Noob? for redding S FL resizing die users

[Sniperwannabee]

I havent started reloading yet just gathering all my equipment. I purchased the FL type S dies and was reading the instructions and I guess i need to buy neck bushings as well? How am i supposed to buy the proper bushings if I never reloaded before to have something to compare it to? Im going to be reloading 6.5cm 308 and eventually 7saum and 223. Any input would be appreciated thanks.

 

[Krob95]

Do you have your brass on hand for the calibers you’re going to load for?

 

[spife7980]

Measure your loaded rounds neck diameter. Then subtract .002 for the bushing size, or .004 if you will be using the expander ball or an expander mandrel.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

So will factory ammo work? I was planning on using all my once fired brass that I saved From all the factory ammo I shot.

 

[Krob95]

If the brass you’re using is the brass you’ve fired, then yes. Just measure a factory loaded round. But if you change brass from say hornady to lapua (insert whatever other brands), you may need different bushings due to the differences in neck thickness between brands.

 

[TxWelder35]

So will factory ammo work? I was planning on using all my once fired brass that I saved From all the factory ammo I shot.

Yes. If it’s still loaded subtract .002 from the diameter, if it’s once fired measure the neck thickness, multiply X2, add bullet diameter, then subtract .002

 

[Sniperwannabee]

measure the neck thickness, multiply X2, add bullet diameter, then subtract .002

thanks guys!
is this what you do when you want to start loading a new caliber with new brass as well

 

[TxWelder35]

thanks guys!
is this what you do when you want to start loading a new caliber with new brass as well

It’s a good start. I bet you end needing either the .002 smaller bushing or .003 smaller

 

[Krob95]

measure the inside of case as best as you can. Your inside neck diameter for your 7saum could be anything less than .284. See what it is, and then see what the outside diameter is. You’ll get an idea of how much tension you’ll have on the inside for the outside diameter.

If your inside diameter is 0.280 and your outside diameter is 0.308 (example), then you know to achieve 4thou tension you need a 308 bushing. For 2 thou tension you would need a 310 bushing.

at least that’s how I see it. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong. But that’s what I would do.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

I thought I was just going to buy a die and start resizing

 

[Krob95]

You and me both bud. I had no idea I was even supposed to buy a bushing

 

[Sniperwannabee]

You and me both bud. I had no idea I was even supposed to buy a bushing

i didnt Know until I opened the box and read the directions, I wish they would had that bit of info in the description when I bought it

 

[Krob95]

At least you didn’t size, and start load dev with no neck tension lol I was very concerned and wasted 100 rounds before my buddy told me to get a bushing

 

[Sniperwannabee]

what in the world is a mandrel, do I need one of those as well

 

[Steel head]

what is the world is a mandrel, do I need one of those as well

You size the neck down with a bushing but don’t use the expander with the die, instead use a mandrel to size the neck back up.

The pulling motion of the expander is somewhat known for pulling the case out of straight whereas the pushing of the mandrel doesn’t.

It is case and situation dependent, with annealed brass and proper bushing selection it’s less of an issue.

What I do is use the S die without the bushing or expander, I use it as a body die then use a lee collet to size the neck.

 

[Huskydriver]

what is the world is a mandrel, do I need one of those as well

Lol....I use mandrels. I use a standard FL sizer with the expander removed. Sizes everything down. I then use a .002 under my bullet diameter mandrel to open my neck back up for my desired neck tension. Leaves almost perfectly straight necks.

Bushing dies are overrated imo. Sold all of mine and went back to regular sizers. I could never get my runout down low enough with bushing dies.

Both work just two different ways to skin the same raccoon

 

[Sniperwannabee]

so much Work just to shoot a 7 saum..... should have never met @Steel head

 

[Steel head]

Lol....I use mandrels. I use a standard FL sizer with the expander removed. Sizes everything down. I then use a .002 under my bullet diameter mandrel to open my neck back up for my desired neck tension. Leaves almost perfectly straight necks.

Bushing dies are overrated imo. Sold all of mine and went back to regular sizers. I could never get my runout down low enough with bushing dies.

Both work just two different ways to skin the same raccoon

Yea
I quickly moved away from bushings, the problem I see with them is the don’t like generous chambers with ample neck room.

For brass fired in tight neck chambers they’re quite happy.

 

[Steel head]

so much Work just to shoot a 7 saum..... should have never met @Steel head

I use a Redding body die and a modified Lee 7-08 collet.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

i see maybe I’ll return these dies,

 

[Steel head]

i see maybe I’ll return these dies,

If you go with the collet send it to me and I’ll ream it out
Alternatively if you plan on going bushing with ADG brass I can stuff a bullet in one of the brand new cases I just got and get you a measurement.
Buying a mandrel and die for it is fairly cheap.
21st century is a good source

My favorite die setup is a Forster micrometer seating die
Redding body die(and a S die can be a body die)
And lee collet.
I load 223, 260 and 7 saum with them.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

 

[Steel head]

Welcome to reloading!

