Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

[ReaperDriver]

I'm about to order a Redding S-type FL resizing die (w/ neck bushing) from Midway but they have the regular FL resizing die and a "small base" resizing die. What's the diff? I assume I want the regular, but its on backorder.

note: I bought the 3-die set from redding that has the comp seating die, neck sizing die and the body die. I want the FL S-type die because I find that I almost always FL resize now, I and I want to cut down on the seperate body die step.

ETA: btw - for a standard .308

 

[Victor N TN]

Re: Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

The small base dies are especially useful with gas guns where a lot of crud can accumulate in the chamber. I don't know anyone using them for bolt rifles.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

Small base dies are needed when brass is fired out of sloppy machine gun chambers and balloon up to where a standard die can't size them back down to nominal dimensions.

One really shouldn't need to use a small base die if the chambers are not overly large. I've sized lots of milsurp brass, plenty of it LC 308 and while some have been hard to size, 99.99% have been fine in my various dies.

My thought is to have my bases covered for 5.56/7.62 cases vis-a-vis neck bushing dies and FL bushing dies.

There are times when I'll get some milsurp and I'll not want to hassle with shoulder bumps and then necking the mouth down. Having that FL bushing die is one stop sizing and I'll still have the benefit of adjusting neck tension for my particular need. Couple this with having the carbide sizing buttons and I'm not really having to lube the inside of the necks if the mouths get dinged up via a semi-auto weapon. Another boring step is eliminated.

It's mostly a function of money and it's somewhat counter-intuitive and seemingly redundant, but once I have this system in place for the two primary mil calibers, I'm done for life. I've got this setup going for 338LM, as well.

Chris

 

[ReaperDriver]

Re: Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

Thanks guys. This is for a bolt rifle, So small base dies looks like its RTFO.

And I initially thought I wanted to just neck size only so as to not "over-work" the brass. But honestly, I'm having better luck FL sizing now (better accuracy and I don't have to worry about whether a particular round is going to fit when I'm at the range). And I'm not sure I buy the argument anymore that FL sizing works the brass anymore than neck sizing and then using the body die every so many rounds. I was finding I was having to use the body die about every 3 loads on the brass to get it to chamber easily. It seems to me that FL sizing everytime works the brass in smaller amounts rather than one BIG resizing after letting it go for a while. Not sure there's any logic to this - but it feels like the brass is sizing easier if I do it every time vs having to really push on the press hard when I only FL sized it every 3-4 loads.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

Plus the case capacity is the same for every loading.

The small-base die is cut to minimum SAAMI spec. It is useful for custom chambers that are made small.

 

[Sig685]

Re: Regular FL resizing Die vs Small Base die

ReaperDriver, you are correct, FL resizing is better for accuracy and consistency. I use a small base Redding S die for my match .308 bolt rifle; it has a VERY tight chamber. So what Win69 says is also correct.

As an observation each sizing operation is a non-event, the force required is minuscule.