What brand of die?

[prickett]

I currently am reloading with standard RCBS dies in .223. I've just started backing the sizer die out a bit so I'll only neck size.

I'm not a competition shooter and probably won't ever be, but am seeking "pretty good accuracy" from my stock Remington 700 varmint rifle.

I'm considering trying new dies to see how much,if any) they'll improve my accuracy. My choices are the Forster Benchrest dies and the Redding Competition dies,am I missing another alternative?).

Can anyone give me a rough feel for how much improvement I'll see over my standard RCBS dies?

Also, if there is a noticeable difference from the RCBS dies, would there be enough of a difference between the Forster and the Redding to justify buying the more expensive Reddings,Reddings being almost 2x as expensive as the Forsters)?

I'm getting around .8 MOA currently with the RCBS dies.

 

[beartrack]

All the "Shooters" seem to be using some form of bushing die, but the run-out problem is only negated on this die if you are going to neck turn your brass. Like you, I'm looking for the best varmit accuracy I can get, but not necessarily competition accuracy.

I asked about this here on the forum in regards to Lee's Collet Dies. I thought,correctly) that unless you are going to turn your necks the difference in wall thickness would negate the perfection that bushing dies are suppose to bring and wondered if the collet die would be better, as it forms whatever brass exists around a steel mandrel.

One of the members here actually had tested both measuring run out. You could run a search and find his comments, but it was basically that w/o neck turning there was less run-out from the collet die than the bushing die, I want to say that he was talking somewhere around 25%,although, I don't remember for sure).

 

[trgtsnpr]

prickett
im new to benchrest shooting so i talked to a lot of guys about this subject and i found that most of them are using REDDING i bought the competition FULL BODY DIES with changable neck bushings they are a little expensive but they form the brass and neck of the casing to fit my gun perfectly this is just my opinion LEE OR RCBS are also good.

shoot straight and have fun bill

 

[prickett]

Thanks for the info, all.

Hadn't heard of Lee Collet dies before - guess I've been out of the loop.

Would you guys recommend using the Lee seater that comes with the Collet die or would you get the Redding or Forster?

 

[StephenPerry]

Prickett
You are going to get 'nada' improvement by simply switching to Redding or Forrester dies. If you are shooting a rice burner aka AR 15 you will need the full length sizing of the RCBS die. Nothing wrong with .8 minutes grouping with a stock .223. If you get below your .8 MOA it will come from familiarity with the gun. I am not a quick fix kinda guy so I won't recommend Joe blows bullets or Henrietta's front rest. Make what you got work.
By adjusting the RCBS FL die to size only half the neck you are reducing the sizing on the web section of your case an equal amount. For a semi-auto this might determine whether the bolt closes and the case fires, don't blame this on your primers. Been there done that with a semi-auto. Never saw any improvement on a factory barrel by half sizing the neck.
I feel the RCBS standard dies pull out most of the accuracy reloads can provide. I have many sets of Redding and Forrester dies they are nice, but I can work the same magic with my reloads using my RCBS and C-H standard dies. Been there done that. Although I have no Lee Collet dies that I know of I like the principle they operate by. Lee Engineering has a great ring to their name, I use their products from to time. Like gunamonth said buying a standard Wilson seating die is a cheap investment in a quality seater, most precision loaders have Wilson seaters I still use mine.
I have most everybody's products, I've doing this loading game for 44 years. Good luck and sweet dreams.
Prickett I reread your first comment. With a Rem 700 like what you have you have a factory chamber. Not knowing what brass you are reloading you are shooting brass that the dimensions blow out each time to whatever reamer dimensions cut your chamber. For field/range work you want ammmo that cycles each time without having to lean on the bolt to close or stand up to open after firing. This is where the RCBS sizing die works well. Again half sizing the neck does nothing except reduces the the full length sizing capability of the dies, you can then call them partial length sizing dies. Redding actually makes a full body sizing die that does not touch the neck.
Even though what I wrote you is long Prickett I think you are doing the right loading right now. Familiariaty with your gun, which I prefer a Rem 700 over the clones, and good bench techniques will pay off on the bench and in the field. I bought my son a RCBS VHS tape 10 years on reloading, I it watched myself a couple times, I like it. Also P I have most every brand of reloading book in the last 50 years, read my Speer Thread on the Reloading Forum, it could help you. I said it I believe it and I have proved it out to 600m.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

 

[jwv2001]

I think your money would be better spent by just tweaking your components and range time to improve on your groups. .8 MOA isn't too bad for a bone stock rifle. My bet is your groups will improve with a consistent load and range time.
I will also recommend the Lee collet die, if for nothing else that you don't have to mess around with lube to size your case necks. Read and understand the directions. Most of the people that have problems with them don't read the directions. The dead length seater die that comes in the set will do the job. Down the road you might want to think about bedding the recoil lug and a trigger job.

 

[StephenPerry]

Well put JWV.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR