Redding Micrometer dies- Do not fit in Box- Please call Redding and voice your

[RAGGED]

As I’m sure anyone with these dies is aware when using a Redding die with their micrometer top, such as the case of the Comp neck and seating dies, you can almost never put them in the box without taking them apart, whether it’s the overall length or the lock ring interfering with the silly shell holder indents they just don’t work.

I for one am tired of paying $200-300 for a die set that comes with a box that doesn’t even work, you have to choose between collecting dust or taking them apart (and even disassembled you are at the mercy of where your lock ring is). I have called and voiced my opinion to them, they are aware of the issue but not willing to invest in a new design.

I’m aware of the capitol cost involved when making a new mold but as the times change so must your product, even more so when you are selling something of a premium nature like the Redding Comp dies. It’s very sad when I have to take my $300 Redding 338 dies and place them in a Competitors Die box to bring to the range, in my eyes it’s unacceptable to make customers put up with a box that was never designed for the product inside. If you are going to bring a product to market bring it all the way, don’t stop short.

I’m sure this is one of those things if enough people call and voice their opinion they may take some action, I know I would be willing to buy at least 5 boxes out of my pocket to fit the dies I already have. So if you are even remotely frustrated I’d urge you to take a few minutes and call Redding @ (607)753-3331, they are very nice and will take your suggestion to heart.

 

[CatShooter]

I have been complaining about this for over 7 years... to no avail

And why would anyone pay $200 to $300 dollars for a set of dies, and be too cheap to buy a loading block, and need one on the top of a die box???

My large Redding comp dies hang out of the boxes too

Meow.

 

[Geronimo Jim]

Good post. I got a bunch of dies like this and am damn sick and tired of cutting the box to make them fit. I think I will just buy another brand the next time.

 

[RAGGED]

I'm telling you guys, give them a call, a flood of calls may sway them to put a new box into production, a call here and there is not going to get on anyone radar, shock and awe!

 

[lynn]

Like CatShooter I have called them many times on this issue to no avail.I now just cut the bottoms out of the boxes.
Lynn

 

[jonbearman]

My 25 wssm comp dies fit without taking them apart.I wonder what gives.Foreter makes a die box that may fit for the mean time.It is way longer than what they make.

 

[bozo699]

I usually don't jump on these complaining type threads but you have a legitimate complaint Ragged. There boxes were designed for there original standard dies, and were never meant for the much longer micro topped dies, I like to set my dies up and I don't like to change them until circumstances demands for a change. I want to be able to set the lock ring and micro top where they need to be, lock them down and still get them to fit into the box and the lid closed, but do dice I imagine catshooter is right, it will go in one ear and out the other, however I believe everybody should vote and if you don't, then don't complain about the way thing are, I guess this is no different I will call them tomorrow and complain. I guess I will at least feel better.
Wayne.

Jon,
Thats part of the complaint, having to take Redding dies to a match in there competitors case.

 

[Steve Blair]

After discovering the Redding Competition die set problem and getting no help from Redding, I purchased Lyman 3-die boxes from Midway.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=451010

I did not like spending another $3 per die set but it fixed the problem.

 

[bozo699]

Sleepygator,
Are you able to leave the micro top screwed out where you were using it?
Thanks for the insight anyway
Wayne.

 

[Steve Blair]

Sleepygator,
Are you able to leave the micro top screwed out where you were using it?
Thanks for the insight anyway
Wayne.

Not with the .30-'06 seating match bullets, but the seater settings have always been repeatable for me. I record the settings in a spreadsheet log like the attached fragment. Note the "Bullet Seating" section with approximate OAL, Sinclair tool reading and die setting.

Powder charge and predicted velocity have been redacted to protect the innocent.

 

[bozo699]

Sleepygator,
Are you able to leave the micro top screwed out where you were using it?
Thanks for the insight anyway
Wayne.

Not with the .30-'06 seating match bullets, but the seater settings have always been repeatable for me. I record the settings in a spreadsheet log like the attached fragment. Note the "Bullet Seating" section with approximate OAL, Sinclair tool reading and die setting.

Powder charge and predicted velocity have been redacted to protect the innocent.

Now I just don't care who you are,...That's funny right there!!
I really like your spread sheet did you build it or can you buy them like that? I write mine out long hand in a composition note book, your way looks much easier.
Wayne.

 

[Steve Blair]

I built it over a period of some years and its organization reflects it. It is not the most intuitive tool around. I recently produced a "clean" copy for a shooting buddy and can send it to you if you want. It is about 6MB, so cannot be posted. The original, with all my data, is over 20MB. I left a small amount of loading and firing data to serve as guidance.

