FL Die options

[Sliced]

I’m currently loading 223 and 308
Process on fired brass:
-Decap and clean primer pocket.
-wet tumble
-anneal
-lube and run through a reading FL die
-than SB die bumping should 0.002
- neck tension using the Lee collet die.

Both with the 223 and 308, when adjusting the die to get the 2 thou, the die stops short of sizing the whole case.
Eg using my gauge for the 308, fired brass is 1.623”, bumping back to 1.621”. If I want the die to go the full length of the case so it’s all sized. The length becomes 1.615”.

Question:
What options are there for a true full length sizing die?
From what I’ve read. Eric cortina, maybe SAC. Zero however I’ve got a 7/8 thread press.

Also I’m looking to barrel swap the 308 to 6.5cm down the track and have the option to use both calibres. So having to buy a set of dies each cal gets expensive.

Also I’m in Australia so dies are hard to come by unless the ship overseas
Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh to add, some of the cases are having trouble closing the bolt on multiple fired cases due to the expansion above the head

 

[wcberry]

This works well for me. I have a couple different bushings so I make sure I get the neck tension I desire.

 

[Sliced]

This works well for me. I have a couple different bushings so I make sure I get the neck tension I desire.

Do you also use the expander mandrel die?

 

[wcberry]

Do you also use the expander mandrel die?

Yes, I do. I have also used just the bushing but went back to using the EC mandrels too.
The EC sizing die is easy to set up and adjust to consist shoulder bumps.

 

[straightshooter1]

I’m currently loading 223 and 308
Process on fired brass:
-Decap and clean primer pocket.
-wet tumble
-anneal
-lube and run through a reading FL die
-than SB die bumping should 0.002
- neck tension using the Lee collet die.

Both with the 223 and 308, when adjusting the die to get the 2 thou, the die stops short of sizing the whole case.
Eg using my gauge for the 308, fired brass is 1.623”, bumping back to 1.621”. If I want the die to go the full length of the case so it’s all sized. The length becomes 1.615”.

Question:
What options are there for a true full length sizing die?
From what I’ve read. Eric cortina, maybe SAC. Zero however I’ve got a 7/8 thread press.

Also I’m looking to barrel swap the 308 to 6.5cm down the track and have the option to use both calibres. So having to buy a set of dies each cal gets expensive.

Also I’m in Australia so dies are hard to come by unless the ship overseas
Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh to add, some of the cases are having trouble closing the bolt on multiple fired cases due to the expansion above the head

My Forster FL sizing dies has worked great for me in getting the full length of the case sized. For example, fired .308 Lapua cases measure at .4695 and when sized with my die they'll measure at .4685 at that web's .200" mark. Also, I don't have to use a separate die to bump the shoulders, but do use the die without an expander button and run an appropriate sized mandrel through the neck after sizing to get my neck tension I'm after.


BTW: just a suggestion . . . do your annealing before you wet tumble. You might like the results.

 

[Sliced]

Yes, I do. I have also used just the bushing but went back to using the EC mandrels too.
The EC sizing die is easy to set up and adjust to consist shoulder bumps.

do you know if using the 308 die and mandrel die set, that for 6.5cm, it’s just a bushing/ mandrel change or is it a whole other die set? Can’t find that info out. It’s doable with SAC but both those Cals are out of stock in OZ where as cortina precision I’ve found stock.

 

[Sliced]

My Forster FL sizing dies has worked great for me in getting the full length of the case sized. For example, fired .308 Lapua cases measure at .4695 and when sized with my die they'll measure at .4685 at that web's .200" mark. Also, I don't have to use a separate die to bump the shoulders, but do use the die without an expander button and run an appropriate sized mandrel through the neck after sizing to get my neck tension I'm after.


BTW: just a suggestion . . . do your annealing before you wet tumble. You might like the results.

I’ll give the annealing a go before wet tumbling, read that on another thread yesterday too. I normally do a finally wet tumble for about 30min to remove the lube and final clean before priming. Is that what you lot do also

 

[spife7980]

do you know if using the 308 die and mandrel die set, that for 6.5cm, it’s just a bushing/ mandrel change or is it a whole other die set? Can’t find that info out. It’s doable with SAC but both those Cals are out of stock in OZ where as cortina precision I’ve found stock.

You need a creed die to size creed, 308 body is different dimensions.

 

[straightshooter1]

I’ll give the annealing a go before wet tumbling, read that on another thread yesterday too. I normally do a finally wet tumble for about 30min to remove the lube and final clean before priming. Is that what you lot do also

Whenever I wet tumble, I'll do it before annealing and I do it without any kind of media. 30 minutes in hot water with Dawn is long enough to do a nice job on the outside, leaving some carbon on the interior, making for having to not use much if any lube for seating. Though after sizing, where I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax, I dry tumble with rice to removed the lube.