keithcandler
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 650
What ever dies you are using, an indicator to measure the run out will end all doubt. 21st century makes a dandy. Some dies and some techniques are just nothing short of horrible. Once you have a run out indicator, you will solve your run out issues with dies and lube techniques in a hurry.
I have a small flock of die sets, lots of Redding comp and S bushing dies, lots of Lee collet dies, lots of Forster dies.
Lee collet dies will make some very straight ammo, and there are various sources to get mandrels graduated from .0001-.0005 in dia. These mandrels are less expensive than Bushings.
The straightest ammo that I have ever produced was with neck turned brass, using Forster honed dies giving run out less than .0002, not .002.
Reloading is a hobby within a hobby, you can take it to any level you wish. Some of the guys testing Berger bullets at 1000 yards have some pretty strict regiments that they go though, and checking every seated bullet for run out is one of them.
Shooting .500 MOA is not all that difficult with regular dies, it is when you go to .250 minute rifle or smaller that things get real picky on many levels.
For a guy using regular dies, Forster's system is very advanced in how the expander ball goes through the neck while the neck is still supported, this is a huge advantage in reducing run out. Also, lubing the inside of the case neck on a regular set of NON Forster dies helps to reduce run out from the expander ball yanking the neck out of alignment. Also, Forster makes a Neck bumping bushing neck sizer that really works. Since I started using the Forster Neck bumping bushing neck sizer, I have not had to full length size my 6.5x47 at all!
Many advanced shooters run a mandrel through their necks to straighten out any "kinks" that has been introduced during the sizing process.
Also, consistent neck tension is critical. K&M makes a force indicator along with other companies that tells the tension that is required to seat a bullet. I do not use these, but I do pay strict attention to how much pressure is needed when I start to seat a bullet. If more or less force is used, that loaded round is a "cull", used for fouling shots.
Annealing is a simple way to get consistent seating force needed, ie. neck tension with the bullet.
Mram, collet sizers produce very straight sized neck on neck turned cases. You do need the ability to use various mandrels to Tune the load. Lee sells them in .001 increments, but you may want them in .0005 increments which Grangers has. Grangers does not have a de capping pin on the bottom. Of course with Granger's mandrel's, you have to de cap in a separete operation, which I like to do so I can "feel" how tight the primer pocket is. I use a tight rubber O ring on the top of the mandrel to hold the mandrel in the die.
I have a small flock of die sets, lots of Redding comp and S bushing dies, lots of Lee collet dies, lots of Forster dies.
Lee collet dies will make some very straight ammo, and there are various sources to get mandrels graduated from .0001-.0005 in dia. These mandrels are less expensive than Bushings.
The straightest ammo that I have ever produced was with neck turned brass, using Forster honed dies giving run out less than .0002, not .002.
Reloading is a hobby within a hobby, you can take it to any level you wish. Some of the guys testing Berger bullets at 1000 yards have some pretty strict regiments that they go though, and checking every seated bullet for run out is one of them.
Shooting .500 MOA is not all that difficult with regular dies, it is when you go to .250 minute rifle or smaller that things get real picky on many levels.
For a guy using regular dies, Forster's system is very advanced in how the expander ball goes through the neck while the neck is still supported, this is a huge advantage in reducing run out. Also, lubing the inside of the case neck on a regular set of NON Forster dies helps to reduce run out from the expander ball yanking the neck out of alignment. Also, Forster makes a Neck bumping bushing neck sizer that really works. Since I started using the Forster Neck bumping bushing neck sizer, I have not had to full length size my 6.5x47 at all!
Many advanced shooters run a mandrel through their necks to straighten out any "kinks" that has been introduced during the sizing process.
Also, consistent neck tension is critical. K&M makes a force indicator along with other companies that tells the tension that is required to seat a bullet. I do not use these, but I do pay strict attention to how much pressure is needed when I start to seat a bullet. If more or less force is used, that loaded round is a "cull", used for fouling shots.
Annealing is a simple way to get consistent seating force needed, ie. neck tension with the bullet.
Mram, collet sizers produce very straight sized neck on neck turned cases. You do need the ability to use various mandrels to Tune the load. Lee sells them in .001 increments, but you may want them in .0005 increments which Grangers has. Grangers does not have a de capping pin on the bottom. Of course with Granger's mandrel's, you have to de cap in a separete operation, which I like to do so I can "feel" how tight the primer pocket is. I use a tight rubber O ring on the top of the mandrel to hold the mandrel in the die.
Last edited:
