forster bushing bump die in ar-15

[cmillard]

anyone out there using a forster bushing bump die in an ar-15 in .223? i know a FL die is recommended and have used one for years, but i think the headspace and neck tension is the most important part for the gas gun. anyone experience problems with one?

 

[284driver]

I'm pretty sure the Forster bump die is a FL die with neck bushings to control neck tension similar to the redding type s dies.

 

[cmillard]

i believe it states that it does not size the body in the catalog, but only the neck and bumps shoulder

 

[284driver]

Yes sorry. I think you're correct.
If that's the case then you might run into extraction problems once the brass expands enough to stick in the chamber. I type s fl for my gas guns now with no problems. Got small base dies for them but have never needed them.

 

[KMart]

I have used the bump die in a 223 bolt gun. It works fine for a few firings but then I start to get the "click" at the top of the bolt lift. Then it is time for a FL sizing. And you are correct, it soes not size the body of the case. I don't use it in my AR.

 

[cmillard]

i wish forster would offer a fl bushing die. i love forster dies, and have had issues with redding in the past

 

[KevinThomas]

If it's not sizing the body, you're heading for problems here. Guaranteed. Headspace is important for a gas gun, but it needs to be downright roomy compared to that of a bolt gun. Consider .003" as an absolute minimum when setting the dies up. If you don't have at least that, you need to bump the shoulder back a bit more. All the way to .004" is none too much, and .005" would be even better.

Gas guns and bolt guns are entirely different animals, and you can't come close to using the same techniques in loading for them.

 

[FroggyOne2]

I agree with Kevin on this one! I have been shooting Highpower for 13 years now and it has always been said to me from day one when I started shooting Service Rifle, that the headspace is need is at least .003 for the gasgun. So keep that in mind when setting up your dies. If your shooting both a AR and a boltgun, you may want to consider having two seperate sizing dies set up for each rifle and also keep the brass seperate. It is generally given in thought that the usable life of brass in a gasgun is three times fired and then dump the brass. In a boltgun, it should last a lil longer. One batch of brass for my 223's has 8 firings on it and it is starting to give it up, the primer pockets are getting too loose, the other one may go 5 times.

I am going to try some LC11 if I can get my hands on some.

 

[cmillard]

that is the downfall--the brass life. i think we tend to push them too hard in our gas guns.

 

[FroggyOne2]

I agree, but sometimes that is just part of the price you pay to compete!