What Die's to Use?

Frew

Frew

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Im sorry if this is in the wrong place but I was wondering if anyone knowledgable could help me out. Im looking at dies for a custom made .300WM (PSR/Long range paper puncher) and I’m not sure what to get. Iv only ever used Lee FL dies before for .308 and i got pretty good accuracy (around 1/2MOA) but i want to squeeze as much accuracy out of this new long range gun as possible. Is there any difference in accuracy in the competition dies that are FL Sizing, FL Bushing, Neck Sizing, Collet Neck Sizing (Lee), Neck Bushing (Redding), Bump Neck Sizing(Forster)...?

Any help would be appreciated as to what approach to take to reload as accurately as possible for this gun. I’m stuck on the advantages and disadvantages of these die systems, and quite frankly what do they offer over a regular FL sizing die? Accuracy and easy of use are my main concerns. Its a bolt action and brass will be used only in the one gun.
P.S I do case prepping already so no need to add that to "to make it accurate..." and i really have no interest in an approach that involves case turning.

Thanks
 
I've used die sets that cost $400 that did not make anymore precise ammunition than a $40 Lee Collet die set.
As long as the cartridge is concentric with low run-out it makes no difference if this is achieved with cheap or expensive dies.
This is not to say that the high end die sets don't show a higher level of finishing or have some additional features (micrometer seating etc) but higher cost doesnt necessarily translate to a more accurate cartridge.
I FL resize everything. I adjust my sizing die to not over work my brass un-necessarily. Obviously I still have to trim more frequently than buddys that just neck size. On the flip side I have never had issues chambering a cartridge on the line or in the field but have watched shooting partners lose a day of shooting when none of their rounds will chamber in their gun.
Some may disagree but I still like the good 'ol RCBS "Competition" die set. Some of the smoothest sizing dies out there. The seater is nice as well. They are priced somewhere between the standard die sets and the high end Whidden, Redding, Forster stuff.
They are kinda old school in that they're non-bushing and have a FL sizer which is fine as far as I'm concerned.
The only dies I will never own again are Hornady dies. Total crap IMO.
 
Iv only got lee dies, and that's all I use to reload match grade 308 and 338. You can go all out and get the big fancy stuff, but it never changed squat for me. Save a nickle there, let's you spend money on the stuff that matters, the components!
 
Ditto, the Lee Ultimate die sets are excellent, and great value for your dollar. Higginson Powder generally has all of them in stock.

N0M4D said:
Iv only got lee dies, and that's all I use to reload match grade 308 and 338. You can go all out and get the big fancy stuff, but it never changed squat for me. Save a nickle there, let's you spend money on the stuff that matters, the components!
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PitBull1973 Do you neck turn your brass? This is the die I'm leaning towards. is accuracy good compared to anything else you've maybe tried for this setup?
 
I use Redding Type S Full Length sizers too..... I didn't want to burst in 'cause the thread looked like it was leaning toward lower cost options. I've not ever tried anything but as my "long range mentor" told me what to buy and I did it. There's lots of very experienced, very good, shooters on here getting championship results with Lee and RCBS.

The runout and concentricity in my Lapua brass using the Reddings is very very very good - less than .001.

I have just started neck turning, so I can't speak to results yet.

-J.
 
If i don't have loads yet to measure , how do i know what bushings to buy? any suggestions what bushings to start with? I like Hornady, PRVI, Federal and Lapua brass..if that helps
 
Gunneegoogoo said:
I use Redding Type S Full Length sizers too..... I didn't want to burst in 'cause the thread looked like it was leaning toward lower cost options. I've not ever tried anything but as my "long range mentor" told me what to buy and I did it. There's lots of very experienced, very good, shooters on here getting championship results with Lee and RCBS.

The runout and concentricity in my Lapua brass using the Reddings is very very very good - less than .001.

I have just started neck turning, so I can't speak to results yet.

-J.
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I've got Whidden and Redding Competition die-sets and they dont make any more accurate ammunition than my RCBS Competition dies. I cant stand Hornady or Lee dies but many use the latter with terrific results.
Redding dies drive me nuts with how they eventually work loose over time (sizing die). I wish they'd put wrench flats on everything instead of the $hitty knurled lock rings they use for the stem.
 
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Frew said:
If i don't have loads yet to measure , how do i know what bushings to buy? any suggestions what bushings to start with? I like Hornady, PRVI, Federal and Lapua brass..if that helps
Click to expand...

I use a Redding case indicator to measure case wall thickness. So what I do is use that measurement let's say .014 and multiple by 2
= .28 then add bullet diameter .308 = .336 from here I would use a bushing of .003 smaller .333 I give it that .001 more because of spring back when neck sizing. Remember that once you fire that round it will have a greater diameter than the loaded round . So a rule to follow is , if you need to neck size down more than .005 do it in 2 stages. Hope that helps
 
PitBull1973 said:
Here's the part # for 300 WM
77153 it's Reddings #
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Its a standard FL sizer that uses bushings to adjust neck tension.
Nothing magical about this die. I have a set of Whidden FL bushing dies. Its still a FL sizing die that works the body. With careful setup though you can make it work more like a neck sizing die to minimize over working the brass.
 
Does anyone know what bushings specifically to get for my first bushings. I can't measure because i don't have anything yet, iv got to order it all first. Redding FL Bushing Die...
 
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