Redding Full length sizing type "S" bushing die

[300 RUM]

Today I ordered a Redding Full length sizing type "S" bushing die, but did not place an order for a bushing yet, I pick up at midway so no big deal.
This is for a .308win and I was wondering what size bushing I should get. All my cases w/ bullet seated measure .333-.3335. This will be my first time using this die and seeing how I have one now if I can improve on accuracy I should do so. So should I go w/ a bushing to put me back to what I have been shooting or w/ something to give me a lighter bullet hold?

 

[jonbearman]

A.330-.331 should do it.

 

[300 RUM]

A.330-.331 should do it.

My bad

Oh, I'm using Lapua brass and the measurements are .3365 avg

 

[jcampbellsmith]

You also need to consider the outside diameter of the necks of your fired cases. The recommendation is not to step the necks down by more than 5 thou at a time. I have a set of about 8 bushings for my 260 Rem. Regards JCS

 

[300 RUM]

You also need to consider the outside diameter of the necks of your fired cases. The recommendation is not to step the necks down by more than 5 thou at a time. I have a set of about 8 bushings for my 260 Rem. Regards JCS

Fired brass is .339, brass with bullet seated is .3365, so would it be safe to get .334 bushing

 

[243winxb]

brass with bullet seated is .3365, so would it be safe to get .334 bushing

.002" under the diameter of the smallest neck of all the loaded round is ok. Brass will spring back, outward. If loading for an auto, you might get a smaller bushing, .003" You will end up with about 3 bushing.

 

[300 RUM]

brass with bullet seated is .3365, so would it be safe to get .334 bushing

.002" under the diameter of the smallest neck of all the loaded round is ok. Brass will spring back, outward. If loading for an auto, you might get a smaller bushing, .003" You will end up with about 3 bushing.

OK I see how that will get me back to what I have now for size. Lets say I get a bushing that is the actual size of the loaded round, that give a reduced physical neck tension, but how do I know what is good and what is not? Is that a trial and error process or is there something else?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

.. Is that a trial and error process or is there something else?

I had a friend round the other night. I put a large bushing in the bushing die, neck sized a 243 Ackley case and then showed him that the bullet was not gripped by the neck. I went down the bushings until I couldn't push the bullet by hand into the neck. That's why I've got a set of bushings. Also it's quite tricky to measure the necks and bushings accurately. If you look at the right hand loaded round in the attached picture, you see a nice tide mark on the case neck. As you reduce the bushing die size, the ring moves down the neck.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p4466-ammunition-for-the-243-ackley-improved.html

Regards JCS

 

[300 RUM]

.. Is that a trial and error process or is there something else?

I had a friend round the other night. I put a large bushing in the bushing die, neck sized a 243 Ackley case and then showed him that the bullet was not gripped by the neck. I went down the bushings until I couldn't push the bullet by hand into the neck. That's why I've got a set of bushings. Also it's quite tricky to measure the necks and bushings accurately. If you look at the right hand loaded round in the attached picture, you see a nice tide mark on the case neck. As you reduce the bushing die size, the ring moves down the neck.

http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/gallery/member-galleries/p4466-ammunition-for-the-243-ackley-improved.html

Regards JCS

So what your saying is you want to size till your just at the point that one can not push the bullet in by hand and stop there? How do you know what is too much or too little neck tension?

 

[Keith Glasscock]

The 308 likes to have some neck tension in my experience. I run .002" of neck tension and all of my 308's like it. If I get the tension too light, and I'm not fully jammed into the rifling, I get flyers.

 

[300 RUM]

The 308 likes to have some neck tension in my experience. I run .002" of neck tension and all of my 308's like it. If I get the tension too light, and I'm not fully jammed into the rifling, I get flyers.

So what your seeing is that after a sizing your case neck dia. is say .333 and after you seat a bullet your neck dia. is .335?

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I use a .335 bushing for my .308 in Lapua cases. This gives me a neck tension of .002.

I use a .331 bushing for Winchester brass.

 

[243winxb]

brass with bullet seated is .3365, so would it be safe to get .334 bushing

.002" under the diameter of the smallest neck of all the loaded round is ok. Brass will spring back, outward. If loading for an auto, you might get a smaller bushing, .003" You will end up with about 3 bushing.