PM me an email address and I will send it to you. Look it over and ask if you don't understand some aspect.

 

[bozo699]

Steve,
Thanks, P.M Sent.
Wayne.

 

[Taildrag15X]

RCBS made a box that they fit in.......

 

[Cigarcop]

I made a stand for mine and just leave my seating dies out on the bench!

 

[jonbearman]

Cigarcop,you need to make more room on that bench of yours.I will dispose of those pesky bullets for you ,the humane way.LOL

Wayne look in the picture that sleepygator posted and you will notice the red long forester box,that is the one I was talking about.I know it sucks to have to spend more money for a box,however to keep your tools from being bashed around for now,I would spend the 5 bucks a box just for that reason and then forward the picture of the redding dies in the forester box.I will bet that will get their attention.LOL Are you recovering ok?

 

[RAGGED]

RCBS made a box that they fit in.......

I'm very aware of this, I think they fit just fine in my Hornady ND boxes as well, I just think when you pay $200-300 for a set of dies it should come with a box that works, most of them come backed in all the way and they just barely fit, once you open them up to a usable length and move the lock ring you are toast.

I don't like having to take dies out of the box to put Redding dies in it, I just know one of these time I'm going to forget to put something back or whatnot and I'm going to drive to the range with the wrong dies, a guy shouldn't have to play musical chairs with dies, especially not when he’s paying for premium dies. Even if you take them apart on a Comp die set you will end up with 5 parts floating around in the box, there is only 3 slots, that means your spendy little micrometer tops are bouncing around against the other dies crushing the knurling and whatnot, bushings are able to fall out and collect dust and crud, this is all completely unacceptable and a disgrace to the fine parts they produce, it’s a damn shame they do everything right up until they put those beautiful dies in some crappy box they know full well doesn't (even says this much in the instructions).

If you are going to come out with a line a high end dies with micrometer tops that you better pony up for a new box. I wonder how that meeting went where they decided to bring on a new line of dies knowing full well the current boxes don’t work, did they think people just wouldn’t notice or care?

I just bought a new Webber grill, it came with a cover, guess what, I don't have to unbolt the side burner for it to fit!

 

[bozo699]

Well put Ragged and justified, you should copy and paste your comment and a few other of the better replies, like RCBS made a box they will fit in
and send it in a email to Redding and if they have a review section, paste it on there as well, along with Midway, sinclair,and any of the other top venders of redding dies, maybe you can humiliate them into putting there high quality dies in a high quality box like Forster does, giv'em hell Ragged!
Wayne.

 

[RAGGED]

Well put Ragged and justified, you should copy and paste your comment and a few other of the better replies, like RCBS made a box they will fit in
and send it in a email to Redding and if they have a review section, paste it on there as well, along with Midway, sinclair,and any of the other top venders of redding dies, maybe you can humiliate them into putting there high quality dies in a high quality box like Forster does, giv'em hell Ragged!
Wayne.

Thanks for the comments, I just don't get their rational, do they plan on discounting the micrometer tops? I doubt it, I think they will be here till they powers that be no longer allow us to reload, so what’s holding them up? Make a nice big box, no useless shell holder nubs (the tops on mine bow and flex so much they couldn’t be used if you wanted to), no singular lock ring location or at least have multiple options with enough room at the top and bottom to allow for any option, make them long enough to hold all dies including the large super magnums like the 338 LM and RUM, seems simple enough to me, should take a guy a day or two to lay out the box, if they are molding their own plastic the cost will not be astronomical, if they are outsourcing it get tough with the molder, when you are molding units in the volume they do you can get a screaming good deal if you say another vendor will do the mold for 60% if they sign a 500,000 unit contract.

 

[CatShooter]

The first time I called them (probably 10 or 11 years ago), they said it was "high on their list to do, but the cost of new dies was the problem."... ( HA! )

Since I lived in my last house (7 years ago) I called them about twice a year on die stuff, and ALWAYS mentioned the die boxes. Each time I spoke to them, they whined about the cost of new dies.

Now, I'm no expert in plastic molding dies, but once the new dies are made, there is no more increase.

I am pretty sure that the dies they were using 10 or 11 years ago, have long ago worn out.

It really gets old sometimes.

I would LOVE to see someone make a die box that held 4 dies (sizer, separate expander, seater, body "bump" die, or other combination), and was tall enough to hold 338 Lapua micrometer dies.

But I'm not holding my breath.

Meow