I have a set of Forster Bench Rest dies. They're labeled .308 NM Full Length. I've always used standard RCBS and Redding dies in the past. These Forster dies were given as a gift. Now I'm building a custom .308 bolt action and intend to shoot up to 1000 yds. <span style="text-decoration: underline">Are these dies GTG? Any recommendations for other dies (neck sizing, body etc.) I might need to use with these dies?</span> Also have Stoney Point tool with bullet comparator for determining seating depth.
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Forster Bench Rest dies
- Thread starter blue_ridge
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Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
I haven't found Forster wanting on ANY of their products. They are definitely GTG. Just set them up to bump the shoulder back .001 - .002 and you will get long life and minimal wear on your brass. I personally like the Ultra seating die for the micrometer adjustments to go with my ogive seating methodology.
Cheers,
Doc
I haven't found Forster wanting on ANY of their products. They are definitely GTG. Just set them up to bump the shoulder back .001 - .002 and you will get long life and minimal wear on your brass. I personally like the Ultra seating die for the micrometer adjustments to go with my ogive seating methodology.
Cheers,
Doc
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
one really nice thing about Forster is they will ream the neck of any of there dies for 10 bucks, so if you only shoot Lapua 308 brass you can have it reamed to .336 and shed the expander ball
one really nice thing about Forster is they will ream the neck of any of there dies for 10 bucks, so if you only shoot Lapua 308 brass you can have it reamed to .336 and shed the expander ball
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shepheard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Forster's are great. I believe the National Match sizes the brass a little more than a standard set for the 308. </div></div>
I wondered about this. So you think the NM dies are tighter? I know Forster's website says the Bench rest seater die has a sliding chamber so that the bullet and neck are held the whole time the bullet is being seated to ensure the bullet goes straight in.
I don't mind using my Stoney Point OAL gauge and bullet comparator to figure seating depth manually.
Might look into a neck sizer or Lee Collet die. Also, Forster recommends backing off their NM FL sizing die for partial sizing of fired cases.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shepheard</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Forster's are great. I believe the National Match sizes the brass a little more than a standard set for the 308. </div></div>
I wondered about this. So you think the NM dies are tighter? I know Forster's website says the Bench rest seater die has a sliding chamber so that the bullet and neck are held the whole time the bullet is being seated to ensure the bullet goes straight in.
I don't mind using my Stoney Point OAL gauge and bullet comparator to figure seating depth manually.
Might look into a neck sizer or Lee Collet die. Also, Forster recommends backing off their NM FL sizing die for partial sizing of fired cases.
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
Some bullets get stuck or get a ring from where the Forster seater pushes on the bullet.
It seems they cut the female bullet shape into the seater and then de burr the mouth.
But under a microscope, the de burring leaves another tiny burr.
I take off the seater and spin it, and touch the opening with very fine sand paper.
That makes them look good under the microscope, and the sticky bullet and ring-around-the-ogive goes away.
I took pics of the problem and the solution and called and sent it to Forster a decade ago. The are very nice on the phone and in email. This year the new Forster seaters I bought still had the same problem, and I did the same fix.
What does it all mean?
The Forster seater can use some polishing, but needs a lot less than a Lee Collet die, and I really like both.
p.s. When you get Forster to hone out the sizer neck, specify .001" smaller than you would for a bushing die. They hone until a pin gauge of the size you specified is a go gauge, not a no-go, unlike bushings.
Some bullets get stuck or get a ring from where the Forster seater pushes on the bullet.
It seems they cut the female bullet shape into the seater and then de burr the mouth.
But under a microscope, the de burring leaves another tiny burr.
I take off the seater and spin it, and touch the opening with very fine sand paper.
That makes them look good under the microscope, and the sticky bullet and ring-around-the-ogive goes away.
I took pics of the problem and the solution and called and sent it to Forster a decade ago. The are very nice on the phone and in email. This year the new Forster seaters I bought still had the same problem, and I did the same fix.
What does it all mean?
The Forster seater can use some polishing, but needs a lot less than a Lee Collet die, and I really like both.
p.s. When you get Forster to hone out the sizer neck, specify .001" smaller than you would for a bushing die. They hone until a pin gauge of the size you specified is a go gauge, not a no-go, unlike bushings.
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
I have the Forster Match dies in 3006, .308, .223, and .270. I far prefer them to any other including Redding, which are top notch. I have never had a problem with them marking any of my bullets. Maybe the other poster got a bad one. Stuff happens.
One caveat with the sizer; remove the decapping rod and look at the expander button. If the tapered end is on the downside, reverse it so that it is on top. I don't know why Forster does that. Install the button tapered end up and polish it some with some light crocus cloth and then set it up to properly size your cases. I recommend Imperial sizing wax. Forster makes top notch dies. They should serve you well.
I have the Forster Match dies in 3006, .308, .223, and .270. I far prefer them to any other including Redding, which are top notch. I have never had a problem with them marking any of my bullets. Maybe the other poster got a bad one. Stuff happens.
One caveat with the sizer; remove the decapping rod and look at the expander button. If the tapered end is on the downside, reverse it so that it is on top. I don't know why Forster does that. Install the button tapered end up and polish it some with some light crocus cloth and then set it up to properly size your cases. I recommend Imperial sizing wax. Forster makes top notch dies. They should serve you well.
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jackstone</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I have never had a problem with them marking any of my bullets. Maybe the other poster got a bad one. Stuff happens. </div></div>
The shape of seater is a compromise for different bullet tapers.
When a fast taper bullet goes into a medium taper hole, the interference is at the mouth. If that mouth has no radius at the line of the circle of contact there will be marking and/or sticking after the seating force.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jackstone</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I have never had a problem with them marking any of my bullets. Maybe the other poster got a bad one. Stuff happens. </div></div>
The shape of seater is a compromise for different bullet tapers.
When a fast taper bullet goes into a medium taper hole, the interference is at the mouth. If that mouth has no radius at the line of the circle of contact there will be marking and/or sticking after the seating force.
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
Strange looking bullet. Makes me wonder if anyone makes a seater intended for it. I thought maybe you might have gotten a die with a machining error, but instead it looks like you're using an off the wall bullet that should be expected to cause some type of trouble.
I wouldn't blame Forster for that problem.
Strange looking bullet. Makes me wonder if anyone makes a seater intended for it. I thought maybe you might have gotten a die with a machining error, but instead it looks like you're using an off the wall bullet that should be expected to cause some type of trouble.
I wouldn't blame Forster for that problem.
Re: Forster Bench Rest dies
Clark is 100% correct!!
A year or so ago, a new micro seater from Forster was sticking bad with vanilla SMKs, to the point it wsa giving inconstistent seating depths.
Couldnt figure it out, and got a suggestion to polish as Clark suggests. I used 0000 steel wool twisted into a "bullet" shape and spun with a drill. In a couple of minutes it was perfect.
Clark, too bad they didnt listen to you! Would have saved them quite a few phone calls over the years i think.
Now I couldn't be happier with my set up, but considering how good all their stuff is seems strange that the seater isnt polished at the factory.
Clark is 100% correct!!
A year or so ago, a new micro seater from Forster was sticking bad with vanilla SMKs, to the point it wsa giving inconstistent seating depths.
Couldnt figure it out, and got a suggestion to polish as Clark suggests. I used 0000 steel wool twisted into a "bullet" shape and spun with a drill. In a couple of minutes it was perfect.
Clark, too bad they didnt listen to you! Would have saved them quite a few phone calls over the years i think.
Now I couldn't be happier with my set up, but considering how good all their stuff is seems strange that the seater isnt polished at the factory.
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