OK I see how that will get me back to what I have now for size. Lets say I get a bushing that is the actual size of the loaded round, that give a reduced physical neck tension, but how do I know what is good and what is not? Is that a trial and error process or is there something else?

Get a .334" bushing to start, so you can use the die. Redding will tell you on there website to use a bushing .001" smaller than the loaded rounds neck. This gives very light neck tension, even when outside neck turning. I find .002" under to be better, even with my neck turned brass. Remember, the brass springs OUT after sizing with a bushing & no expander button. When the seating of a bullet expands the neck by .002" , neck tension/bullet pull is about 40lbs (223 rem) Yes, a little trial and error. Different Brass = Different Bushing.

 

[300 RUM]

brass with bullet seated is .3365, so would it be safe to get .334 bushing

.002" under the diameter of the smallest neck of all the loaded round is ok. Brass will spring back, outward. If loading for an auto, you might get a smaller bushing, .003" You will end up with about 3 bushing.

OK I see how that will get me back to what I have now for size. Lets say I get a bushing that is the actual size of the loaded round, that give a reduced physical neck tension, but how do I know what is good and what is not? Is that a trial and error process or is there something else?

Get a .334" bushing to start, so you can use the die. Redding will tell you on there website to use a bushing .001" smaller than the loaded rounds neck. This gives very light neck tension, even when outside neck turning. I find .002" under to be better, even with my neck turned brass. Remember, the brass springs OUT after sizing with a bushing & no expander button. When the seating of a bullet expands the neck by .002" , neck tension is about 40lbs (223 rem) Yes, a little trial and error. Different Brass = Different Bushing.

Got it!

 

[Keith Glasscock]

The 308 likes to have some neck tension in my experience. I run .002" of neck tension and all of my 308's like it. If I get the tension too light, and I'm not fully jammed into the rifling, I get flyers.

So what your seeing is that after a sizing your case neck dia. is say .333 and after you seat a bullet your neck dia. is .335?

Exactly!

 

[300 RUM]

I ordered a 336, 335 334 will start there

 

[markm87]

You also need to consider the outside diameter of the necks of your fired cases. The recommendation is not to step the necks down by more than 5 thou at a time. I have a set of about 8 bushings for my 260 Rem. Regards JCS

No doubt about this. I learned this the hard way... like everything else. I was sizing down some thin necked Black Hills Garbage .308 brass... And I had to use 2 bushings to get it back down or I was bending the necks all to hell.

 

[markm87]

I've gone to the Lee Collet neck die. I've grown tired of the inconsistent runout of the bushing die. (i've tried the bushing both free floating and tight)

I still use the S die to size bodies periodically, but that Lee Collet die, for $25, literally produces no more than a thousanth in runout CONSISTENTLY.

I've never produced such straight necks...

 

[300 RUM]

I've gone to the Lee Collet neck die. I've grown tired of the inconsistent runout of the bushing die. (i've tried the bushing both free floating and tight)

I still use the S die to size bodies periodically, but that Lee Collet die, for $25, literally produces no more than a thousanth in runout CONSISTENTLY.

I've never produced such straight necks...

I shoot an Armalite AR-10 for mid and long range, so I prefer to FL size even though I single load them, in fact FL sizing for the Armalite I have noticed that shooting FL sized cases in my bolt gun have tightened up those groups as well.

I know a lot of people like to neck size only and that's OK too, a matter of preference.

I used a Lee neck die and full length die for a while, they worked great. I didn't get the warm and fuzzys with the Lee FL sizer when it came to bumping the shoulder back ( a bit inconsistent +/-.001) I picked up a RCBS FL sizer die and things looked a lot better, but didn't like the necks, so then I got this Forster FL sizer die, hate everything about it even more so after talking to Forster about it.

This is how were on the topic of the Redding FL sizing with neck bushing die. I will try and post some results after first use.

 

[JaxCatm]

I basically run the same setup Lapua brass and the type S neck sizing die. (I only bump the shoulder .001 in the FL type S die when rounds start to chamber hard normally 4-5 loadings.) My loaded ammo measures .336 and I use a .335 bushing with no trouble at all. But like the other guys are saying get a .334 and .335 bushing so you have the option to adjust as needed.