Steel or Titanium Bushings? Full Length or Neck Sizing?

[Nick Caprinolo]

When using a bushing die, what is the advantage of Titanium?

Should I full length or neck size dies?

 

[Sniper338]

Full length bushing die.

Steel work fine. Titanium bushing are a little upgrade, but not necessary.

 

[Fotheringill]

No lube with the titanium of whatever the metal is called by the maker is what I was told.

 

[Rob01]

Full length bushing die. Best of both worlds.

Titanium bushings are all I have used for many years and they are still going strong.

 

[rsmithsr50]

titanium coated or solid carbide,
BUT
steel while figuring WHAT size works best
steel is tuff on the neck, ensure lubed

 

[hogpatrol]

If not going custom die, +1 on full length bushing die, steel is ok. Have both Ti and steel, never noticed a difference.

 

[Bc'z]

Bruno's, LE Wilson for bushings.
You'll be hard pressed to find them cheaper, might look at Wilson FL size also.
I love the 2 I have

 

[jamesh]

Full length and I prefer the RCBS tungsten disulfide (WS2) coated bushings.

 

[micmac]

They are not titanium , but steel with Titan nitride finish , full sizing all the way.
https://www.calicocoatings.com/coating-data-sheets/titanium-nitride-pvd-tin-coating/

 

[D-4297]

From the FWIW Dept. ....Bushings are a "useable" item . Like barrels and cases . A bushing will probably start getting larger around 15 - 20,000 cases . But the average shooter won't notice it because they don't have the measuring equip to check it . Like ball gauges , and mic's that measure in tenths . If cases are properly lubed , steel bushings will last as long as coated bushings , and carbide will last even longer than both the other . But they do get pricey .

 

[6BRAckley]

I would definitely recommend skipping a neck sizing die and get a bushing full length sizing die. I prefer carbide bushings when they are available in a size I need. They are $40-$45 each but worth it in my opinion - they will almost never scratch your necks and leave a great finish. If I can't get carbide my preference is CRT and RCBS coated bushings in that order.

As with many other questions like this, I would consult the mentors that are going to be helping you and follow their recommendation..

 

[Liven The Dream]

Fl Bushing Dies . Have some of each type Bushings no difference to me .

look up articles about neck sizing ?
Big No no

 

[R.Morehouse]

FL bushing die. If you are set on a caliber & neck, I suggest going with carbide bushings. If you have a handfull of different chambers & calibers I would go with CRT.

Regards
Rick

 

[butchlambert]

Are we talking competition or hunting? My comp dies are made by me with a die reamer to my specs. I have the dies Melonited and use solid carbide bushings that I sold in the olden days. I have them for 22,6mm, 6.5, and 30cal.
The advantage of carbide and Melonited dies is they don't scratch your brass or wear out. The Ti bushings that were mentioned are steel bushings with a Titanium Nitried treatment.

 

[dgeesaman]

Neck sizing is ok if you are only going to shoot each piece of brass a couple of times, accuracy only needs to be “good”, a sticky bolt lift now and then is not a problem, and you’re loading to modest specs.

Competition shooters and serious accuracy focused shooters don’t fit that profile. Which is why you won’t find many advocates of neck only sizing here.

A well fitting full length die costs the same as a neck die and sizes the neck in one operation. So you don’t save time by neck sizing.

Also there are no titanium bushings. There are steel bushings with a titanium nitride surface hardening. There are other hardened surface options. The others have explained the advantages already. I recommend buying a few steel bushings and upgrading to a hardened version later if you find yourself using one heavily.

 

[Straightshooter1]

When using a bushing die, what is the advantage of Titanium?

Should I full length or neck size dies?

Whenever a Carbide tool is available, that's what I'll get. Though it's pricier than steel or the Titanium Nitride, it's not only more durable (including doesn't get scratched easily), it makes for smoother operation with less heat (where friction is an issue) and often where lubing is not necessary.

Also, I use both FL and Neck sizing dies as I only FL size every 4th or 5th firing. A good idea to go with FL sizing die first if you don't want to do both.