 

[jpcowboy]

Lol....I use mandrels. I use a standard FL sizer with the expander removed. Sizes everything down. I then use a .002 under my bullet diameter mandrel to open my neck back up for my desired neck tension. Leaves almost perfectly straight necks.

Bushing dies are overrated imo. Sold all of mine and went back to regular sizers. I could never get my runout down low enough with bushing dies.

Both work just two different ways to skin the same raccoon

I have started doing this as well, my question to you is do you think sizing the neck down that much then opening back up with the mandrel is overworking it?

 

[Steel head]

By the way you’re probably gonna want a .282 or .283 mandrel anyway because the necks on most new brass are stupid tight and you want to open them up a bit or risk screwing up bullets and/or expensive seating dies.

 

[Huskydriver]

I have started doing this as well, my question to you is do you think sizing the neck down that much then opening back up with the mandrel is overworking it?

Depends on how much you fl die smashes your neck down mine goes down about .008 on most calibers and I open it back up usually .006. I havent had a split neck yet doing it this way. Most of my brass is over 10 reloadings but if I did start seeing this, I would just have my die honed by forster to be .004 under probably

 

[Cascade Hemi]

View attachment 7517024

You're going to need to use both hands for that job.

 

[Steel head]

I have started doing this as well, my question to you is do you think sizing the neck down that much then opening back up with the mandrel is overworking it?

If you regularly anneal it’s a non issue.

 

[jpcowboy]

If you regularly anneal it’s a non issue.

Do you mean every firing, i don't have a anneal machine but a friend does have an AMP so he anneals for me, but i have been going 2 or 3 firings before i take them to him.

 

[Steel head]

Do you mean every firing, i don't have a anneal machine but a friend does have an AMP so he anneals for me, but i have been going 2 or 3 firings before i take them to him.

I anneal on every 4th loading.
if I was working the neck .008 or so I’d anneal every other firing probably.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

so the easiest thing to do is:
(1) gut my Redding die and FL size brass
(2) then switch out the Redding die with expander die with a mandrel?


so it’s a two step process

 

[Steel head]

so the easiest thing to do is:
(1) gut my Redding die and FL size brass
(2) then switch out the Redding die with expander die with a mandrel?


so it’s a two step process

1-run s die with bushing only then use mandrel to set neck, two steps.

2-gut s die and use as body die then use Lee collet to set neck, two steps.

Both give good results but the bushing won’t like a really big expansion from a generous chamber.

With adg brass and the common .319 neck chamber it’s pretty mild expansion think so bushing friendly.
I can measure when I get hone.

that’s why I love turret presses.
Just rotate in the next die.

 

[Sniperwannabee]

Haha I though a collett and a mandrel were the same

 

[Steel head]

Haha I though a collett and a mandrel were the same

No but the lee collet uses a mandrel.

 

[Joel Danielson]

Another option would be to send 3 of your fired cases (pick a brand you plan on using the most) and send them to Whidden for a custom die. They can do either bushing or non-bushing dies. If you go bushing die, they also sell a kit with your choice of bushings to play with your sizing. It's a buy once cry once thing. I really like his fl non-bushing dies, but have a couple of his bushing dies as well. I'm just not a fan of bushings. There is a lot of variance in their sizes.
I hone my dies and bushings instead of sending them off to someone. http://www.acrolaps.com/ These guys make a good product. Just need to get some lapping compound to work with the laps. I use the fine lapping compound from these guys: https://ws2coating.com/
My problem is finding ways to entertain myself for 15 hours a day...

 

[nksmfamjp]

Whoa! You are getting too much advice for a newer reloader. First, you bought these dies for a reason...what was that?

Redding makes type S dies because reloaders have complained that standard dies are overworking their neck be over sizing before expanding....hence interchangeable bushings. Also, advanced reloaders complained that they wanted to size their neck turned necks without an expander claiming the expander pulled their necks off center.

With bushing dies I recommend you use Imperial case wax or another thin lube. Based on my experience, thicker lubes get in the bushing chamber and force it off center....pain in the butt.

So, I would recommend you take 3 caliper or better micrometer measurements on each loaded round neck. Then average them to one number. Factory ammo is ok. Ideally your cases should all be the same brand. Measure 5 loaded rounds like this. Buy your first bushing as the average of those 5 averages minus 0.004”. Since you are not neck turning, keep the expander in the die. That will force any variation to the outside of the neck.

if you measure case neck runout, you need to measure to inside.

After FL Sizing, measure 5 case necks as shown above. How does this number look? It should be 0.003-0.001” less than the loaded rounds. Try it. Does seating ring the bullets? How is bullet runout? How are your groups? Is there something not pleasing you? Let’s work on it. Feel free to DM.