Reloading dies in 308 for long range?

[Audet]

I am on the market for a reloading die set (necksizer, seating...) for 308. I use a 700VSF at ranges of 400M+, Lapua brass, Dillon rl550 press. I understand Redding makes good products but are they worth the extra $ ?

And can any of you recomend a good place to buy on line?

Thank's!

 

[kombayotch]

I use a Redding Full Lenght Type-S set. However, I hear the Foster dies are just as good for half the price. Get the bushing dies and a 0.336" bushing (0.335" for moly) for Lapua brass.

One thing I didn't like about these dies out of the box was that the lettering on the case alignment sleeve caused the dies to feel a bit gritty while seating. An india stone and a bit of Flitz solved that easily though.

 

[lineofsight]

There is a gold medal RBCS die on the EE (not mine), seem well reviewed too.

 

[maynard]

Are Redding dies good-you bet, I have both the competition neck sizing die, seating die and a body die. I had a Dillon 550 but it does not throw powder charges accurately enough for long range work.

 

[ben hunchak]

I agree with the choice of redding or Forster for accurate reloading, though probably only necessary in the more accurate cals. and the .308 does qualify.

 

[kombayotch]

Actually, the Dillon can throw certain stick powders very accurately, if you improve it a little.

This is your stock cast Dillon thrower. Its quite rough.

This is what it looks like after a Dremel, a buff and some Flitz.

I also polished the insides to a nice smooth finish as well, and added a baffle. I can now throw N550, H322 and Benchmark to within +/-0.1 gr. with about 90% of the charges being right on the money. And these do perform well at 1K, I've tested them.

With RL-15 and RL-17 I get +/- 0.2 gr. and +/- 0.3 gr. with Varget and H4895. These vary too much for long distance. But, this it better performance that I got from an expensive JDS Quickmeasure I recently bought and returned.

 

[Levi Garrett]

would go for a pass with a match reamer, then head space , trued action.,,dies , any will work fine..the process will be more important, case prep. load data . Find a load that works, and has enough left down range not to turn tail on ya.

 

[kombayotch]

Also, nothing says that you have to use the Dillon powder thrower if you load on a 550 or 650. Dillon makes a funnel that fits the powder die. (that is one I made). You can still weight charges when you load on a progressive.