who uses redding dies for precision target? which one do you use?

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Kryogen

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who uses redding dies for precision target? which one do you use?

They have a ton of dies and I am lost.
I am used to the simple lee kit.

What do you buy, where do you get it?
Is it worth it?

This?
749-008-237WS
Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set, 308 Win
Mfr Part: 58155

Thanks
 
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Yes. The outside measurement of a loaded round will give you the baseline (mine happen to be 0.338), and you subtract the amount of neck tension you want and order that size bushing. I personally run 2 thou (.336 bushing), but others run more and some run less. Best bet is to buy a few, maybe 2,3, and 4 thou, and then you're covered. FWIW I like the nitrided bushings as they seem a little smoother.
 
Do I need to turn the necks and then always use the same brass, or brass is pretty consistent in neck thickness?
 
Kryogen, that the die set I have and it works great. It's topnotch kit, Sinclair's price is $220 and they have it in stock; if you're happy paying that, go ahead and get it. If you'd like to save $35 or more read on.

If I was doing it again I'd do things slightly differently.

I love the micrometer seater die. It is an indispensable piece of kit and is fully worth paying for. Forster also makes an excellent micrometer seating die, it's cheaper than the Redding and it is at least as good (and quite possibly a bit better, not in the sense of making better ammo but being nicer to work with and easier to use)

The "body die" in the set is a very, very useful piece of kit. (note, if you or a friend have a lathe or a drill press it is very easy to turn your existing el-cheapo full length sizing die, which you don't be needing anymore once you get setup with these competition dies, into a "body die").

In my opinion, the micrometer adjustment on the sizing die is pretty useless. Not harmful, just a "waste" of money; I never had opportunity to use that feature. Redding also makes a "Type S" bushing die, which is basically the same thing but with manual rather than micrometer adjustment


You could buy these instead:

749-006-082WS $55 - Redding Type S Neck Die

749-007-469WS $100 - Redding Comp Bullet Seater, 308 Win
-OR-
749-006-864WS $70 Forster micrometer seater

749-003-818WS $30 - Redding body die (or make your own)


I use Lapua brass and don't turn necks, and use a Redding bushing (either .335 or .336" if I recall correctly). This is my lazyman's way of getting something "good enough" for 1000yard iron sights match shooting. I accept reasonably-good but less-than-perfect uniformity in neck tension across my ammo. In my opinion, this makes ammo good enough to win a world championship iron sights match. If I were shooting F-Class, I might rethink this.

For other good .308 brass (I am thinking Norma, Winchester), I would very seriously consider using the brass as-is without neck turning. Only if the seating force varied considerably, and only if I tested "light" vs "heavy" seating force ammo at 1000 yards and saw a relevant difference in point of impact, only then would I consider doing something about it. And sorting/binning my brass would probably be something I'd do before I'd neck-turn.
 
I have the Redding Competition set for my 308, but ended up picking up the Forster Micrometer Seater for my 6.5x47L and I actually prefer it to the Redding; the adjustments are easier to read and dial exactly. If I had to do it over again I would likely take Daniel's advice and order the Forster to save a few bucks.
 
"...competition seater dies..." Competition die sets are another way of separating you from your money. If you can't load match grade ammo on 'normal' dies, you won't be able to with competition dies. Regular dies have worked just fine for me for eons.
 
sunray said:
"...competition seater dies..." Competition die sets are another way of separating you from your money. If you can't load match grade ammo on 'normal' dies, you won't be able to with competition dies. Regular dies have worked just fine for me for eons.
Click to expand...

I personally like having the "competition" micrometer adjustment on the die. Especially when I am using different bullets, I have all of the numbers referenced.
 
sunray said:
"...competition seater dies..." Competition die sets are another way of separating you from your money. If you can't load match grade ammo on 'normal' dies, you won't be able to with competition dies. Regular dies have worked just fine for me for eons.
Click to expand...

The difference is in loaded ammo run out. It is so obvious it hurts. If you haven't seen it or don't care that is one thing, but to say it doesn't matter is quite foolish.
 
I have been using Hornady New Dimension dies with the proper seating stem and the micrometer that can go from die to die, it is very slick and my reloads seem to be fairly accurate. I was debating getting the redding dies but figured that since I reload for like 5 calibers a micrometer to dial in seating depths that will work on all dies would be a good idea.
 
Kryogen said:
who uses redding dies for precision target? which one do you use?

They have a ton of dies and I am lost.
I am used to the simple lee kit.

What do you buy, where do you get it?
Is it worth it?

This?
749-008-237WS
Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die Set, 308 Win
Mfr Part: 58155

Thanks
Click to expand...
Are you shooting a competition rifle in 308? I load for several calibers and make ammo that shoots in the same hole at 100 yards with out any need of Comp die sets. I say this primarily to let you know you can make very accurate ammo with out expensive die sets. FS
 
Fassteel said:
Are you shooting a competition rifle in 308? I load for several calibers and make ammo that shoots in the same hole at 100 yards with out any need of Comp die sets. I say this primarily to let you know you can make very accurate ammo with out expensive die sets. FS
Click to expand...

The trouble I had was seating bullets for .308 for 2 different guns. I bought the redding mic. seater at epps, was expensive there and I regret not ordering it online, seeing as the set linked above was only about $50 more than I paid for that single die.(Punches self in head)
I use the rcbs .308 precision mic to measure my seating depth, but had difficulty adjusting the die - not difficulty really, just lengthy - the micrometer die will save me some time, as I can adjust it much more quickly, and know what depth I'm adjusting to more accurately than trying to guess how much of a turn will be 5 thou etc.
 
TedNugent said:
The trouble I had was seating bullets for .308 for 2 different guns. I bought the redding mic. seater at epps, was expensive there and I regret not ordering it online, seeing as the set linked above was only about $50 more than I paid for that single die.(Punches self in head)
I use the rcbs .308 precision mic to measure my seating depth, but had difficulty adjusting the die - not difficulty really, just lengthy - the micrometer die will save me some time, as I can adjust it much more quickly, and know what depth I'm adjusting to more accurately than trying to guess how much of a turn will be 5 thou etc.
Click to expand...

Sound like a perfect candidate for the micro seating die! I just write down what all the values are for my die and I can load for multiple guns of the same caliber and using different bullets.
 
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