Recommendation on Dies and where to buy

OldSavage

OldSavage

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I am building a rifle in 6.5 x 47 Lapua for long range precision shooting. I have been reloading for a few years but I am by no means an expert. I have been a big fan of my hornady dies but wondering if you have any other suggestions and where to buy?

I am a novice reloader and still learning.

Thanks,
 
Hornady are probably the most reasonable price....Redding are pretty nice but about 4 times the price in that cartridge. Forster are in between price wise and also good dies.
 
Unfortunately the redding dies are fairly pricey, but if you want to shoot tiny groups at distance. They are going to be a necessity. X-reload or Ellwood epps can get you the die set you need. I would get the typeS neck bushing match set. It's the one with a normal neck bushing die, a body die and a competition micrometer neck seater.
 
I'll be honest I have a Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set which now sells for $340.00 + $30.00 per TiN coated bushing.
I have not seen an appreciable increase in precision over my $50.00 3 piece Lee Deluxe Die Set.
YMMV
 
My first precision gun was/is a 6.5x47. Very good choice.

I have a set of Redding S Bushing Full Length Bushing Dies with the micrometer seater. For my .300WSM and .338 I have decided to go with the Forster micrometer seater, just cause I like the ergonomics of the dial better, and it's less $$. It takes a while to learn what all the words in the Redding Catalogue mean - "competition", "match", "S", etc. From what I've learned and been told, get the bushing dies, get the Titanium nitride bushing and expander ball options, get a micrometer seater, and don't bother with the micrometer sizer.

The full length vs neck sizing debate will rage on. IMO FL is the easiest and needs the minimum of equipment. I've shot a 3 shot group of .117 with mine..... And 10 in 1.09 off a bipod. I know that can be better....

Jerry at Mystic is a great guy, and the guys at X-Reload have been fantastic as well.

Have fun. PM me if you want a starting load.....

-J.
 
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What he said, the micrometer sizer isn't necessary. 36.1 gr of varget, with 130 Berger vld's seated 10-15 thou off the lands and a federal 205 match primer shoots 1 hole for 5 shots in my gun.

Gunneegoogoo said:
My first precision gun was/is a 6.5x47. Very good choice.

I have a set of Redding S Bushing Full Length Bushing Dies with the micrometer seater. For my .300WSM and .338 I have decided to go with the Forster micrometer seater, just cause I like the ergonomics of the dial better, and it's less $$. It takes a while to learn what all the words in the Redding Catalogue mean - "competition", "match", "S", etc. From what I've learned and been told, get the bushing dies, get the Titanium nitride bushing and expander ball options, get a micrometer seater, and don't bother with the micrometer sizer.

The full length vs neck sizing debate will rage on. IMO FL is the easiest and needs the minimum of equipment. I've shot a 3 shot group of .117 with mine..... And 10 in 1.09 off a bipod. I know that can be better....

Jerry at Mystic is a great guy, and the guys at X-Reload have been fantastic as well.

Have fun. PM me if you want a starting load.....

-J.
Click to expand...
 
Since we're truth telling.

37.5gr Varget, Berger 130VLD, CCI primer, COAL 2.708, lapua brass, annealed, will be turned soon (I'm pretty new to this too)........
 
thump_rrr said:
I'll be honest I have a Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set which now sells for $340.00 + $30.00 per TiN coated bushing.
I have not seen an appreciable increase in precision over my $50.00 3 piece Lee Deluxe Die Set.
YMMV
Click to expand...

Careful man, or the lynch mob'll getcha!

My read.

Precision shooting is like a few other pursuits. In many ways, it is a mind game. The guy that is relaxed, comfortable, and confident in his gear and techniques, is the guy that does well.

Some folks think they can buy the results instead of earning them, or have convinced themselves that they 'need' something to improve their scores, whether that is one brand of reloading gear over another, or one maker's barrels, etc. It keeps the economy rolling, but the scores go back down once the doubt creeps in again! :)

Cheers
Trev
 
Nicely said Trev the more I just go out and have fun the better I do.. it's when I get too serious is when shots start going all over the place
 
I have good luck at gun shows, you may have to root through a pile of boxes, but usually you can find what your looking for.
 
Dealt with these guys a few times http://www.summachsports.com/, as well as Prophet River for Redding dies. I have also had custom dies built by CH4D in Ohio (your calibre http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?page=6). I found they have tighter tolerances that standard factory produced dies (personal preference opinion). Dies can be shipped to Canada as they are not restricted by ITAR. Exchange rate doesn't help price point
 
8x68 said:
Dealt with these guys a few times http://www.summachsports.com/, as well as Prophet River for Redding dies. I have also had custom dies built by CH4D in Ohio (your calibre http://www.ch4d.com/products/dies/caliber-list?page=6). I found they have tighter tolerances that standard factory produced dies (personal preference opinion). Dies can be shipped to Canada as they are not restricted by ITAR. Exchange rate doesn't help price point
Click to expand...

That's probably the gold standard for competitive shooters but for me I'm okay with the standard Forster Lee & Dillon dies for all my shooting ..if I was a better shooter I'd probably go that way but not likely for me for the foreseeable future..
 
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