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Best dies 243

mike a

I'm looking to upgrade to the best dies I can get. Want to neck size and get that dang bullet in straight. 243 standard chamber. Using a Rockchucker
 
What dies do you now have and what are the issues that you believe they are causing you? What rifle and it's intended use?
 
LHSmith said:
What dies do you now have and what are the issues that you believe they are causing you? What rifle and it's intended use?
Click to expand...
Embarrassed to say I'm still using the FL and seater set dad bought 100 years ago. Rifle Howa 243 thumbhole varminter. 10 twist. Intended use, I want 1/4moa ha ha. I get 3/4 and less now with 75 grn vmax out to 500yds. Any bullet over 85grns goes to sh-t beyond 300. IF I seat 10 bullets real careful runout is .004 - .006. This rifle has 298 rds though it. 12 coyotes, 285 paper and 1 missed yote.
 
Learn how to measure case head to shoulder distance and how to keep that dimension uniform between your brass....and switch to a Wilson In-line seater. A neck die will only cause other troubles.
 
If you want to "upgrade" your dies you might try the Redding Master Hunter set which has the standard fl sizer and the competition seater. Maybe a Whidden fl sizer and their seating die. Can't go wrong with either choice.

A few other suggestions that may cut your groups down would be to buy some Lapua brass and buy a few Sinclair case prep tools, a primer pocket uniformer and a flash hole demurring tool. Also try some match grade bullets like Sierra or Berger, maybe 95 grain.
 
LHSmith said:
Learn how to measure case head to shoulder distance and how to keep that dimension uniform between your brass....and switch to a Wilson In-line seater. A neck die will only cause other troubles.
Click to expand...
Forgive my ignorance as I have only ever used FL dies. Headspace I assume is what your referring to. I think? And with that said are we talking about Partial resizing ie bumping the shoulder back? You only mentioned a seat die. Can I use my FL die?
 
mike a said:
Forgive my ignorance as I have only ever used FL dies. Headspace I assume is what your referring to. I think? And with that said are we talking about Partial resizing ie bumping the shoulder back? You only mentioned a seat die. Can I use my FL die?
Click to expand...
Watch Alex Wheelers sizing/setback 101 video on the reloading forum. It will show you. Matt
 
mike a said:
Forgive my ignorance as I have only ever used FL dies. Headspace I assume is what your referring to. I think? And with that said are we talking about Partial resizing ie bumping the shoulder back? You only mentioned a seat die. Can I use my FL die?
Click to expand...
I doubt your issues are the fault of the FL die. Do not partial size although some manuals/ die instructions mention it. What I'm saying is to learn how to optimize your die adjustment based on YOUR fired brass. For starters check out the thread "More videos sizing/ Shoulder setback 101" in this same forum.
 
mike a said:
I'm looking to upgrade to the best dies I can get. Want to neck size and get that dang bullet in straight. 243 standard chamber. Using a Rockchucker
Click to expand...
Well, many thanx to all. I almost bought stuff I didn't need. Boy I'm glad I joined this forum. Watched the video and looks like I'll buy a seating die and comparator. Many guys have called my howa an entry level gun but none of the coyotes have.
 
mike a said:
I'm looking to upgrade to the best dies I can get. Want to neck size and get that dang bullet in straight. 243 standard chamber. Using a Rockchucker
Click to expand...

Get a Redding F/L bushing die and shoulder bump after every firing. If you are set on neck sizing get a Wilson neck die. But you will need to F/L sooner or later. Seat with a Wilson seater with arbor press. You can get a Wilson die set and arbor press for what custom dies will cost.

Mark Schronce
 
mike a said:
I'm looking to upgrade to the best dies I can get. Want to neck size and get that dang bullet in straight. 243 standard chamber. Using a Rockchucker
Click to expand...

Good advice from other posters. All my neck sizing dies were retired to paper weights years ago. Properly full sizing with a .002 shoulder bump will produce more uniform, more reliable (chambering) and more accurate reloads and will NOT reduce case life as compared to neck sizing. Neck sizing virtues are a myth from the 60's.

The Forester competition seating die is an effective die for reducing run out.
I found that placing a rubber o ring under the expander stem of the sizing die to allow the stem to "float" also helps to reduce distortion of the neck when the expander ball is pass through the neck during sizing which helps reduce run out.

I have been able to achieve groups in the 1/4 moa range with standard RCBS dies in several of my match grade heavy barreled 223's. I cite this to give you an example of what can be obtained with standard reloading equipment, carefully prepared cases, and quality components in a rifle with a match grade barrel.
 
Bushing sizing bump die. High quality seater. I like the micro adjuster. .024" too long? Crank it down ?.024" bam! I mean spoiled...
I use Redding and Forester.

The carbide button was my biggest enemy trying to load straight ammo.
 
I had the same problem with runout. I simply screwed the expander plug and shaft up very high in the FL die. Once I had full length resized, I ran the case thru a Lee 243 neck sizer. The reason for putting the expander plug up high in the die is to stop the plug from pulling the neck off center.

Since making these changes, the runout has been under .0015 which has produced groups under 1/4" in my Sako HB gun.
 
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