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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Wondering how important die selection is?
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<blockquote data-quote="nksmfamjp" data-source="post: 2441111" data-attributes="member: 1951"><p>I think you need to ask yourself what you want your dies to do. If you don't know, maybe standard dies are fine. Dies don't align to shot distance well really.</p><p></p><p>Bushing sizing dies simply allow you to adjust neck sizing precisely with the bushing. They can use the pull through expander or you can by additional dies to expand with specially sized mandrels.</p><p></p><p>Whidden dies offer both different mandrel sizes and bushing sizes….to allow more precise control of neck tension.</p><p></p><p>With bushing dies, you give up some concentricity for this and it doesn't size the whole neck.</p><p></p><p>Another neck tension control plan is Forster. Their die is fixed on the outside with variable diameter expanders. This overworks the neck, but once you determine the right expander and brass and neck thickness, you can pay them to hone for minimal sizing. This is a great option. The expander height and design gives the best concentricity in my experience.</p><p></p><p>Next you must consider the seater design. Most are just a stop that you drive the bullet against to seat it. Hornady, Whidden, Forster and some others have a sliding sleeve that centers the neck and or body in the die while the bullet is pushed against a seater plug also centered in the die. These give improved concentricity.</p><p></p><p>There are a lot of micrometers sold in bullet seating. These are mostly a waste of time. They make returning to a setting quicker, but just dialing in -0.030" from a certain point doesn't work on any brand, IME.</p><p></p><p>Probably most important thing to do with a seater is to determine if the bullet fits. If not, lap it in. This prevents bullet damage and greatly improves concentricity. Once you get a load set, I would send bullets off to have a custom seater made.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="nksmfamjp, post: 2441111, member: 1951"] I think you need to ask yourself what you want your dies to do. If you don’t know, maybe standard dies are fine. Dies don’t align to shot distance well really. Bushing sizing dies simply allow you to adjust neck sizing precisely with the bushing. They can use the pull through expander or you can by additional dies to expand with specially sized mandrels. Whidden dies offer both different mandrel sizes and bushing sizes….to allow more precise control of neck tension. With bushing dies, you give up some concentricity for this and it doesn’t size the whole neck. Another neck tension control plan is Forster. Their die is fixed on the outside with variable diameter expanders. This overworks the neck, but once you determine the right expander and brass and neck thickness, you can pay them to hone for minimal sizing. This is a great option. The expander height and design gives the best concentricity in my experience. Next you must consider the seater design. Most are just a stop that you drive the bullet against to seat it. Hornady, Whidden, Forster and some others have a sliding sleeve that centers the neck and or body in the die while the bullet is pushed against a seater plug also centered in the die. These give improved concentricity. There are a lot of micrometers sold in bullet seating. These are mostly a waste of time. They make returning to a setting quicker, but just dialing in -0.030” from a certain point doesn’t work on any brand, IME. Probably most important thing to do with a seater is to determine if the bullet fits. If not, lap it in. This prevents bullet damage and greatly improves concentricity. Once you get a load set, I would send bullets off to have a custom seater made. [/QUOTE]
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Wondering how important die selection is?
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