Picked my Seater die, which FL or Neck die?

[Matt_3479]

I am about to get a 260. rem put together. Im picking up the last of my parts tomorrow and the gunsmith will be seeing it next week hopefully. It will be finished in 6-8 weeks! So i want to get the dies ready while im waiting. I decided on a Forster Ultra Micro seater die but which either full length sizer or neck sizer should i get?

first custom rifle and want to make sure i get a decent die set as well

 

['Freak]

Folk gonna wanna know what you intend to be doing with this thing and your barrel/chamber specs?

 

[Matt_3479]

Im not 100% sure on chamber spec as im leaving that to my trusted smith as it is my first build and i figured he knows best! The intended purpose is to shoot 130 bergers or 140 berger hybrids for mostly target at 1000 yards and then coyote and crows at what ever distance they seem to appear!

 

['Freak]

Best “off the shelf” size dies IMO be a Redding body die in conjunction with their Competition neck bushing die, the one with a close fitting sliding sleeve what guides the case as the neck enters a floating neck size bushing. As to what bushing size(s) to start with and whether or not it might be best that you do utilize the expander button or even buy the carbide expander kit, all depends on your chamber’s neck diameter, what brass you’ll be using, and if you’ll be turning down/evening the OD of those case necks. I’m a thinkin’ a really good ‘smith knowledgeable of slinging .264” 140 grain hybrids accurately over 1000 yards would at least be done brought such things up for discussion?

 

[nosualc]

Redding FL Bushing Die, or the Forster equivalent. Adjust it correctly, and FL size every time.

Wilson seating die with arbor press.

-nosualc

 

[Patch700]

Good choice on the seater die , in a perfect world where money was no object you would get both a neck die and a full length size die... If you're only willing to buy one I would say just get the full length.

It is nice at times to use a neck die for when you want to be able to shoot a piece of brass a few times without altering the rest of the case.... My experience has been that at some point you will need to full length size , some will say the don't but that's what I've found.

Forster makes very nice dies and I don't think you'd go wrong adding another forster die to your collection.

 

[artbosco]

For Headache Free Sizing always use a standard Full Length Die or better yet a Full Length Bushing Die. Using a body die along with a neck sizing die opens up a big can of worms.

 

[gotcha]

Good choice on the Forster micro seater. I've had very good luck with the Forster standard F/L die. The expander only changes neck diameter by .0015" reducing work hardening necks and is carried high on the stem. The expander can be adjusted to just a few thou. below the neck which reduces the tendency for other stems to pull the neck off center from the case. I get near perfect R/O with this die and the Micro seater. Yes, the bushing dies are the ultimate but do you really need that at this point??

 

[CatShooter]

Redding FL Bushing Die, or the Forster equivalent. Adjust it correctly, and FL size every time.


-nosualc

Forster does not make a FL bushing die. Their FL die is non-bushing, but you can have them custom hone the neck for something like $10.

 

[Barlow]

Forster. Barlow

 

[Shynloco]

Matt,
If this rifle is going to be used for "general" long distance shooting, then I'd get a Redding FL Bushing die. Now if you are talking competition, I'd buy a Whidden@ www.whiddengunworks.net .

Alex

 

[michaelnel]

Why the Whidden over the Redding Competition? Not arguing, really want to know why you feel the Whidden is better.

 

[Patch700]

I have whidden dies as well , if you know you have a good chamber then by all means... One thing to consider is that the whiddens are purposely cut so as to do a good amount of sizing rite down to the base.. For some that may be good , if your chamber is a bit large you will be working the brass quite a bit.

They are very nice quality dies as far as off the shelf goes.

 

[CatShooter]

"... if your chamber is a bit large you will be working the brass quite a bit.

Unlike excessive sizing of the neck, there is no problem with sizing the base, so it is a non-issue.

 

[nosualc]

Redding FL Bushing Die, or the Forster equivalent. Adjust it correctly, and FL size every time.


-nosualc

Forster does not make a FL bushing die. Their FL die is non-bushing, but you can have them custom hone the neck for something like $10.

I stand corrected. I knew they had a bushing die, but it's not a true FL die, rather a "bump" die. My bad.

-nosualc

 

[Matt_3479]

Which FL bushing die is the best then?

 

[nosualc]

Redding and whidden both make a FL bushing die. I have both and have no complaints with either.

-nosualc

 

[th82457]

A Forster FL die will work very well - especially if after you have settled on your brass and know what neck tension you want - then send the die back to Forster and have the neck honed to your custom diameter for $12. Turnaround is quick and they will hone in .0005" increments. Works very well in my experience.

 

[Matt_3479]

What about the Forster Bushing bump neck sizing die to bump the shoulder back .002 or is it better to get a FL die and just bump shoulders that way?

 

[CatShooter]

What about the Forster Bushing bump neck sizing die to bump the shoulder back .002 or is it better to get a FL die and just bump shoulders that way?

It only touches the shoulder (and neck if you have a bushing)... it is not a FL die.