Neck sizing bushing selection

[Chris Edmondson]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

 

[Fire Dog]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

All of the above are good and the Redding ones that are nitride coated mean you can use the absolute minimum amount of lube on the necks as well as they fit a variety of other brands of dies… Even use them in my Whidden dies. NOT okay for Foster, they have their own type but good as well too if you have their dies buy their bushings.
Since shipping is fairly fixed for small items buy several sizes {at least one} up and down from your target size and you will be able to find any change in brass, ie new batch or different make you will still be able to have a size suitable for your needs.

 

[209jones]

Depends on what level of "accuracy" you want on the finished size. Brass makeup, annealing, neck thickness, all have an effect on it, and to some extent, what you define as "premium". Most of the "premium" ones are just coated with something to make neck lubing unnecessary, many find some lube still helps, and it will eventually wear some down the road, although that will take a few yrs of some heavy use. I don't see where any of them except maybe the SAC, really do anything different than the cheaper uncoated ones. Not to mention that brass mfgrs change stuff, and the next batch may not size the same as the one you have now, and then you may need another "premium" bushing, of a different size. I believe SAC is supposed to size the whole neck down to the shoulder like a neck die does, none of the others do that as far as I'm aware, maybe Cortina's does, but, think you need to buy his die, may have to do that with some versions of the SAC too.

 

[Ccrider]

SAC.

 

[Timon]

SAC, if you want zero runout. Perhaps some of the others can do if, but it’s just a fact with SAC bushings. Their standard ones can be used in any die that used a standard size bushing.

 

[Clancy]

I am no fan of the SAC bushing.

I’ve used all of the above, and micron are my favorite. They’ll run .001 small, so if you want a .265 neck, order the .266

 

[Webster]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

I have used the plain steel bushing for years without a problem. I always lube the necks. What size do you need. I have several that I will never use. They are to big. I think they are .266, .267, .268. I think I paid under $10 for each. RCBS.

 

[6BRA]

SAC as others have said.

 

[HTSmith]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

What is your current setup missing? Not sure you'll improve your accuracy by changing. Most of my bushings are Wilson steel

 

[rwj]

I am no fan of the SAC bushing.

Nor I because they are tapered…

 

[AlNyhus]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

Chris, a neck bushing needs only to be straight, fit the die cavity with an acceptable tolerance that allows it to self center on the neck and be the size that's marked.

If your Wilson bushing does that, there's no real advantage to changing.

Just my 2 cents worth....-Al

 

[stavey]

I am no fan of the SAC bushing.

I’ve used all of the above, and micron are my favorite. They’ll run .001 small, so if you want a .265 neck, order the .266

Exactly what I’ve seen.

 

[Dave M.]

I've dialed in the diameter bushing that'll work best for me using the cheapest ones I could find, L.E. Wilson in this case, they cost about $24 each.

If I want to get a premium bushing (now that I know the size), what do you all think of:

Redding nitride-coated: $37 each
Micron: $35 each.
SAC universal: $40 each.

Open to others as well.

The die is a Redding Type S, 6br Rem, I'm happy with it so far.

Thanks.

SAC all day. Best of the best.

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Thank you all for sharing your bushing experiences, much appreciated!

Since bushing taper was mentioned, I dug into the LE Wilson bushing, it's a tapered design according to the user manual for the die:


The partial sentence underlined in red is a bit of a puzzle: Taper should normally be stated as distance-per-distance, a ratio, or an angle with respect to a reference line, I have no idea what a .003" taper is. Nevertheless, using pin gages on the .267" bushing I have indicates it's diameter is smaller at one end than the other. Using minus gages, the unmarked (bottom) end of the bushing will almost accept a .267" pin, a .266" slips in easily and gets tight-ish at the other end (top) of the bushing. Absolute dimensional agreement between the bushing's stamp and it's measured dimension aside, the little bugger is tapered.

The partial sentence underlined in blue is a mystery to me; the bushing is nominally .375" tall, a 6br neck is nominally .322" long. Further research required .

 

[Chris Edmondson]

Looks as if the bushing does size the full neck, more or less.

Not a precision depiction, close enough for shade tree work: