I would like some help with my sizing die selection

[Yetiman]

Sorry for the long lead in, but there is probably some information I need to give to get good suggestions.

I have been reloading pistol ammunition for decades, but recently started reloading .308 Win.

My rifle right now is a Remington 700 5R in .308, with a Jewell trigger and a Weaver T36. It's not a tight chamber match barrel.

My shooting is pretty much limited to 300 yards and less (usually 200 yards at the ranges I shoot at most often). I am not shooting competitively at this time, but I am after accuracy.

I have been using a Dillon FL sizing die that was included with my RL550 press when I bought it used in 1994.

I realize the Dillon is not the hot setup for rifle calibers, and will be adding a single stage very soon. I have been using the Whidden floating die and Unique Tek clamp setup for now as well as an Innovative Technology digital headspace gauge to set things up.

I am using a Forster micrometer seating die and am getting OAL consistancy of +/- .002" per 50 rounds loaded, but the vast majority are +/- .001" (two thousandths variation).

So far I have been using 240 rounds of Norma brass that started out as factory loaded ammunition, and I recently bought 400 rounds of Lapua brass which I haven't even opened yet.

Now to my question... I had intended to pick up a Redding neck sizing die with the interchangeable bushings to get precise bullet tension while being easy on the brass. Then I started reading Larry Willis's advice to always full length size the brass.

So now I am considering a Redding FL die with bushings.

But another wrench in the works is, I was at an estate sale last week a block from my house, and I happened to pick up a number of RCBS dies for .308 (plus many other dies and gear).
I picked up a small base FL sizer new in the box never used (was only $4, so I might as well have it, right?), a FL size die and seating die combo, very lightly used ($10) and a non bushing neck sizing die, new in the box never used for $5.

Considering that I am using a factory chamber barrel, should I just use the RCBS FL sizer, the neck sizer, or should I still be looking into something different with bushings? My thought was to use the neck sizer, and full length size maybe every third time.

All advice is appreciated (including those that say 'get a better barrel and a better press", both of which are probably going to happen in the next year or two.

 

[jonbearman]

I have a similar Remington and I use a rcbs competition die which in my mind is no different from a standard die and an inline seater and I get no more than .003 runout and it still shoots under a 1/2 inch fairly regularly. The largest group it ever has shot since 1999 is just over.700 at a hundred yards with hornady 168 grain match bullets .

 

[artbosco]

Sorry for the long lead in, but there is probably some information I need to give to get good suggestions.

I have been reloading pistol ammunition for decades, but recently started reloading .308 Win.

My rifle right now is a Remington 700 5R in .308, with a Jewell trigger and a Weaver T36. It's not a tight chamber match barrel.

My shooting is pretty much limited to 300 yards and less (usually 200 yards at the ranges I shoot at most often). I am not shooting competitively at this time, but I am after accuracy.

I have been using a Dillon FL sizing die that was included with my RL550 press when I bought it used in 1994.

I realize the Dillon is not the hot setup for rifle calibers, and will be adding a single stage very soon. I have been using the Whidden floating die and Unique Tek clamp setup for now as well as an Innovative Technology digital headspace gauge to set things up.

I am using a Forster micrometer seating die and am getting OAL consistancy of +/- .002" per 50 rounds loaded, but the vast majority are +/- .001" (two thousandths variation).

So far I have been using 240 rounds of Norma brass that started out as factory loaded ammunition, and I recently bought 400 rounds of Lapua brass which I haven't even opened yet.

Now to my question... I had intended to pick up a Redding neck sizing die with the interchangeable bushings to get precise bullet tension while being easy on the brass. Then I started reading Larry Willis's advice to always full length size the brass.

So now I am considering a Redding FL die with bushings.

But another wrench in the works is, I was at an estate sale last week a block from my house, and I happened to pick up a number of RCBS dies for .308 (plus many other dies and gear).
I picked up a small base FL sizer new in the box never used (was only $4, so I might as well have it, right?), a FL size die and seating die combo, very lightly used ($10) and a non bushing neck sizing die, new in the box never used for $5.

Considering that I am using a factory chamber barrel, should I just use the RCBS FL sizer, the neck sizer, or should I still be looking into something different with bushings? My thought was to use the neck sizer, and full length size maybe every third time.

All advice is appreciated including those that say 'get a better barrel and a better press", both of which are probably going to happen in the next year or two.

First, you only need TWO dies ... ever. A FULL LENGTH DIE [with or without bushings] and a BULLET SEATING DIE with a Micrometer top.

With a FACTORY Barrel, use a F/L Die WITHOUT Bushings.

With a BETTER/CUSTOM Tight-Neck or Minimum-Neck Chambered Barrel [where you will have the best change of lining up the bullet's axis or center line of your round with the axis or center line of your barrel] use a F/L Die WITH Bushings.

Bushings will help fine tune your load along with seating depth adjustments.

Sell the rest of the excess dies you've accumulated. You don't need them.

 

[Yetiman]

Thank You both for your input ! very helpful.

 

[Dgd6mm]

With that rifle a Lee Deluxe .308 die set would work well. It comes with a collet die that sizes the neck. 3 dies in the set F/L , Seater, Collet, also comes with a shellholder.

 

[Yetiman]

With that rifle a Lee Deluxe .308 die set would work well. It comes with a collet die that sizes the neck. 3 dies in the set F/L , Seater, Collet, also comes with a shellholder.

I have had others suggest the Lee Collett die setup also, looking in to that setup.

 

[Wingzero]

My set up is a body sizing die, Lee Collet neck die and a bullet seating die.

 

[masterblaster1]

I have tried RCBS, Hornady, and Lee, I always come back to the lee sizing die and Lee Collet, I do use the Foster micro seater dies, I also skim turn or full turn to chamber size brass depending on the brass and rifle combo I load for. Cant go wrong with the Lee Combo, according to my concentricity micrometer from brownells.

 

[Yetiman]

Thanks ! I am looking into the Lee collet setup.

 

[ireload2]

The best setup is a good FL bushing die with a premium seater by Forster or Redding.
You can get other dies to work but you never have as precise control of the seating or sizing.