school me on die

[ultimate_monkey]

So im not new to reloading by any means, but up until now, my rifles have just been SAAMI spec cut chambers, for the sake of being able to buy ammo when im away from my reloading gear if i run out of reloads, so iv just been using the basic RCBS , FL and neck only sizer dies and bullet seater. Any way, new rifle is under way and this go around, i want to squeeze every tiny little bit of accuracy out of it that i can out of it. weight sort cases, turn the necks, primer pocket uniforming, the whole 9 yards as it were. ill be starting off with high end brass (lapua) so ill already be ahead of the game.

any who, now i know my RCBS dies, are like the SBC of the loading world, they work great but better is out there. im assuming ill be better off goin with a bushing type die, and a micromiter adjustment bullet seater, but there so much out there as far as reading, and as this is my first real step into the "deep end" of loading for pure accuracy, im hopeng you guys can point me in the right direction, id like to go with a 3die set, neck, FL for when i need to bump the shoulder and seating die.

so what say you, whats the best die set money can buy?

 

[blaser.306]

If you want the best ( read more expensive ) reloading dies , Get whomever is cutting your chamber and have them ream a set of dies for you. That way they have to match the chamber dimentions. Besides that route , Redding competition bushing tpe dies are a real close runner up to perfection. Just my oppinion, YMMV.

 

[Mystic Precision]

RUNOUT - as far as dies goes, this is what you do not want. for match ammo, less then 3 thou runout at the bullet ogive is ideal. for hunting, I like to be under 5 thou.

You need to measure the runout with a proper gauge. A piece of glass is possible too but you need to be really wonky to see.

ANY set of dies can make perfect ammo. ANY die can make lousy ammo. Check at each stage to know what that die is doing for you. Change as necessary.

The easiest way to get consistent low runout ammo without much thinking - Lee collet neck die, Redding body die to bump the shoulder for perfect chambering, inline seater from Forster or Redding. The micrometer adjustment is nice if you are going to play with seating depths - I don't bother anymore.

Check that Lapua brass. It may not be as good as you expect.

Jerry

See my website for load tuning tips.

Your scale is likely the most important addn you can make for money spent.