Body Die & Collet Die or FL & Collet?

[ranger3]

A body die sizes everything but the neck. I use that along with a Lee collett die on many calibers. I also use the body die along with a neck die and that works good also.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

I have used Redding FL bushing dies (Type S), Redding body dies and Lee collet dies in both 223 and 308. I have gone back and forth on these and what I am using right now is Redding FL Bushing die, without the bushing + collet die for 223 and FL Bushing die with a bushing for 308.

In my experience, there is no difference in using a Redding body die or a Redding bushing FL die without a bushing. They both size the body and bump shoulders. This is what I have seen in 223 and 308. The reason for using the FL Bushing die without the bushing for 223, rather than the body die, is because I know where the FL Bushing die is, the body die is in a box somewhere.

 

[MMH]

And you can control exactly how much the shoulder is set back by using a set of Redding competition shell holders. This let you account for different manufacturers of brass without having to adjust the sizing die.

Why would brass manufactured by different companies change the shoulder set back?

 

[Ringostar]

Why would brass manufactured by different companies change the shoulder set back?

They vary on brass thickness. A thicker case can resist sizing more than thinner.

 

[dstoenner]

They vary on brass thickness. A thicker case can resist sizing more than thinner.

And the amount of annealing done to the neck and shoulder area by the manufacturer. In my case Remington cases sprung back .006 more thasn lapua so I was using -.010 shellholder for Lapua and -.004 for R-P cases. Nosler was -.010 as well as Hornandy. They all say 260 rem on the case head but they are not all created equally.

Same can apply to bushing used in the sizer.

David

 

[Bart B.]

Most rimless bottleneck full length sizing die's headspace (shoulder to shell holder bottom flat) is about .005" less than the cartridge chamber GO headspace gauge. When the die is locked in the press so the shell holder is hard against the die at the top of the press ram stroke, the sized case headspace is about .002" to .003" less than that GO gauge after its back out of the die. Brass springback.

 

[ireload2]

Multiple sizing strokes result in more consistent shoulder location. Each sizing stroke should have some dwell to give the brass in the shoulder enough time to creep to a final location. Check every case to verify they are all the same exact length from head to datum. As you check large numbers of cases you will find variation from speed of sizing, amount of lube, number of sizing strokes and dwell time.

They vary on brass thickness. A thicker case can resist sizing more than thinner.

 

[ireload2]

Fast and nasty sizing will leave you with cases that vary from head to shoulder at least .002".

All my Rockwell testing was done on an old mechanical Wilson tester. Since it has the large dial scale you have to give it some time or you will be guessing at a moving needle.

check out procedures for Rockwell hardness testing that require "dwell times" of some 15 seconds. engineering guys might call this "plastic deformation". - nudge your brass gently and incrementally into position - squash them quick and see "spring back"

 

[ericbc7]

I am inclined to follow Boyd’s recommendations
I find that small caliber cases seem to follow his recommendations

 

[Bart B.]

There is no 'good' in FL sizing of necks.

There are some who think otherwise that get equally best accuracy.

Either way, one must have confidence in their tools and techniques.