Which 280 Ackley Dies

[eoperator]

I would go with Redding bushing dies with the Redding micrometer match seater with the bushing dies you can control neck tension remove the expander and maintain better bullet alinement some mono bullets perform better with .004 neck tension a standard die sets you at .002 for example .004 neck tension is recommended for Hammer bullets plus if you wanted too wildcat the 280ackley too 6.5 280 ackley or 25 280 ackley all you have too do is change bushings without buying extra dies the bushing dies are worth the extra cost

Regular redding dies with expander ball removed usually gives me .004 neck tension

 

[Tidus56]

I would go with Redding bushing dies with the Redding micrometer match seater with the bushing dies you can control neck tension remove the expander and maintain better bullet alinement some mono bullets perform better with .004 neck tension a standard die sets you at .002 for example .004 neck tension is recommended for Hammer bullets plus if you wanted too wildcat the 280ackley too 6.5 280 ackley or 25 280 ackley all you have too do is change bushings without buying extra dies the bushing dies are worth the extra cost

25-280AI sounds like a freaking hoot lol

 

[xsn10s]

I would go with Redding bushing dies with the Redding micrometer match seater with the bushing dies you can control neck tension remove the expander and maintain better bullet alinement some mono bullets perform better with .004 neck tension a standard die sets you at .002 for example .004 neck tension is recommended for Hammer bullets plus if you wanted too wildcat the 280ackley too 6.5 280 ackley or 25 280 ackley all you have too do is change bushings without buying extra dies the bushing dies are worth the extra cost

Bushing dies would be nice but I can make regular dies work. Alignment and neck tension hasn't been an issue for me so far. I wouldn't use mono bullets unless I was in a state that dictated their use. A 6.5 280 or 25 280 AI I'd probably go with the 30-06 case. Nothing wrong with your idea it's just the 30-06 was easier to get pre-pandemic. I have a good supply of 30-06 and 270 win cases too. Nothing wrong with bushing dies and I see their validity. Just not sure I could justify the added cost for the price of MY builds. I'm on the cheap

 

[Darryle]

I have 900 pieces of new Peterson 280 Ackley brass. I have 400 140gr VLD-H bullets, 200 156gr EOL bullets for the 6.5 and 16lbs of N165 powder.

I also have 500 of the Barnes 145gr LRX that I originally thought about running in my 7mm-08, but they may be regulated to a 280 Ackley if I go down that road.

Thanks for the suggestions, what micrometer bushing die sets are y'all using? I like that idea of using one die set for 280 Ackley with the 6.5-280 Ackley and was going to buy another Whidden 3 die with bushings. I am also seeing potential issues with that idea as well, I am not beyond screwing up the settings when swapping back and forth.

 

[Tidus56]

Redding Type S Match Bushing 3-Die Neck Sizer Set 6.5 Grendel

The Redding Type S Bushing Neck Die allows the reloader to precisely control case neck size and tension. Type S Dies use interchangeable sizing bushings...

www.midwayusa.com

These are the ones I use. Wow that's a lot of Peterson 280 AI brass!

 

[Hard rock]

I

I have 900 pieces of new Peterson 280 Ackley brass. I have 400 140gr VLD-H bullets, 200 156gr EOL bullets for the 6.5 and 16lbs of N165 powder.

I also have 500 of the Barnes 145gr LRX that I originally thought about running in my 7mm-08, but they may be regulated to a 280 Ackley if I go down that road.

Thanks for the suggestions, what micrometer bushing die sets are y'all using? I like that idea of using one die set for 280 Ackley with the 6.5-280 Ackley and was going to buy another Whidden 3 die with bushings. I am also seeing potential issues with that idea as well, I am not beyond screwing up the settings when swapping back and forth.

