Tempory dies ?

[rsbhunter]

have ordered a forster 6.5 creedmoor FL die from a Brownells, and it's been on back order since Dec 26th...no problem... so today i called Forster to see about custom sizing the neck , and ask about the availability of the die.....Now it's looking like it may be released in May.....so in the meantime, i have 100 Lapua brass, 20 Federal brass fired cases, and 100 Peterson srp brass on order that need dies....I ordered a RCBS body die and a Lee precision neck sizing collet die. Would using these dies til the Forster is shipped be a bad move? I already have the Forster micro seating die, so that 's taken care of....rsbhunter

 

[Bob L.]

I don't think it will hurt anything. Custom die makers often used fired brass. Many people feel new brass is not fully fire formed to the chamber until 3 firings have occurred. You have to do something to get there.
I have had 2 custom dies made and used brass that had been resized more than 3 times using other dies. It didn't seem to make any difference. I do anneal after each firing, which I would recommend under any circumstances. (Please, I don't want to get into an argument about the benefits of annealing. That has been beaten to death in other threads.)

 

[rsbhunter]

It is a Redding body die, not rcbs...not that it makes a difference....as to annealing, I also do it after each firing...

 

[Zero333]

Use the Neck sizing die for now. You should have no problem neck sizing a few times before they need Full sizing bumping the shoulder a couple thou.

The body die is good if the brass doesn't chamber.

 

[rsbhunter]

The brass does chamber, but with light resistance....don't know if I want to only necksize, because of resistance, may try to get minimal shoulder setback to lessen working the brass. But I am going to try only neck sizing first....I really appreciate any feedback, I love learning about precision reloading and shooting....rsbhunter

 

[dsculley]

Adjust the body die to set the shoulder back .001" - .002". Isn't that what you plan to do with the custom die? Then neck size.

 

[rsbhunter]

Yes, after I get the neck honed...I just want to keep it as close to the same dimensions as possible...I have a 6.5x284fl sizing die and a neck sizer (Redding) that give different neck tensions , and a body die that sizes differently than the fl die. I like everything the same, although I know it's not.....but I know setting the shoulder back the .001-.002 will help with chambering....rsbhunter

 

[MSS]

I use Collet dies and body dies to bump the shoulder with great results. I just ordered a Whidden FL die which will save me a step. I think the collet and body dies will serve you well not only in the interim but for quite some time if you like.

 

[rsbhunter]

You are correct, I may have a forster die for sale....I had a neck of a time deciding whether to go with the Forster or the Whidden.....So here I sit for another 2 months waiting on my Forster fl die......