TGVet
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2007
- Messages
- 34
I used RCBS since the mid 1970's with good results and did not try other manufactures dies until around 2000. I then bought several sets of Hornady and really like them. I thought I could do better with Redding regular dies since I read so many good things. I bought multiple sets but do not like how they size the cases smaller than others and did not provide any advantage over the regular dies by RCBS, Hornady or Lee. They just cost slightly more.
However I bought sets of RCBS 22-250 and 270 WBY dies about three years ago and have been disappointed in the case neck runout after sizing and bullet runout after seating. The 270 WBY dies would take a case with almost no runout and totally ruin it. This was the worst set I have ever had.
After years of looking at the Forester dies I final ordered a set of Forester dies for the 270 WBY, WOW! I was imediately impressed with the smoothness and quality. The 270 WBY is a custom barrel by Holland and when I was done sizing the cases the neck runout is almost zero and seated runout is well under 0.002.
As funds allow I am slowly replacing all of my main hunting rifle dies sets with Forester. They all seem to work great but after using about 5 different Forester dies sets now I truly would recommend them over all the other off the shelf brands. I am just to cheap to try the Redding Comp because they Forester is so outstanding.
I have dies made to my specific caliber most if the time. Newlon Precision, Forster and L.E.Wilson. I send in 2 thrice fired cases, a Cero-Safe chamber cast and a finish reamer made for the caliber.
I use Wilson in-line chamber seating dies for each caliber as the run out is 1-thou or zero. It takes a little longer with the chamber die but then I'm not loading more than 25 rounds or so at a time. The one thing I don't do though is FL size after each firing contrary to most. I have found that my most accurate shots are when the brass has been fired 2 to four times where the body and the shoulders are fitting cozy in the chamber without tight bolt lift. Upon extraction if I notice tight lift, I bump the shoulder back 2 thousandths with my bushing-bump die measuring the brass with appropriate tools for checking head to shoulder and COL is not too much.
I use neck bushings 2 thousandths under my loaded neck diameter for a snug fit and I don't turn the necks. Standard off the shelf FL dies work the brass too much and size the necks down too much back to SAAMI spec. Once my brass has reached the point where it has expanded overall more than bumping the shoulder keeps it working only then will I FL size with a FL or a body die. I then measure COL, trim it back to spec, and inside & outside chamfer with a VLD tool. (VLD bullets)
My methods have given me easily in excess of ten firings, I don't anneal the brass like some do either. I do watch for signs of brass degradation, I do not load to max PSI either, when I get loose primer pockets I discard. I use a Forster Coaxial press.
I shoot .222, 22-250, 6 PPC, .270 Win, .308, .300 WM, 7mm Dakota