Foster Rifle Dies

[K22]

I thinking of replacing my 35+ year old RCBS 223 dies with a set of Forster Benchrest Dies (these are the one without the sizing bushings)

I'm a varmint hunter that needs accurate handloads.

Does anyone have any experience with these dies especially regarding their claim to reduce run out with high E-Z out expander button.

 

[BJILEG]

I have Forster in 4 calibers and have found them to be next to custom dies when adjusted in the press correctly..plus they will hone the neck part of the sizer die for a custom neck tension...

 

[lurcher]

can't see any obvious difference in runout of seated bullets between a forster benchrest seater and a wilson (Used with arbor press and regarded by many as the top seater die) in the same calibre. I will buy more of them

 

[fullersson]

I've used Forster without any problems and I think they are good dies, but I currently use the Redding competition series of dies. I just switched over to the Redding for a 6br and so far I like them better than the Forster.

 

[RonAKA]

If you use their conventional FL or Neck dies they do a couple of things different. The expander ball is located in the shoulder area right below the neck. Most dies locate the expander ball down near the head of the case, so the neck is unsupported when the ball goes through the neck. Also the expander ball rod is mounted with an O-ring to give it flexibility to move. The idea is to have the top of the neck in the die when the expander ball is going into the bottom of the neck, and let the ball float. They contend this reduces expander ball induced eccentricity. Also, the expander ball is available in over sized dimensions, so you can reduce neck tension to benchrest levels of 0.001" or so.

My strategy with them is to use the Bushing/Bump die to get the neck real close to final size, and still use the expander ball to get that last little bit. My measurements show I have about 0.0013" tension with just the bushing, and that the expander ball opens the ID up to give 0.001" tension. You could do the same with a FL or Neck die if you use Forster's service of honing the neck. Just no way to bump the shoulder with the Neck die. But, you could potentially do a 0.001" bump with the FL at the price of sizing the body some.

 

[Rem06]

they're awesome and the only ones I use now.

 

[JabaliHunter]

They are really nice - I'm sure you won't be disappointed

 

[jonbearman]

They are very well made and affordable compared to a custom die.The fact that they will hone necks and make other changes for next to nothing says alot about pride in their product.

 

[K22]

Many thanks to the informative replies. I plan to purchase the Benchrest full size die set since I like to full size my hunting reloads.

I stopped neck sizing a few years ago since I didn't notice improvement in accuracy and sometimes I had difficulty chambering a neck sized round. Since each of my rifles has it's own lot of brass, I adjust the full size die so that it contacts the shell holder with a slight bump. This sizes most of the case without setting back the shoulder too much. I've found this to be perfect for my applications and if fact have slightly more consistant groups than neck sizing and never had any chambering problems.

 

[robbor]

I just dont like the forster buttons. WHat i do like is that you can remove them and send the dies in and have the neck honed out to your spec.

 

[CacheCropp]

I really like my Forster 308 Match FL sizer and seater dies. I found that with Win brass and Berger 185's or Lapua 155's my neck O.D., loaded, is .334. With the Forster Match FL sizer, using the expander ball, my necks are consistently sized to .332 for a nice .002 tension.

I also have ordered the bump bushing die to try. It sounds like the best of all worlds for my applications.

 

[RonAKA]

You may find this discussion on Forster vs Redding interesting.

Redding vs Forster