Dies for Dasher - New Reloading Setup

[TheNimble1]

Finally have my first non-factory rifle - a well cared for 2nd hand 6 dasher, Tenacity, 26" Bartlein, chambered by Brian Allen at A-Team with a Legacy Alpha Dasher reamer. I'm excited about next steps in my journey. Intended use is competitive target shooting, i.e. using this gun to learn the games, so to speak. I shoot 600 yd. club matches with some first-rate shooters (and great people) from here in middle TN and AL and want to work toward progressing to the next level.

As I'm going about product selection for my new reloading setup, I'm trying to avoid being a slave to the marketing and not feeling like I'm missing out on some magic vudoo by not spending the extra coin on dies from SAC, Area 419, etc. Am I generally good to go with LE Wilson and other long-time proven gear, or is there truly something game changing (on the target) with the newer stuff? I do subscribe to the buy once/cry once mentality, where it makes sense to do to. I'm just having a hard time seeing through the marketing "gotta have the latest and greatest" haze.

Would appreciate input from the experienced folks here.

Cheers!
-jl

 

[Tomiboy]

I too would like to know if SAC dies are better

 

[TheNimble1]

I too would like to know if SAC dies are better

"Better" can be defined any number of ways, based on each of our own goals and objectives. But, for example, if the extra money for SAC dies buys me groups that are 1" smaller at 600 and/or 1,000, then I'm in. I realize that's an absurd example, but that's sort of the point of my question. Where does it make sense to spend and where is the benefit negligible?

 

[swd]

Hard to beat Harrels. Send them 3 cases fired 3 times and they match them to the best die.

 

[JLT]

The marginal contribution of a lot of 'new and improved' is pretty small, IMO. I'm perfectly happy with a Forster FL sizing die and expanding mandrels. The die is an excellent match to my Dasher reamer and my brass lasts forever. A good sizing die doesn't have to cost a fortune.

 

[LCazador]

In my opinion you should go with nothing but the best and that is Neil Jones dies!

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I suggest that, given that you have a decent chamber, purchase a Redding Bushing FL die and the appropriate bushing that gives 1-1.5 thou neck tension. Remove the expander ball - the die should have a de capping stem that allows this. . Simply size the case with the die. You will not be moving the brass around too much. Measure your case size carefully - you may need to shoulder bump - and you may need to try more than one bushing to get the desired size/tension.

For seating, you have two choices - either a Redding competition seater, or go for a Wilson seating die, with the micrometer cap and an arbour press. I started with the Redding seater and get good results - but I am changing all my seating to Wilson dies gradually.

 

[One Eye Pete]

The main thing with a sizing die is that it matches your chamber. As SWD said above for a dasher sizing die it’s hard to beat Harrels. They are the closest you can come to a custom die at a very reasonable price. For a seating die you can pay a lot more but it’s hard to beat a LE Wilson micrometer die. For a press a good old RCBS rockchucker or a Forster. Don’t get caught up in all the real expensive “boutique” stuff save the money where you can and get a top notch scale like an A&D fx120i. Although the A&D is expensive it is accurate fast and doesn’t drift, well worth the price. The real accuracy lies in how well you can tune the load to your rifle not how much you pay for the equipment.

 

[6MMsteve]

Forster sizing dies expander ball is at the top or you can position it closer to the top and it's smooth your not pulling the expander at the bottom where the case is less supported I think, but I use a mandrel with bushing dies, if the barrel is good it will shoot most anything die wise, 108 or 105 bergers or customs

 

[Tomiboy]

On a similar subject...These seating dies that you use with an arbor press, what is their advantage?

 

[TheNimble1]

The main thing with a sizing die is that it matches your chamber. As SWD said above for a dasher sizing die it’s hard to beat Harrels. They are the closest you can come to a custom die at a very reasonable price. For a seating die you can pay a lot more but it’s hard to beat a LE Wilson micrometer die. For a press a good old RCBS rockchucker or a Forster. Don’t get caught up in all the real expensive “boutique” stuff save the money where you can and get a top notch scale like an A&D fx120i. Although the A&D is expensive it is accurate fast and doesn’t drift, well worth the price. The real accuracy lies in how well you can tune the load to your rifle not how much you pay for the equipment.

Yep - Forster press. You've confirmed my thinking re. allocating extra $$ to the scale vs. the press. I expect the same logic holds true in other areas as well. I know I can't buy accuracy, and I don't intend to. Learning the craft is what excites me. I do, however, want to be sure that I have the right tools to support the development of the craft - spending money where necessary, i.e. truly quantifiable on target, and saving money where it also makes sense to do so. Thanks for the input!
-jl

 

[LCazador]

On a similar subject...These seating dies that you use with an arbor press, what is their advantage?

They eliminate any misalignment caused by a press ram. Thus reducing bullet run out.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Good Post...........
Glad I am older now. Have to stay with my old Stuff.

 

[HTSmith]

My suggestion would be a Harrells sizing die with a Forster micrometer top seating die. Could be I’m not doing something right, but I get better CBTO consistency with my Forster seater than my Wilson arbor type seating die

 

[Tomiboy]

I am using a Forster micrometer seating die and really like how easy it is to adjust for seating depths. Like my SAC sizer, it came with the rifle I bought. It also came with the Wilson micrometer arbor type die, that I have never used....I don't have an arbor press.

 

[G Liles]

Jon, take 3 brass fired 3 times and mail them along with $100 to Harrells they make great dies. Also I would recommend buying a good arbor press for bullet seating along with L.E Wilson seater dies. The V4 AutoTrickler along with the A&D fx120 has been a great investment for me it’s fast and accurate.
Gary

 

[LCazador]

My suggestion would be a Harrells sizing die with a Forster micrometer top seating die. Could be I’m not doing something right, but I get better CBTO consistency with my Forster seater than my Wilson arbor type seating die

Could be the seating stem on your Forster die is better suited to the ogive on your bullet. There are various seating stems available for the Wilson seater.

 

[HTSmith]

Could be the seating stem on your Forster die is better suited to the ogive on your bullet. There are various seating stems available for the Wilson seater.

I suspect it is the fit of the seating stem but I’ve tried both the Wilson regular and VLD drifts.

 

[TheNimble1]

Good Post...........
Glad I am older now. Have to stay with my old Stuff.

Yeah, I'm older too but I've got no stuff. Yet...

We're new empty-nesters, so the runway is clear to start seriously playing this game. My wife gardens, I shoot, and we golf together. It's a good plan for this next phase of life.

 

[TheNimble1]

Jon, take 3 brass fired 3 times and mail them along with $100 to Harrells they make great dies. Also I would recommend buying a good arbor press for bullet seating along with L.E Wilson seater dies. The V4 AutoTrickler along with the A&D fx120 has been a great investment for me it’s fast and accurate.
Gary

You're reading my mind on the V4 - clearly that's a place to spend that has tangible benefits. Harrells endorsements from guys like you, @Alex Wheeler and many others, will likely send me in that direction. Hope to see you on Saturday.