Advice needed on dies by a novice reloader

[RallyFan]

I've been reloading 6.5x47 for the last 18 months, though until now I've only needed to neck size my Lapua brass using Wilson hand dies and a Sinclair arbor press. The rest of my kit is pretty basic, consisting mostly of the parts from the Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit I initially purchased.

Now however, it's time to set the shoulder back on the brass, and I'd like to do it using the Challenger press that came with the kit to keep costs down. So firstly, can anyone recommend the appropriate dies I'll need?

And a second question, I need to expand the case mouths on my next batch of virgin brass (I find it a little tight out of the box), and would like to do so using a Sinclair Gen II expander die body. Does anybody know if these will fit the Breech Lock press..?

Thanks in advance.

 

[lmorrison17]

For a full length die I'd get the Forster. I got better runout than with the Redding unit.



http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3744568.msg35847158.html#msg35847158


http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php/topic,3753492.msg35892599.html#msg35892599

 

[plinker625]

A Redding Body die fits your needs just right, leaved the case neck dimensions alone. Of course the same can be accomplished with a Redding Type S FL dies without the bushing. All, other FL Sizer dies will affect the case neck.

 

[Ron10x]

I vote for the Forster dies too. I have no complaints about using them.

 

[338Lapua]

Does anybody know if these will fit the Breech Lock press

Iv not herd of a Breech Lock press, but if it has standard 7/8" x 14 TPI you should be good.

 

[jonbearman]

Call sinclairs or grafs and inquire abiut the redding special shell holders in increments of a thousandth of an inch(shorter to adjust for shoulder set back for easier chambering without having to buy extra dies. I have a set that go -.002 through-.012 for set back. It is just another option.

 

[CatShooter]

Call Sinclair's or Graf's and inquire about the Redding special shell holders in increments of a thousandth of an inch(shorter to adjust for shoulder set back for easier chambering without having to buy extra dies. I have a set that go -.002 through-.012 for set back. It is just another option.

Jon...

The Redding special shell holders do NOT make the case shorter, they make it LONGER.

They come in sets of "+" 0.002, +0.004, +0.006, etc.

Redding does NOT make a negative (short) shell holder.

If you need a short shell holder, you need to make it yourself... I make them on glass plate laps, using 1,000 grit oiled carbide paper.

 

[Eddie Harren]

Can't argue with that logic!

 

[bozo699]

I've been reloading 6.5x47 for the last 18 months, though until now I've only needed to neck size my Lapua brass using Wilson hand dies and a Sinclair arbor press. The rest of my kit is pretty basic, consisting mostly of the parts from the Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit I initially purchased.

Now however, it's time to set the shoulder back on the brass, and I'd like to do it using the Challenger press that came with the kit to keep costs down. So firstly, can anyone recommend the appropriate dies I'll need?

And a second question, I need to expand the case mouths on my next batch of virgin brass (I find it a little tight out of the box), and would like to do so using a Sinclair Gen II expander die body. Does anybody know if these will fit the Breech Lock press..?

Thanks in advance.

I like the Forster dies myself but have a lot of Redding dies and other than the fact that the bushing dies stop way short of the shoulder junction and there cheap junk boxes that the dies are suppose to fit in but don't, I think are good dies, you mentioned you needed to save money, as already mentioned buy a Redding body die, they are fairly inexpensive and work great for exactly what you need, I am not familiar with your press either but as already mentioned if it is a standard 7/8X14 TPI any of the standard dies made will fit, including the Redding body die. The Sinclair Gen II expander die body is a standard 7/8 X 14 tpi die also, hope this helps some
Wayne.

 

[bozo699]

RallyFan,
I just researched your Lee Breech Lock Challenger press on the web and it is a 7/8 X 14 tpi press so you will be good to go with the Redding body die and the Sinclair expander as well, best of luck to you.
Wayne.

 

[RallyFan]

All,

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be having a good look at them all.
Saying that - I've just looked through the Sinclair catalogue, and really like the look of the Sinclair Gen II expander die and mandril combination - tick one off the list

Saving money is good as this side of the Atlantic, everything costs a fortune.

For example :-
Unleaded fuel, we pay £1.36GBP per litre, which equates to $8.23 per US gallon.
100 x 6.5mm 140BTLR Berger Bullets approx. £36, or $57.54

Kind regards,