260AI reloading equipment?

[ceylonc]

Hi guys,

I want to know what exactly I need to reload 260AI. I already have the following as I currently reload for standard 260 Remington:
--Redding Competition seating die;
--Redding Neck sizing die,non bushing);

I understand the methodology of fire-forming brass and how the new Ackley-cartridge dimensions are formed. I am curious if I can use my current equipment to neck size and seat bullets to the AI fire-formed brass. I have done a search & found a post where the Lee Collett neck sizing die was recommended. Do I need to go this route or can I just use my Redding neck sizer?

I understand that my current Redding seating die will work fine for the Ackley loads. Neck sizing is what has me a little confused...

At some point I'll probably buy a FL sizing die but I don't want to go that route right now due to budget constraints...

Thanks for the help!
Ceylon

 

[techshooter]

Ceylonc:

You will have to have the Redding Competition Seater die floating sleeve reamed with the chamber reamer before it will work with fireformed brass. A quick job if you have the reamer.

I use the Lee collet die for neck sizing my 260AI brass. The best neck die I have used for this caliber, and a great value.

The only other investment that you might make would be a Redding body die in 260AI. They do make them, and I got mine from Russ Haydon. He had one on the shelf. It makes the process of bumping the shoulder back every four or five neck sizings an easy proposition.

Cheers,

 

[Magical_Merlin]

You can also use a 7mm-08 AI body die. Just in case you see one for sale somewhere.

 

[bsekf]

Chris,
Wouldn't you have to run a 260AI reamer into the Lee Collet Die too? Or will a 260 work?

Which benchrest seating die is easier to alter, Forester or Redding? What, exactly, do you have to do?

Any drawbacks to using the 7-08AI sizing die to bump the shoulder back on a 260AI?

Bill

 

[techshooter]

Bill:

The Lee collet die in straight 260 has plenty of clearance for the AI shoulders. No modifications necessary.

I have modified a number of Redding Comp. Seater dies, and know for a fact that the sleeves are not hardened, and ream very easily with a chamber reamer. I have no personal experience with the Forster variant, but have seen them described as also having easily reamed sleeves. In fact, I believe that Forster,and possibly Redding) will sell blank sleeves in your caliber of choice, making a complete custom die a possibility.

I can see no drawbacks to using the 7-08AI body die to bump 260AI brass, as long as the reamer/case specs for both are essentially identical in the body and shoulder area.

Hope that this helps!

Cheers,