Example I use the .283 bushing for the 25-284 and a .290 bushing for the 6.5 -284 using Lapua brass same neck thickness 6.5-284 brass for both cartridges I have 284 win dies also with a match seater micrometer die that works well with all 3 cartridges I maintain right at .000 bullet runout it just works not that big of a deal just keep your bushings in the the labeled bag the come in but they are stamped also good luck hope that helps

 

[xsn10s]

I

Example I use the .283 bushing for the 25-284 and a .290 bushing for the 6.5 -284 using Lapua brass same neck thickness 6.5-284 brass for both cartridges I have 284 win dies also with a match seater micrometer die that works well with all 3 cartridges I maintain right at .000 bullet runout it just works not that big of a deal just keep your bushings in the the labeled bag the come in but they are stamped also good luck hope that helps

Hey Hard Rock have you had any difficulties with the Redding body die concentricity? Are you using a single stage, multi stage, or progressive press for sizing? TIA.

 

[titanwakler]

Bushing or no bushing, carbide or not carbide? Micrometer seating die or not?

I am ordering a set of Whidden bushing dies for the 6.5-280 Ackley when it is finished. That got me to thinking about a building a 280 Ackley. There are quite a few options in that arena. Now I am wondering what everyone is using with a SAMMI chamber 280 Ackley.

Thanks

I used Hornady 280 Ackley sizing die when I built my 6.5-280 Ackley. Worked just fine. I used a universal 6.5 seating die with a micrometer and that setup worked fine for my hunting setup. Was a fun gun to shoot

 

[Scoopdog]

Can't go wrong with a regular 280 rem Lee neck collet and 280 ai Redding body bump. Originally I bought a Redding bushing type S but didn't have the same success so I removed the bushing and just use it for the shoulder bump and case sizing when required.
I load all 4 of my long range rifles this way and produce very accurate concentric ammo. This method also works the neck area the least of all sizing methods giving you less hardening and longer brass life

 

[Mike Matteson]

Presently having a 6mm-280AI built. Chamber has been reduce in the neck area. So bushing die's are must. I am looking at re-chambering a 25-06 to 280AI-257. In looking setting up the 6mm-280AI I almost used chambering an 30-06 AI case. Found that the 280AI case was longer to the shoulder than other AI chambering. I had been looking at chambering for the 6mm for 6 months and had released for a reamer. I woke up that the chambering was a little longer to the shoulder. Presently the 280AI case are not the easy to acquire. Fire forming should work using other cases to achieve chamber size any.

 

[chav0_12]

Regardless of the need for the rifle I would always buy micro-seating dies. Bushing dies are nice but hardly necessary. Even still, I'd probably get FL bushing dies, it's just nice to have the extra control.

 

[ntsqd]

I would consider using a std resizing die with a mandrel expander die. I first bought a Sinclair, but since then I bought a Porters Precision Products expander die and couldn't be happier. https://www.portersprecisionproducts.com/mandrel-dies/
If you are hyper concerned about working the necks and don't want to get into annealing right away, then a bushing die would allow for easy tuning of the neck diameters to be *just* under the size needed for the mandrels to work properly.

Going forward I see no reason to handicap myself with seating dies that do not have a micrometer adjustment.

 

[Case280AI]

My brother and I use Redding Type S Match Bushing 2-Die Set. He runs Saami with 180 ELDM, and I do not with 183 SMK and 197 SMK. The micrometer makes it easy to switch back and forth between platforms and know that the seating depth will be correct.

 

[Tidus56]

Presently having a 6mm-280AI built. Chamber has been reduce in the neck area. So bushing die's are must. I am looking at re-chambering a 25-06 to 280AI-257. In looking setting up the 6mm-280AI I almost used chambering an 30-06 AI case. Found that the 280AI case was longer to the shoulder than other AI chambering. I had been looking at chambering for the 6mm for 6 months and had released for a reamer. I woke up that the chambering was a little longer to the shoulder. Presently the 280AI case are not the easy to acquire. Fire forming should work using other cases to achieve chamber size any.

6mm-280AI should be amazing!! I want to see results on that one for sure.
Between a6mm-280AI and a 25-280AI I am stoked to hear results on both. I think I need a 25-280 AI for the new high BC bullets. So many options tho.