New to reloading - need to buy reloading die set

I've heard some very positive recommendations of L.E. Wilson reloading dies as well.

Lee always treated me well, and I've got a set of Redding dies in 6.5 CM that seem to be producing good precision.
 
Snider shooter said:
A rookie to center fire rifles.
A rookie to reloading.
Get a standard die set and learn how to use that first before you get all the fancy dies. Don’t over complicate stuff starting out.
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:) it is a bit steep for a non english born to understand the slang all the time, but I am working hard on it
 
bigHUN said:
Last couple days I was making parts for the tester tool, put it together today.
Finished a concentricity test on this batch of amo a friend did last for me.
I am seeing a neck runout between 2 and 4 thousands, and the bullet runout mostly follows the neck fit but I catch a few that are not.
In my eyes the runout is a result of a tool the guy was using when reloading?
I will visit him tomorrow to see what brand/tool he was using ...
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For some insight into why you may have runout …. If you go to the Forster site and look/read about the ‘case conditioning tools’ (inside and outside) you will get an idea of one of the areas where brass preparation (or a lack of it) ‘may’ cause bullet runout in a loaded round. There are other causes as well. Not all brass cases are dimensionally perfect. Nor are bullets. Additionally there can be significant mayhem caused to the dimensions of a brass case during resizing as a result of pulling the expander ‘ball’ out of the case neck. This ‘neck expansion’ process is actually pretty crude and one reason why some folks like the Lee Collet dies
 
Unfortunately there isn’t a simple answer to what dies are best. It is a case by case basis.

Something like a set of bushing dies are only going to be a benefit if the standard dies don’t provide the right amount of neck sizing. For instance I have 308 Hornady dies and 300WSM RCBS dies that size the casing necks excessively. It literally causes issues seating the bullets. Thinner brass like Hornady will be less of an issue than say Lapua.
If your standard dies are providing a good amount of neck sizing then bushing dies will not help.
 
If the die is holding you back from shooting, my suggestion is to go for what you can get and upgrade later - use the example set by your buddy. Upgrade when the gear is holding you back and sell your old stuff to those coming into the sport. Shooting is a gear intensive sport and when you start competing, there's always a flavour of the day that folks recommend. I went the RCBS, Redding route ... but I'm now using Dillon and Hornady as well.
 
Looks like my best option is to order dies online.
Wilson resizing die? or any other but bushing die? I measured my shot brass - neck - with micrometer, most likely any bushing shall be custom jig grind or hand lap... if I really wanna be anal with dimensions...
Also I am ready to order a arbor press most likely K+M, with force pack is attracting my attention not sure the extra cost is justified.
I would like to avoid buying cheap then upgrade again and again, this how ppl getting drawers full of thing don't use any longer. Buy ones cry ones this what we say ....
 
Buy a set of Redding "S" Type dies with the bushing that you need and at least one size up and one size down. +.001" -.001. If you get into neck turning you will need extra sizes. Also buy a Redding competition seater and a Redding body die.
I don't use an arbour press as I could not image using one to load several hundred rounds needed for a big competition.
 
If you are looking to load concentric ( straight) ammo you will not do much better that a Redding body die to size your case and bump your case shoulder, a Lee Collet die to size your case neck and a good seater die ( Forster Ultra or Redding Comp) to seat your bullet. As for neck tension Lee sells under sized mandrels for the Collet die or you can get standard ones and turn/sand them to what you want. This set-up is as good as many custom set-ups and much less expensive JMO
 
Don't think it's been mentioned yet: in your search for concentricity you have to consider setting up to turn the necks on your brass. Just one more avenue to go down equipment- and procedure-wise. Deeper into the rabbit hole you go.......
 
Forster, Redding are a level above the RCBS/LEE/HORNADY stuff.
Whidden is another step up from that.
But yeah, as mentioned, way more to focus on and learn then the loading part.
 
I have a Question:
The single stage press that I inherited from the friend is the - CH (tool & die) Magnum H Press, the early aluminum cast version, single station.
It is in relatively good shape, not clonked out yet.
I am looking around now to find the two piece - parallel bushing set for it? The upper to fit the 7/8"-14 thread and the lower to sit in a counterbored hole.
I think these size shall be generic with other Brands as well.
 
BigHun - some of us started to reload with Lee Loader - use soft face hammer to pound fired brass into a die - replace primer - use a scoop to dispense powder - seat a bullet and go shoot deer. Then we got "smart" and got a scale to weigh the powder - found out how much variation we were doing. Then got single station press and full length sizing dies. Then got a case trimmer and calliper to trim to length - all still using store bought, off-the-shelf rifles, or converted mil-surps. In my case, I bought a Hand Outside Neck Trimmer - Forster brand I think - I could not show myself with 5 shot groups a difference on targets at 100 yards with my 338 Win Mag - so I quit "uniforming" or "thinning" necks - some specialty rifles might be able to show a difference - my store bought Winchester Model 70, and my shooting skill could not.

You will read much "finesse" about reloading - try to distinguish between what works out well in a store bought commercial rifle, versus a precise custom made thing - I believe guys after incredible accuracy - like 0.010" 10 shot groups at 100 yards - spend inordinate amount of time on re-doing their brass cases - but they also have the rifles that can respond to that. I do not. I do not know about you. Mostly maybe start about making lots of ammo that goes "bang" - consider that a success - the fine tuning bench rest stuff is interesting to know - learn something about statistics and decide for yourself if you and your gear benefit from any particular technique - does not really matter what anyone else says is "best" to do - chances good they are not using your gear / your components / your skills, etc.
 
bigHUN said:
I have a Question:
The single stage press that I inherited from the friend is the - CH (tool & die) Magnum H Press, the early aluminum cast version, single station.
It is in relatively good shape, not clonked out yet.
I am looking around now to find the two piece - parallel bushing set for it? The upper to fit the 7/8"-14 thread and the lower to sit in a counterbored hole.
I think these size shall be generic with other Brands as well.
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You can phone CH directly and ask them , they may be able to point you in the right direction.
Cat
 
I will buy couple bushings undersized and do honing diy on my micro mill.
The brass what I measured the necks usually oval (in microns), want to measure now the neck wall thickness if follows the OD but expecting not much.
The off the shelf bushing dies the friend used on my reloading not really some hightech precision ...
 
Snider shooter said:
A rookie to center fire rifles.
A rookie to reloading.
Get a standard die set and learn how to use that first before you get all the fancy dies. Don’t over complicate stuff starting out.
Click to expand...
Yup Dad just runs Lee dies. Makes 308 ammo that punches a hole clean thru the neck of a 223 case, split playing cards end on. Learn the basics.
 
peterdobson said:
We use Forster dies.
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It is good that you mentioned "hirschprecision", I just came over here from that website looking for couple things... going back there now again.
The problem over there with the website is - not enough pictures...
For instance I need many things and I don't know the names of those but I know how it looks...
 
bigHUN said:
It is good that you mentioned "hirschprecision", I just came over here from that website looking for couple things... going back there now again.
The problem over there with the website is - not enough pictures...
For instance I need many things and I don't know the names of those but I know how it looks...
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Because Peter owns Hirsch. Dad always speak highly of him.
I think you're over thinking. Learn the basics before you try and master. Don't be afraid to not be perfect the first time.
 
OkayShooter said:
Because Peter owns Hirsch. Dad always speak highly of him.
I think you're over thinking. Learn the basics before you try and master. Don't be afraid to not be perfect the first time.
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:) I consider myself above average in mechanics, when I was in your age my Dad just hated that I take everything apart just to see what is inside :p
 
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