I am going to make a run at working a load for some of my precision rifles. Up till now I just used factory ammo, but, a friend of mine has all the equipment and said he would help me work up a load. However he does not have .308 and 6.5 creed dies. I am going to purchase the dies but know nothing about them. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction as to which brand to purchase. I would like to buy the best of the best if there is such a thing. Thank you very much.
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Precision Dies for reloading
- Thread starter Painjob38
- Start date
Probably better suited in the "Sniper's Hide Reloading" forum, but we can roll here.
Personally I am a big fan of the Redding Competition 3-die sets. Having the micrometer seater is such a handy feature in whatever you pick. TiN bushings, competition shell holders and you are set. They have these in many different calibers, but not all. 6.5 CM and 308 Win. they do make.
That being said, asking about "good dies" is like asking which motor oil is the best. Everyone will have their own preference. There are plenty of good choices out there.
Personally I am a big fan of the Redding Competition 3-die sets. Having the micrometer seater is such a handy feature in whatever you pick. TiN bushings, competition shell holders and you are set. They have these in many different calibers, but not all. 6.5 CM and 308 Win. they do make.
That being said, asking about "good dies" is like asking which motor oil is the best. Everyone will have their own preference. There are plenty of good choices out there.
Whidden, Redding, and Forster are pretty much the standard. My favorite combo is Forster full-length sizer (non-bushing) with the expander removed, free floated 21st century expander mandrel, and Forster micrometer seater. You really want a micrometer seater not matter what set you go with, makes life so much easier versus thinking in fractions of a revolution for the $40 extra bucks it costs.
That said, there aren’t really any “bad” dies on the market.
That said, there aren’t really any “bad” dies on the market.
Neck size with a Lee Collet neck sizing die, and size the body/bump the shoulder with a Redding body/shoulder bump die. No lube required on the neck sizing process, BTW. And neck thickness inconsistencies don't make much (if any) difference. I run my turned necks and unturned necks through the same process, and they go in the same spot. I've done exhaustive testing on neck tension and its effect on group size, and one pass through the Lee Collet die is the best I've found. For seating, I seat long by about 10 thou with a chamber seater like the Forster Competition micrometer seater, then seat to the final depth with a Lee Dead Length bullet seater. Runout is inconsequential, and base-to-ogive is +/- 0.0005". Yeah, that's half a thou. Actually, usually +/- 0.0003".
I'm about to invest in some good dies for my 260 reloads and was looking at reading. Also looking at a rcbs powder dispenser and concentricity gauge from Hornady.
Redding type S full length sizing bushing die with micrometer seating die. OTM usually has sets in stock for popular long range calibers.
Maybe someone on here will move on from the caliber and I can pick it up. Not buying much more till I move to Texas but it's hard not to.
I mainly use a lee collet, Redding body die and Forster seating die combo.
I’ve had good results with hornandy match dies as well.
I’ve had good results with hornandy match dies as well.
another vote for the Redding type S full length sizing die with micrometer bullet seating die.
Another vote for Redding but be aware that Redding dies full length resize dies are not vented and will dent brass if your lube is heavy. I had a hell of a time with lube dents.
VooDoo
VooDoo
I like the Redding Type S FL Die as it uses the bushing. My concentricity is typically less than a few thousandths at the neck.
For a seating die, I like the Forster Micrometer. The hash marks are easier to see than the Redding or Hornady dies.
For a seating die, I like the Forster Micrometer. The hash marks are easier to see than the Redding or Hornady dies.
Almost my same exact setup except I use Redding full length resizer with a neck bushing to drive the neck imperfections inwards then the expander drives them back out again.
I'll gladly trade a minimal amount of brass working to avoid the neck turning pain in the ass
Been very pleased and impressed with the combo of LE Wilson bushing dies and Redding Comp seaters.
Whidden or Forster, non bushing with mandrel for expanding. The Forster can be honed to minimize working the brass. Not sure about that with the Whidden. Both produce .001 or less runout on my Dillon press. The difference on paper was an upgrade from my Redding bushing dies, not by much, but a bit.
Redding type S are great. But best of the best in my opinion is the Warner tool company custom dies
