Redding Competition dies

[royta]

I've got all the components I need to start loading for my .22-250 again, but I will be replacing my press and dies. I used to load for the same rifle when it had the original barrel about 17 years ago. I had Pac-Nor install a new barrel in 2002 and I have about 100 factory rounds through it. The barrel is a Pac-Nor, 24', #5 Sporter contour, 1:12 twist, 3-groove, Stainless Steel Super Match.

17 years ago, I had planned on buying a Redding Competition seater die. I'm still considering it, but am also thinking I should get the Competion neck sizer die as well. Although, I've heard good things about the Lee collet sizing die too. I guess I'll need the Redding body die since I'm sure I'll suffer hard bolt lift after a few reloadings of the case.

This is not a benchrest rifle. It is a rifle used for varmints & predators and some minimal paper punching. I'm just trying to get the most accuracy I can. I guess I'll more than likely need to start neck turning too.

Suggestions?


Roy

 

[Travelor]

Buy the set of Redding competion collet dies which includes a body die for the occassional sizing of the body and shoulder and you will be happy.

I also recommed a Forster Co-Ax press.

George

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I use a Redding Competition Seater and a Lee Collet Neck sizer.
The Redding Competition Seater Die is absolutely awesome, Micrometed adjustable, perfect alignment. I'll never trade that one out.
Lee collet neck sizer is good, I like it. Some people dont. The Redding neck sizer will be more adjustable,although you can buy custom sized mandrels from lee and they are a snap to swap.) The lee die gives me very little runout, but the redding competition dies are precisely designed for that too.
I haven't tried the Redding body die, but it's on my shortlist of stuff to pick up.
I use a Lee breech lock challenger press. It's a little bit of a lightweight, but I like it.
One other die that I recently tried and will never let go of now is the Lee factory crimp die. It's $10 and took a solid .1' off of my already good group sizes.

 

[royta]

I always over research everything. I'm wondering if a Type S Full Length sizing die with the Competition Shell Holders is the way to go, along with a Lee Collet neck sizing die. Perhaps skipping the Lee Collet neck sizing die all together would be the best. Barely bumping back the shoulder to just fit the chamber sounds like the hot setup. It would guarantee easy chambering rounds and keep from over working the brass.

My main conern is concentricity of the sized brass and of the bullet seated brass.

 

[MQ1]

Royta,

I have loaded very precise ammo using pretty much every different die manufacturer out there.

If you are on a budget, Lee is impossible to beat. If you have the money for a Redding Competition set, you'll not likely be disappointed in the quality of their product.

FWIW,

MQ1

 

[Travelor]

I would get the Redding Competition - Bushing Neck Sizing die set over the Type-S. I feel it is a better die set.

George

 

[Gearheadpyro]

I was reading in another post something about runout with the type s dies. They were all saying that if you size the brass down too much at a time,like from a large factory chamber down to the correct size) it would cause some runout problems. I have no experience with the type s dies, so I couldn't tell you.

 

[ForneyRider]

I have several sets of Lee deluxe rifle dies. I have some RCBS, and one set of Redding Competition match dies.

Really like them all for different reasons. Lee stuff works well and is cheap. I don't like the cheaper material, the o-ring, etc. RCBS has best feel to them. Redding dies are awesome for high-end die set. The Ti coated bushing is fantastic and the die design is easy to adjust and solid. You can experiment with different bushings for neck tension. If you have a loose neck chamber, you can play around with neck tension by only resizing different lengths of the neck. But it is easier to do with a match die. AFAIK, the lee collet die is not adjustable.

I replaced the o-rings in the Lee with Lyman/Forster oversize ones.

For 25$, you can make some really nice hunting ammo for .22-250 with Lee die set. I use their stuff for my dad's 700 VLS .22-250.

But if I wanted to go all out, I'd get a bushing die, a body die, and a match seater die. Redding, RCBS, Wilson, Forster and some others make them. I use the Redding for .223 Rem. It is very easy to experiment with different bullets and seater depth. I prefer the Redding design to RCBS. I think the Wilson and Forster are similar in design to the Redding.

I use Nosler brass, 50gr VMax, 35gr Varget and CCI 200 primers. Very accurate and fast at 3913fps out of the 26in VLS. I'm getting frustrated with about 1-2 per tray of CCI 200 not working. So am looking at Federal.

 

[coues52]

new guy here: great articles on this very subject "The Riflemansjournal.com" articles by German Salazar,David Tubb,etc..everything from properly setting up yours dies, too measuring the right way to set the proper headspace ,also check out "Larrywillis.com" Innovative technologies, check out his Digital headspace guage,read his tech articles. good reading.PS: I don,t know much,thats why I read artices from people who do,lol.Saved me alot of money,so I can shoot more

 

[GermanS1]

The correct link is www.riflemansjournal.blogspot.com and there are articles about setting up bushing dies as this thread was about and also about many other reloading and accuracy topics. I try to update it semi-regularly.

As for the specifics of this thread, the best combination of dies that I've found, and regularly use, is the Redding Type S full-length die with an intermediate size bushing, followed by a Redding neck die with the final bushing size. The actual bushing sizes are determined by your brass thickness and chamber neck dimension. As Gearhead noted, it's best to limit the bushings to no more than 0.005" diameter reduction per pass, so sometimes more than one is needed.

 

[sevenfal]

hello from pa.


I was reading the reloading forum and saw the question on redding comp dies. I think they are great dies but I found that there is something strange when it comes to price? In Sinclairs new 2009 catalog the price for the comp bullet seater die is 91.00 dollars and I won a 50% off any order item from redding and in there catalog the price for the exact same die is 144.00.Now to me this is quite a bit of a difference in price for the exact same die. I don't mind paying for anything that is good but I think this is way out of line.


thanks A-lot
sevenfal

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I use Lee deluxe dies and I couldn't be happier but, I have used nothing else so I have nothing to compare it to. All I use is the collet neck sizer and the dead length bullet seater, haven't had the need to full length size anything yet! When I found the sweet load with my .22-250 and using these dies I shoot in the .3's with a factory Savage 12 VLP. Thats just what I have experienced!

Mike

 

[GerryM]

Half of $144 is $72 still less then sinclair.
I have a certificate also. From what i understand there is no limit as to how much you buy, I'm thing of 2 new presses 2 for the price of one and still below any price that i know of at this time.
Over the years i have been upgrading to redding and i have never looked back. Pricey yes but they are far better then the old style ones
I have used for years. Some of the new hornady dies are supposed to be good also. But for my money i don't think they are as good as the redding.

 

[GermanS1]

Dwight, when you buy direct from a larger manufacturer such as Redding, you will always pay more than if you buy from one of their dealers like Sinclair. They can't undercut the dealer or they would soon have no dealers and after all they don't really care to be in the retail business, they are manufacturers. That being said, as was mentioned earlier, with the 50% off certificate you still come out ahead.