Recommended Dies for a 6.5 Creedmoor

[ditter]

Had the Redding Match Die. Now have the Whidden Adjustable. Top notch.

 

[ELR LVR]

I was afraid of that, lol! But right now, I'm at base zero...straight-up vertical learning curve.

Cheap - RCBS ALL THE WAY!!! they are great dies with a nice robust finish of some sort
Good competetive Dies Redding/Forster They're about equal with a small lean to Forster
Expensive cool, bragging rights - Whidden, Neil Jones, Cortina etc
Neil Jones is about as expensive as I go for a die when a Redding/ Forster does everything I expect it to
BUT
I am looking at Hornady bushing dies for the price
I havent tried them yet but I love their eliptical expanders
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I mean when my guns shoot like this with Redding Comp dies??
I just don't see the need to step it up in my die selection

 

[Edd]

Hi, I am just getting set up to start reloading for my 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm looking for suggestions on which dies and which manufacturer's dies to get.

Forster has always been my preference (for my 6.5 Grendel).

I assume most of the dies out there are pretty good but wanted to get some suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

This is what I would buy.

MatchMaster Full‑Length Bushing Die Set | Micrometer Seating & Neck-Bushing Tension Control - RCBS

shop.rcbs.com

 

[Will Henry]

I use Hornady dies but with a custom chambered sleeve and seating stem in the seater. The sizer works fine, the re-worked seater is perfect. WH

 

[dukecola]

Hi, I am just getting set up to start reloading for my 6.5 Creedmoor. I'm looking for suggestions on which dies and which manufacturer's dies to get.

Forster has always been my preference (for my 6.5 Grendel).

I assume most of the dies out there are pretty good but wanted to get some suggestions.

Thank you in advance.

I have redding and hornady and they worked fine but last year switched to a SAC modular. So consistent. Yes expensive but it decaps, FL sizes and bushing neck tensions in one step, and is easy to adjust. I find it more accurate and consistent than my other dies.

 

[Iowa Fox]

Lee collet
Redding body die
Forster seaters

That’s my favorite set when I can get them for a cartridge.

I've tried them all and spent a lot of money you will not beat the above combination for any cartridge they are available for.

 

[TomSawyerNW]

I've tried them all and spent a lot of money you will not beat the above combination for any cartridge they are available for.

Thanks for that. If I follow, the Lee collet does neck sizing, the Redding body die does the full length sizing and shaping, and the Forster does the bullet seating. Showing my ignorance here, I guess the Redding body die configures only the body but not the neck?

I do have access to a Lee neck sizing die, and know that some people have good results by doing neck sizing only.

 

[charlie b]

The Lee collet can also be a mandrel die. Just get one made to obtain the size neck you want.

When shooting .223 I sometimes just use the Lee collet die just because I get lazy, don't need to lube them. For cast bullets it is the ideal solution but YMMV.

 

[Fast14riot]

Best results are when your sizing die matches your chamber appropriately. Redding type S dies have always been a good starting point, especially for SAAMI chambers, but occasionally they can be a little long, though haven't seen that much with off the shelf chambers.

A couple ways to quickly adjust for a die too long or to test different shoulder bump dimensions. Just remember gunsmithing rule #2, always modify the cheaper part.

A feeler gauge under the case head can increase shoulder bump for a single case. Cheap, easy, not permanent, repeatable.

Lapping the shell holder top surface can let the die come down farther. Still cheap, not a big deal if you go too far, doesn't affect die position.

Having the mouth of the die turned down on a lathe. Most expensive, permanent, may affect sizing if needing to back it out for longer headspace.

All this being said, you can't change anything diametrically about the die quickly or easily, so measure carefully.

 

[209jones]

Haven't played enough with them to sort out what I like best, I bought Forster and Redding. The Redding set is the S-type FLS bushing, also have the Forster FLS bushing and the bushing neck/bump and regular FLS, also have 21st Century 5-pak of mandrels. I can read the Forster seater better, no real difference in runout between Forster and Redding, no issues in bumping with any of them. Contemplated trying an RCBS Matchmaster seater, had an old set for a 7mm and liked their bullet window a lot. Never tried a Lee collet die. The FLS bushing die can accomplish the same as a body die by removing the bushing, and save buying another die and a swapout in the process.
Each die has it uses, I like having options, also working with two guns. I can play with how to achieve what neck tension I want in a few ways, can save some time and effort on new and once fired with the bushing neck/bump. Mandrels can be used at the range for tension tests, just start out by sizing with plain FLS die and expand necks and work out, fix dinged necks on a new case. In my case, I can use the mandrels to adjust for my 21st Century trimmer and neck turn tool as well.