Best die combination

[ericbc7]

Ok many have favorite manufacturers , but if redding body dies with bushings are the cats meow then why not redding full length body dies without bushings combined with Lee collet dies?

You bump the shoulder back and with the proper mandrel, you set the neck tension without messing with neck turning or lube?

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

Works fine. I use this combo all the time for a variety of cartridges. For each caliber I generally have at least 2 mandrels with different diameters to adjust bullet grip.

 

[Chappy]

I tried the the standard body die with the collet die in a .260 Remington but went back to the standard type bushing die. Had less run out and it was one step less in the equation.

 

[ericbc7]

So let me clarify, you bump shoulders with body dies and use collet dies to set neck tension? This is what I want to do!
I just ordered mandrels for my Lee collet die -1 and –2 thou to get my neck tension right since my factory mandrel seems large.

 

[Danattherock]

So let me clarify, you bump shoulders with body dies and use collet dies to set neck tension? This is what I want to do!
I just ordered mandrels for my Lee collet die -1 and –2 thou to get my neck tension right since my factory mandrel seems large.

What I just did with 223. With Redding Deluxe 3 die set my average runout on my 21st Century Gauge was 4-5 thou. I bought a friggin $20 Lee neck collet die along with a $28 Redding body die and my runout is 1-1.5 thou. Many were less. I bought a Forster Ultra seater that I just got back, as it was defective. I'm 100% positive this combo will produce, is producing, far more concentric ammo.


Oh, and that 1-1.5 thou runout now is with standard seater. I'm sure Forster will Improve that. Case runout was essentially nil. Half to one thou.


Dan

 

[Martin52]

The LCD is great for unturned brass, the mandrel forces any case neck thickness irregularities to the outside leaving the projectile to seat in the neck's then consistent inside diameter. The LCD is also good for turned necks. I tend not to use a FLS bushing die on non-turned necks - I use a body die (or the FLS bushing die without the bushing in place) then the LCD.

So Eric, if you are not neck turning, you can use your Redding FLS bushing die (without the bushing) to bump the shoulders back and a LCD for sizing the neck, it will give you the best outcome, IMO.

Martin

 

[JRS]

Stretch those alligator length arms out, dig into your pocket, pull out some money, and order a WTC die from Al or Dan Warner. One die does it all 8)

 

[DeadEyeDick45]

Can you give me an idea of the cost for their Dies? Their website doesn't state any pricing.
Thanks
DED45

Stretch those alligator length arms out, dig into your pocket, pull out some money, and order a WTC die from Al or Dan Warner. One die does it all 8)

 

[Yetiman]

I don't turn my necks, and my main rifle is a factory Remington 5R.

I have been using the Lee collet die along with a Redding full length S die with the guts removed. I use the Lee die first, then the Redding which has given me under .001" runout.

I then use a Forster micrometer seating die.

I have also ordered a -.001" and -.002" mandrel for mine.

Initially I didn't have any bushings for my die, but picked three up last weekend . I haven't yet done any experiments to compare the LCD / Redding combo to the Redding with bushing results, but I will.

 

[conor m]

JRS , go easy on the guys , for those not in the know . the warner full lenght sizing die is probably the best in the world, others may disagree with my statement .to be honest ,its a work of art . having worked on rolls bentelys porsche's .

dead eye , give al or dan a call , and have a chat . it aint going to be cheap but quality ; comes at a price .
ps , the only make the one die .
all the best conor

 

[LHSmith]

Can you give me an idea of the cost for their Dies? Their website doesn't state any pricing.
Thanks
DED45

IIRC they run around $350 ....and if your press can't handle 1-1/4" x 12 threads, tack on the cost of a Rock Chucker, Lee Classic or Redding Big Boss/ Ultra Mag Press. Before I'd spend that kind of money, I'd buy 3 or 4 production dies of different makes, see which one sizes the best for your chamber and sell the others.

 

[BoydAllen]

I think that most of us have to decide how to allocate limited resources, and not all of us turn our case necks, many may be trying to get the most out of a generously sized factory chamber that lets necks expand quite a bit. For all of the above reasons what is the ultimate solution for one fellow man not be the best, even if price is not a consideration. Beyond all of this, I see shooters obsessing about things because they have the tools to measure them, while ignoring other things that are just as important to the end result. I would never do serious accuracy evaluation work without at least a couple of wind flags between me and a hundred yard target, yet I never see flags out unless the shooter competes in benchrest. On a calm day barrel heat will cause mirage that causes your target to appear to move, yet I seldom see anyone who does not shoot competition using one, no matter how much his rig costs. I never attempt to do a serious load workup on a rifle that has not been properly bedded, or had its scope properly mounted, but many show up to the range with rifles that have factory bedding, and immediately start agonizing about tenths of a grain of powder, or what their concentricity gauge is telling them. You get the idea. Keep the horse in front of the cart. Bushings work best with turned necks fired in chambers that have a relatively close fit on the necks of loaded rounds. When the amount of neck reduction needed to size, and the necks are not going to be turned, not so much. I try to load ammunition that is as straight as I can make it, but there is a point of diminishing returns that varies with the rifle, and how it is being used.

 

[JRS]

Can you give me an idea of the cost for their Dies? Their website doesn't state any pricing.
Thanks
DED45

IIRC they run around $350 ....and if your press can't handle 1-1/4" x 12 threads, tack on the cost of a Rock Chucker, Lee Classic or Redding Big Boss/ Ultra Mag Press. Before I'd spend that kind of money, I'd buy 3 or 4 production dies of different makes, see which one sizes the best for your chamber and sell the others.

A WTC die, set up for one caliber, will cost you 5 Ben Franklin's. How much money did you pay for your action, barrel with chambering, scope, stock, inletting and bedding? Some pay more than that for a scale!!!

 

[LHSmith]

.
A WTC die, set up for one caliber, will cost you 5 Ben Franklin's. How much money did you pay for your action, barrel with chambering, scope, stock, inletting and bedding? Some pay more than that for a scale!!!

When I had Sid Goodling build my 30BR back in '07 the matching (to his chambering) FLS cost $175. It works flawlessly. How much more than perfect must a die be machined? Apparently his ability to provide the right sizer for his chambers must be awfully good as evidenced by the amount of points his rifles have collected for match shooters.
If one needs a custom FLS die for a wildcat, John Whidden will make one for $109.99.

 

[Erik Cortina]

A good F/L aizing die will accomplish the same thing, no need for separate dies to size neck and body.

 

[Barlow]

For my Dashers I use a Forster honed die that gives me .002 tension, I then use K&M mandrels to expand if I want to. It's simple and works for me. Barlow