precision dies recomendations(308 win), redding, wilson

madman25

madman25

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Hello
Getting my 700 rebarreled and action blueprinted.
Figure its time to get rid of rcbs crap dies, and get some better dies
308 win btw
mulling around Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set, or maybe just get Wilson dies.

I have heard good things about both

and read a article that even may suggest redding is on par or better? than wilson

http://riflemansjournal.########.ca/2009/09/reloading-seating-die-runout.html

Just thought I would see what some people in the CGN community do

Thanks
Matt
 
I have a Redding Competition neck sizer and Competition seater. I also have a Redding S Type die that FL resizes and uses the same bushing and the competiton neck sizer.

If you just neck size you will need to FL resize after 4-5 loadings to bump the shoulder back anyway. I also have a Redding body for those time when you should have FL resized but didn't. You can run your loaded ammo throught the body die.
 
I have Hornady FL New Dimention dies if needed, Lee collet neck size die and Wilson in line seater (arbour press needed) All those perform like a charm so my 308Win LH Sportco 44 even after 2500 shots fired will still group 5 shots in 1" or so at 300m! You don't need to spend big bucks to get the results....
 
I use LEE collet neck sizing, dead length bullet seater and the factory crimp die.

I can't figure out how other sets of dies can be better even though they cost way more.
 
I've recently tries Forster benchrest seating dies and have been impressed. It is my understanding that Redding used the Forster design but charge more than the Forster dies.
 
maynard said:
I have a Redding Competition neck sizer and Competition seater. I also have a Redding S Type die that FL resizes and uses the same bushing and the competiton neck sizer.

If you just neck size you will need to FL resize after 4-5 loadings to bump the shoulder back anyway. I also have a Redding body for those time when you should have FL resized but didn't. You can run your loaded ammo throught the body die.
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Where is the best place to get these in Canada? I need to get some better dies.
By any chance you have the part numbers for what you have?
Thanks
 
Google Sinclair international. They will ship from the states.

If your getting a micrometer seater then I think the Forster is cheaper than the Redding last time I looked.

Hirsch precision, here in Canada, sell Forster.
 
RCBS crap dies?? I have dies made by both RCBS and Redding, and the quality of ammunition from both is equal. I also have a set of Redding competition dies, and a competition bullet seater from Forster. The advantage here is not so much the consistency of the ammunition you can produce with these dies, as you can produce very consistent ammunition with little run out using a standard die set, the advantage is in the way in which you can manipulate neck tension through various neck bushings and the way you can manipulate the amount of shoulder set back through the use of competition shell holders of varying heights. As for the supposed advantage of a micrometer bullet seater, a standard bullet seater works as well once you know the thread pitch and know the value a quarter turn provides. The ability to bump the shoulder of a loaded round is an advantage with the competition set that is unavailable to a standard die set, and I have made use of this from time to time. But if you intend to set up your die and never touch it again, the uber expensive Redding Competition dies provides little over a standard RCBS full length resizing or a neck sizing die.

If you want to be totally anal with respect to case neck and bullet run out, the Wilson in line dies designed to be used with a mini arbor press eliminates the thread pitch that is present with 7/8-14 threads or misalignment casued by the shell holder. Sort of like an expensive Lee Loader, with the advantage of bumping the shoulder. A pal of mine likes them, but I’ve yet to try them. Handloading is already slow enough thanks.
 
I asked a question a couple of years ago regarding best dies, something along the lines of : "How people determined what was the best die"

At least I think thats what I asked. :D I don't remember getting too many answers. I know that the micrometer seaters are nice, the fine adjustable depth control alone when seating is probably worth it if thats what you need. I don't own one by the way. I also realise that Redding bushing dies provide fairly precise neck tension (given the brass needs even necks to start with).

But when a guy asks who makes the the best die I think we have to compare apples to apples. If we take the standard body, die then the only way I know how to compare is to measure the loaded rounds at various points with a dial test indicator. This is really more a measurement of overall press and die alignement combined but it gives a semi honest comparison.

