the bushing come with redding competition neck sizing die set? If not what size are useful to have? Also has any tried the competition shell holder?
 
The bushing does not come with the die set. You need to decide what neck tension you want first. Measure a loaded case and subtract the amount of neck tension you want, that is the bushing size.

From the Redding website:

The easiest way to determine the proper diameter bushing is to measure the neck diameter of several loaded or dummy cartridges with an accurate micrometer. (These dummy cartridges can be loaded with your old set of dies or a borrowed set.) Then, simply subtract 0.001" from the cartridge that had the smallest average measurement. This will allow for a slight amount of spring back and create a proper press fit for the bullet.

Another method of determining bushing size, is to measure the neck wall thickness of the cartridge cases with a ball type or tubing micrometer. Double this measurement and add the bullet diameter to calculate the neck diameter of a loaded cartridge. As above, subtract 0.001" from this figure to determine bushing size. This method is the least desirable of the two, as a ball micrometer is fairly expensive and more difficult to read consistently than a conventional micrometer.

If you're starting with new cases, the neck wall thickness can be determined as above with a ball micrometer, or you can seat boat-tail bullets in a few cases and measure their neck diameter. Generally, the neck diameter of new cases is small enough to hold a bullet without sizing. As a last resort, you can measure the neck wall thickness of the cases with a caliper. Be aware that you may not select the correct bushing on the first try when using a caliper to measure neck wall thickness, due to the reduced measuring accuracy of the caliper.

Oh and spring for the Titanium coated ones, no need to lube with those.
 
That process is exactly why I'm not really excited to go bushing right away. If it was truly that simple to select the right size bushing, how come redding can't be bother to list the top three choices for any particular caliber? Their failure to do this make me wonder if its not that easy. At $20/$35 each, I'd like not to have to buy more then is necessary. Has anyone reloaded 338 lapua with these dies? What bushing did you use?

Brad
 
That process is exactly why I'm not really excited to go bushing right away. If it was truly that simple to select the right size bushing, how come redding can't be bother to list the top three choices for any particular caliber? Their failure to do this make me wonder if its not that easy. At $20/$35 each, I'd like not to have to buy more then is necessary. Has anyone reloaded 338 lapua with these dies? What bushing did you use?

Brad

I use em Brad. I can't tell you whats in my die right now as I'm away at work. If you find the process of bushing selection is more vexing than interesting, you may indeed be more satisfied with an alternative type die. Thay all work. You can live without bushings, they're just another tweak. I'm into the "tweaks" and made an erroneous assumption in my earlier post. RCBS, Hornady and Lee make great dies too.
 
I use a .359 bushing which has been giving me 8 thou neck tension. I just ordered a .365 bushing which should give me 2 thou neck tension. My loaded rounds measure .367. I think Redding can not supply or list "top choices" of bushings due to the different wall thickness of different brass suppliers. Lapua will be different than Hornady and so on, which will require a different bushing.
 
I measured the last of my hornady factory today, all was .357 ( I only had 4 left). Ill start with the .365 and see how it goes.
Brad
 
I know alot of folks have been having trouble with Hornady brass. Sticky bolts and what not. You may want to try some Lapua brass. I'm up to 11 reloads with my brass so far, neck sizing and anealing after 3 firings running 91.0gn of H1000.
 
Not to break off topic, but you mention loading on a progressive, and I'm curious as to whether you feel it is precise enough for this endeavor......just something to think about.
 
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