.308 Die Choice

[Dgd6mm]

I have a no - turn neck FTR rifle chambered in .308.
What die is preferred for this? I'm looking at a Redding full lenght bushing die, would this be a good choice? Any info will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Don Dunlap

 

[jr600yd]

Redding are excellent dies, can't go wrong there. I would also recommend Forster Bench Rest Dies.

 

[memilanuk]

I've got a variety in .308 Winchester... ranging from a Lee collet die to Wilson neck dies to Redding Type 'S' F/L bushing die to Forster Precision Bump die, plus a Forster 'National Match' F/L die. Each was bought for a purpose (in theory) and each works well enough in its own way. That said... I keep coming back to the Redding Type 'S' F/L bushing die, with Wilson steel bushings. It seems to give me the most consistent results, and the fewest surprises.

For a seater... I really like the Forster Ultra BR seaters... functionally equivalent to the Redding Competition Seater, but a fair chunk less expensive.

FWIW... none of the chambers I currently load for are custom-cut. All factory chambers, albeit mostly Obermeyer and WTC95 Palma design.

 

[DennisH]

memilanuk, Redding Type 'S' F/L bushing die

Can the above die only size part of the neck? I have a Redding and I can size any part of the neck I wish. I am trying to find someone who can explain the purpose of partially sizing the neck.
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Otherwise as stated above, Redding, Forester, and Gold Medal RCBS sizer dies are among the best. Wilson is consider the best by many! My 308 die is a FL neck bushing sizer die.

If someone was just starting out I would recommend the RCBS Gold Medal 2 die set. I would get the neck bushing sizer as it's pretty simple to use.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have custom FL bushing dies for other calibers and I have a .308 Lee Die with collet die and dead seater. They make pretty good reloads, just looking for a better mousetrap. I'm making a transition from F-Open to FTR and want to get serious with the .308. Leaning towards Redding FL bushing or Forster.

 

[memilanuk]

memilanuk, Redding Type 'S' F/L bushing die

Can the above die only size part of the neck? I have a Redding and I can size any part of the neck I wish. I am trying to find someone who can explain the purpose of partially sizing the neck.

Not sure I follow what you're asking... sounds like you're asking if the Redding bushing die can do partial neck sizing, but then tell me you have a 'Redding' and can size any part of the neck... and then wonder why?

Anywho... yes. I typically back off the decapping stem a bit - about 1/2-3/4 turn - which gives the bushing a little room to 'float' inside its cavity. This tends to give somewhat better runout numbers - in keeping with Zediker's maxim of (roughly paraphrased): "...if it isn't perfect, let it float". Thats the primary reason for me... other people do feel that leaving part of the neck unsized and close to fired dimension should help keep it better centered in 'looser' factory chambers. The counter argument typically is that the taper of the shoulder should be, to a large degree, self-centering regardless of how you size the neck.

 

[DennisH]

memilanuk,

Thanks, that's pretty well the answer I was looking for. I have also read a little more about it and it all about concentricty and neck tension!

Dennis