Which 6.5 Creedmoor dies for a beginner with Lee Challenger Kit?

[frozentundra1]

Brand new to reloading. I'm planning to order a Lee Breech Lock Challenger kit. What is a good set of dies to order?

I had been watching the 8541 Tactical reloading series and I believe John recommended the 'Pacesetter" 3 die set from Lee(if I'm not mistaken), but they don't seem to make that set for 6.5 creedmoor. They do have a 4 die set. Is the 4 die set the same with an additional neck sizing die, or is there another difference? I plan to full length size the brass every time to start. It seems I remember John indicating some difference between the seating dies in those kits with reference to how they treat the neck, but I'm not sure and honestly my head is swimming a little bit from all the research I've been trying to do. Don't remember which video it was and now I'm just trying to hit the Easy Button.

Should I be looking at dies from another manufacturer? Actually, I could use advice for a bunch of ancillary equipment that I need such as; which budget calipers are worth buying and what is a good reloading manual for a newbie in my position? And anything else that I don't know-that I don't know.

Thanks

 

[ALShooter]

Forster benchrest set
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I...36_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Digital+caliper
As for a manual I have a hornady, but this website is more valuable.

 

[spife7980]

I find most calipers are capable of measuring to the .001" that we concern ourselves with. If you're going to use headspace comparators (recommend you do) then get digital ones so you can zero and not have to convert to zero like a dial comparator. I've had hornady and cabelas and they are good enough. Any does will do well enough, since you're going budget kit I don't see the need in getting high dollar dies. Those forsters ^^ would be good provided there isn't somehow some incompatibility that I don't know about.

As far as the fourth die in the lee kit goes it is a crimp die. A full length, collet (neck), a seater and the crimp. For precision rifle it's doubtful you would use the crimp.

 

[roggom]

if you can, get a micrometer seating die, it will save you lots of headaches down the road. It is much easier to set seating depth. As a new reloader, you will try different bullets, which seat differently.

 

[prcomte]

Lee collet die, Redding body die, and forester micrometer seater.

 

[Sendit6.5]

Personally, I only use Redding Type S dies any more, for precision loading for bolt guns. There are s couple exceptions but don't apply to 6.5 Creedmoor. However, I use a universal decapper (unless it's Lapua brass - that gets hand decapped with Wilson punch) and a Lee Expander die with .264 expander mandrel in it.


Manual: I recommend Mic McPherson's, Mettalic Cartridge Reloading if you're only going to have 1 book on your bench. Load data can be found on the bullet maker's websites. Most of us have a pile of loading manuals to reference for load data and they're great but these days we can look up load info online. New reloaders get manuals to learn the process and to have reference for steps in the process. I wish I'd had McPherson's book when I started. I recommend this book to all reloaders but consider it required reading for a newbie. Read it cover to cover before you load your first round and you'll be way ahead of 80% of reloaders!

 

[Sendit6.5]

Personally, I only use Redding Type S dies any more, for precision loading for bolt guns. There are s couple exceptions but don't apply to 6.5 Creedmoor. However, I use a universal decapper (unless it's Lapua brass - that gets hand decapped with Wilson punch) and a Lee Expander die with .264 expander mandrel in it.


Manual: I recommend Mic McPherson's, Mettalic Cartridge Reloading if you're only going to have 1 book on your bench. Load data can be found on the bullet maker's websites.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[L.R.Novice]

I started with RCBS dies and migrated everything to Redding dies after I started getting more serious about precision. If I could do it all over again I would buy the Redding dies to start to save money. I would get a Redding Full length sizing die and Redding competition seating die.

Get any manual and read the first couple chapters before you start buying a lot of stuff. The McPherson book mentioned above is even better.

I agree any cheap digital caliper will work for the precision you need to start. I would go with something in the $50 dollar range it will probably last longer than the bottom end ones.

Good luck!

 

[AuburnBLK]

I second the redding type s dies, toss in a whidden micro seater if you want to splurge a bit

 

[cornhusker]

get the very best you can afford and keep them very clean...I always flushed mine out with carb cleaner..