Sizing .308 to 7mm-08, 3 new die sets to choose from...which set?

[RonR]

Hi all,

I have inherited some .308 1F imperial cases that I am considering sizing down to 7mm-08.

I realize that all sets below will do the job but between these 3 options, which would you go with (and why) and is the benchrest seater die in the Forster set superior to the other seaters?

RCBS FL set pn 13901 Group A dies
Redding set 80139 Series A
Forster set 004361 sizing and benchrest seater dies

Regards
Ronr

 

[Ganderite]

IS it for a benchrest rifle, or a general purpose hunting rifle?

I just converted 300 308s to 243. Because I happen to have both a 708 and a 243 die, I did it in two steps. 308 to 7-08 is a small step and my 7-08 Lee FL sizer did a fine job.

That is what I use to make 7-08 brass for my hunting rifle.

 

[Eagleye]

Does not really matter....just avoid getting sizing lube on the case shoulders.
I believe the Forster BR seater is a bit better than the standard seating dies
that come with conventional diesets. D.

 

[hometownhero]

Redding bushing neck sizing die, body die and micrometer seater

 

[RonR]

IS it for a benchrest rifle, or a general purpose hunting rifle?

....and my 7-08 Lee FL sizer did a fine job. That is what I use to make 7-08 brass for my hunting rifle.

Hunting rifles however the "project" is to test my load development ability for accuracy round using 150 SMK. (other thoughts are the Lapua scenar) If possible I'd like to start with the best foot forward in terms of concentricity and desire a better seater as part of the set. I am a Lee fan but have these other options available for f/l sizing. I appreciate the experience in this post for sure.

Does not really matter....just avoid getting sizing lube on the case shoulders.
I believe the Forster BR seater is a bit better than the standard seating dies
that come with conventional die sets. D.

Thanks for the tip. Acknowledged that the f/l die won't matter. I am not well versed in the differences between the internals and looking for some insight into perhaps what might be better...without stirring up a hornets nest. X2 on the valued insight EE.

Redding bushing neck sizing die, body die and micrometer seater

Use the Redding body die already with the lee collet die and neck turning. Again, if there's a die set out of those posted that offers more than the others than I'm interested in knowing more. No doubt in my mind that your combination works well. Thanks HTH! IIRC prophet river sells the micrometer portion independently as an add on for the basic series A seaters but I may be incorrect. If I'm correct that is a neat option for repeatability.

Regards
Ronr

 

[yodave]

Use your favorite brand of dies, all should do the task at hand with ease, start slow with three or four pieces of brass, as your die is getting close to your shell holder check the brass in your rifle for fit and bolt closure ease......as with full length sizing any brass it is possible to push the shoulder back to far, this will create issues down the road after firing these cases 3 or 4 times......you won't be able to measure how far back your pushing the shoulder because this brass wasn't fired in the rifle your making it fit, so your going to have to go by feel, just remember when you get to the point the bolt handle is starting to cam over to make small adjustments on your dies until the handle just drops with the slightest of resistance, then turn the die a hair more then that and lock the ring

 

[RonR]

Use your favorite brand of dies, all should do the task at hand with ease, start slow with three or four pieces of brass, as your die is getting close to your shell holder check the brass in your rifle for fit and bolt closure ease......as with full length sizing any brass it is possible to push the shoulder back to far, this will create issues down the road after firing these cases 3 or 4 times......you won't be able to measure how far back your pushing the shoulder because this brass wasn't fired in the rifle your making it fit, so your going to have to go by feel, just remember when you get to the point the bolt handle is starting to cam over to make small adjustments on your dies until the handle just drops with the slightest of resistance, then turn the die a hair more then that and lock the ring

Good point on the setting the shoulder back too far. Adjust until it just fits is in line with Jerry's advice. That's the go no-go check on the process here. I've got the Hornady gauges cause (and at that time) I needed a value change to relate to what I was feeling on the press. For a while there was no set back and then with a quarter turn voila! Thanks for the response Yo.

I don't have a favorite die manufacturer. I use what I can get my hands on. When Ganderite uses Lee to complete some resizing to different caliber that says something. I use a lot of Lee stuff on this end.

I was thinking about EE's post regarding not getting lube on the shoulders...I've got to figure that out. I've never f/l sized before but when I bump with the Redding shoulder bump die I'm not concerned with lube on the shoulders.

Regards
Ronr