Neck Turning/Dies

[wvuredneck09]

I am currently reloading for a custom 22-250 and am debating neck turning my brass. I use a setup to trim the cases that works with a power drill and think that i could use a hand held neck trimmer with this setup, is this fact or fiction? Also what brand would you recommend? Last but not least are the RCBS Gold Medal Match dies worth the money or is it better spent elsewhere?

 

[billmo]

Redding, Forster, Wilson and some of these guys on the site build a better die according to most reports. Bill

 

[CatShooter]

I am currently reloading for a custom 22-250 and am debating neck turning my brass. I use a setup to trim the cases that works with a power drill and think that i could use a hand held neck trimmer with this setup, is this fact or fiction? Also what brand would you recommend? Last but not least are the RCBS Gold Medal Match dies worth the money or is it better spent elsewhere?

Unless you have a tight neck chamber, it's probably not worth neck turning.

If you do, there are power turners that are effective if you are doing a LOT of cases - my last turn was for a .266" neck, and I turned 1,100 cases with a power setup.

As to dies, I think it's fair to say that NO serious shooters use RCBS dies.

The top of the line 7/8x14 dies are from Forster and Redding... and if you have deep pockets you can get hand made dies, but I doubt that you need them.


.

 

[284driver]

you can "clean up" the necks with a neck turner. That's basically cutting down the thick spots around the neck. Sinclair and K&N would be the best for the price. I don't like the RCBS turner. Not innovative enough. The pilots have too much play inside the case neck.
I think turning, even just cleaning up the neck helps reduce bullet runout. But as said before, it's not abolutely necessary for a sammi chamber. I use a cordless screwdriver with lee trimmer holders for turning. works good enough for me.

 

[wvuredneck09]

Which of the redding or forester dies would you recommend and how is there customer service compared to RCBS. Skyav8r, what type of neck turner do you use with the lee holder?

 

[CatShooter]

Which of the redding or forester dies would you recommend and how is there customer service compared to RCBS. Skyav8r, what type of neck turner do you use with the lee holder?

All three have excellent customer service.

For standard type sizing dies, Forster is hands down the winner - Redding standard dies are... Eh!!

For bushing dies, both Redding and Forster have equal support.

For match,sleeve) seaters, I prefer the Forster, but I own both and have never had a problem with either... but if you have an odd chamber, Forster will bend over harder than Redding to get you set up.

.

 

[284driver]

WVU, I bought a lee case trimmer pilot and holder for each size case head i shoot. For instance, a 22-250 holder will hold 308,248...and so on. stick a case in the holder, in a cordless screwdriver and turn up a storm. I have both sinclair and K&N. The latter is more user friendly in my opinion.

 

[wvuredneck09]

Thanks for the info and any other opinions are still very welcomed. As far as the K&M turner goes, is the carbide version worth the extra money or will steel one work just as well, I don't load thousands of rounds a year so I'm not particularly concerned with the cutter wearing out. I have looked at both the forester bushing and redding bushing die and can not tell a difference other than the fact that I can be the redding in a set with the seater die which is supposedly the best seater you can buy,commercially I'm sure) and in the package form is the cheaper option, even cheaper than the RCBS. Any thoughts? Are the redding dies carbide or will i need to lube cases?