gohring3006
Well-Known Member
If someone doesn't have a lot of money to spend. I'll tell them to buy a Redding body die, Lee collet die and Hornady new dimension seater die. It makes a great set, and makes very concentric ammo.
Dies, opinions
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You are very right. The Redding body die with the Lee collet die make great ammo. Very concentric, and as far as standard seating dies go Hornady has a great die.
lhsmith
Active Member
I prefer Redding, but I have almost every make. I have transitioned to exclusively full length sizing every time for both target and hunting. The reasons are 1/ that being a nut for accuracy in everything I load for, I learned in years of BR competition, to minimize the variables. IME going from N.S. to F.L.S. will show up on target, and FL shoots smaller because I have almost always found the best accuracy is found at the higher nodes and 2/ I believe the shorter brass life with F.L.S. is a fallacy. If you only neck size until you get bolt click, the brass gets progressively work hardened and when you finally F.L.S. it offers much more resistance to sizing than if you F.L.S. every time. My experience after 50 years of reloading and also claimed in Mike Ratigan's book "Extreme Rifle Accuracy".
Your results may vary depending how well your dies produce rounds that are a close match to your chamber. If I find a FL die is excessively sizing the case, I'll try another makers die. It's all about manufacturers tolerances and luck of the draw.
Your results may vary depending how well your dies produce rounds that are a close match to your chamber. If I find a FL die is excessively sizing the case, I'll try another makers die. It's all about manufacturers tolerances and luck of the draw.
Beneviolence
Active Member
Not to threadjack...but I'll risk it anyway....
Do you guys have recommendations for neck sizing dies for 338 Lapua Mag? I love the Lee collet die for 308/6.5 and am considering spending the $$$ to get one custom/direct from them but any other recommendations? I'm worried that the ones with expander balls are going to be excessively working the brass and defeating half the purpose of neck sizing.
Do you guys have recommendations for neck sizing dies for 338 Lapua Mag? I love the Lee collet die for 308/6.5 and am considering spending the $$$ to get one custom/direct from them but any other recommendations? I'm worried that the ones with expander balls are going to be excessively working the brass and defeating half the purpose of neck sizing.
gohring3006
Well-Known Member
I tried just neck sizing 338 Lapua, depending on what brass you use it could be a exercise in futility. I went with a RCBS FL bushing die without the expander.
Certain brands of brass becomes sticky and hard to chamber when I didn't set the shoulder back .001"-.002". YMMV