For what its worth, I have had a case where my Lee dies produce less runout than my basic Redding full size die. Its one example, but I be interested to hear from others why overall they choose Redding. :)

I do have a couple of sets of Redding and RCBS dies so I'm not biased. Just interested in the details of others oppinions.
 
Ishodu said:
Where is the best place to get these in Canada? I need to get some better dies.
By any chance you have the part numbers for what you have?
Thanks
Click to expand...

If I was going to buy again, I would get the S Type full length die with a competition Seating die. All my .308's have match chambers even though cut buy the same reamer they are slightly different. I FL resize to fit the tightest chamber and all my ammo fits all my .308's. The S Type dies don't seem to work the brass very hard, but again match chambers are not sloppy.

If you load to the largest chamber you have, you may need to run them through the body die, so you don't have to hammer the bolt closed.

A trip to Camp Parry during the US Nationals is well worth the trip. Sinclair's move a shop there that has everything. Bring your Gold Card;)
 
Hornady has a custom shop where you send in 5 fired cases or your reamer print and they will make you a re-sizing die, bushing or expander ball, to your specs. For $140-$160 I thought it was a fair price for a custom re-sizing die built for your chamber. The Redding customs come out a $100-$150 more depending on style. I ordered a Hornady, they were very good to deal with, but I haven't recieved it yet to give you a review. It's for a Wildcat so I had to get a custom die. For standard cartridges I find the Redding body die along with the Lee Collet neck sizer works well at a fair price. That way you can save some bucks for a seater of your choice and a cocentricity gauge to let you know what type of ammo your producing.
 
I use RCBS crap dies and get 1/2 MOA 5 shot groups with my 223 Rem, 243 Win and 308 Win rifles :confused:
That being said, I'm having my 243 Win rebarrelled to 6mm x 47 Lapua and bought Hornady 6mm X 47 Lapua Match Grade 2-Die Set (full length) in an attempt to break the 1/4 MOA barrier!

I'm an optimist: Hornady match dies might not be as good as Redding Type-S Competition dies but are far less expensive ;)

Alex
 
warrenb said:
I asked a question a couple of years ago regarding best dies, something along the lines of : "How people determined what was the best die"

At least I think thats what I asked. :D I don't remember getting too many answers. I know that the micrometer seaters are nice, the fine adjustable depth control alone when seating is probably worth it if thats what you need. I don't own one by the way. I also realise that Redding bushing dies provide fairly precise neck tension (given the brass needs even necks to start with).

But when a guy asks who makes the the best die I think we have to compare apples to apples. If we take the standard body, die then the only way I know how to compare is to measure the loaded rounds at various points with a dial test indicator. This is really more a measurement of overall press and die alignement combined but it gives a semi honest comparison.

For what its worth, I have had a case where my Lee dies produce less runout than my basic Redding full size die. Its one example, but I be interested to hear from others why overall they choose Redding. :)

I do have a couple of sets of Redding and RCBS dies so I'm not biased. Just interested in the details of others oppinions.
Click to expand...

I've had gauling problems with my Redding standard die sets, so I'm not likely going to buy them again. The advantage that both RCBS and Redding have other other manufacturers is the variety of die sets they make. Try and find big case or wildcat dies from Lee, yes you can special order them, but then there's the time thing and the cost becomes the same or higher than everyone elses. The biggest issues I've had across the board from all manufacturers is out of spec shell holders, I even have a Redding shell holder that was not finished, but made it through their inspection process.
 
hunter5425 said:
I've recently tries Forster benchrest seating dies and have been impressed. It is my understanding that Redding used the Forster design but charge more than the Forster dies.
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Yes. The Forsters are excellent and considerably cheaper than the Redding.

The Redding competition sizing die is VERY expensive. You'd do just as well with the regular Redding S type bushing die at much less expense.
 
Well I was snooping around in Sinclaire International and they had the Redding competition set for 199 on sale today, pulled the trigger on that, 15$ off their price, and way below Reddings recommended price of 339, Should do the trick, got a 330, and 328 bushing as well, my brass is .332-.3325, smith said that these 2 sizes were a good start

Thanks for the tips
 
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