Die Recomendation for 6.5 CM

[mobenzowner]

I recently got a 6.5CM and have just the cheap Redding 2 die set. I am shooting Berger VLD hunting, Berger Elite Hunter and Hornady ELDM's. I am getting better results with the Hornady's than the Bergers. Is this possibly due to the seating stem on my standard dies? Is it worth the money to upgrade to a better more expensive set of dies?, and if so which kind?

Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[gohring3006]

If you are serious about accuracy, then yes upgrade.

There is cheap options that work well. For instance. I would a Redding body die, Lee Collet die and Hornady seater.
I'm running a ES of 5 and a SD of 9.

Edited to add: I would start with Lapua, Norma or Alpha brass. In that order as of now.

 

[Rick Richard]

I don't totally buy into better dies to improve accuracy. As long as you load each round with consistent ogive length and neck tension, then it should not make much difference to the name brand of dies.

 

[mobenzowner]

Thanks Gohring.. I think I can do okay with my sizing die. I have the comparators to measure how far back I seat my shoulders. Thinking about a little better seating die That might accommodate for the VLD's. Does the Hornady your mention work with them, if not is a replacement stem available?

 

[gohring3006]

Thanks Gohring.. I think I can do okay with my sizing die. I have the comparators to measure how far back I seat my shoulders. Thinking about a little better seating die That might accommodate for the VLD's. Does the Hornady your mention work with them, if not is a replacement stem available?

Yep there are bullet specific stems for the Hornady. I found the 147 ELD stem works best from 130 Berger hybrid to the 140 RDF.

 

[Lonewolf74]

I would go with Forster dies especially for a full length die and get Redding competition shell holders so you can bump the shoulder the proper amount while still making contact with the shell holder.

I believe there seater dies have a vld seating stem to begin with. I know I have not had any issues seating vld's or other bullets with my Forster seater's

 

[mobenzowner]

I would go with Forster dies especially for a full length die and get Redding competition shell holders so you can bump the shoulder the proper amount while still making contact with the shell holder.

I believe there seater dies have a vld seating stem to begin with. I know I have not had any issues seating vld's or other bullets with my Forster seater's

That sounds like great advice. I always wondered if when barely moving the shoulder back, if I was sizing the neck enough...

 

[bigedp51]

Another vote for the Forster full length benchrest dies with the high mounted floating expander. The neck of the case is held and centered in the neck of the die when the expander enters the case neck. Meaning the expander can not pull the necks off center and induce neck runout.

Below the Forster benchrest seater die that holds the bullet and case in alignment when when seating. And both dies are cheaper than Redding dies, and produce the most concentric cases of any other type die I have even owned.

 

[yoteslayer]

You have been given some good advice but you were wondering if Hornady could shoot better than bergers and yes it is possible cuz rifles are like people they have there own personalitie and some like different loads so just give them what they want good luck

 

[mobenzowner]

Great info all. Thanks a bunch for all the advice.

 

[benchracer]

I recently got a 6.5CM and have just the cheap Redding 2 die set. I am shooting Berger VLD hunting, Berger Elite Hunter and Hornady ELDM's. I am getting better results with the Hornady's than the Bergers. Is this possibly due to the seating stem on my standard dies? Is it worth the money to upgrade to a better more expensive set of dies?, and if so which kind?

Thanks in advance for the help!!

No die upgrade is necessary. Just upgrade your seating stem...

http://www.redding-reloading.com/in...e&Itemid=15&id=182:bullet-seating-micrometers

 

[mobenzowner]

Ordered the Forster set. Got them in today. Maybe give them a cleaning and run a few through this evening. Cant shoot till the weekend however.

 

[bigedp51]

Ordered the Forster set. Got them in today. Maybe give them a cleaning and run a few through this evening. Cant shoot till the weekend however.

I'm 67 and have been reloading for over 47 years and on the advice of a friend I tried the Forster full length dies for the first time less than five years ago. And I can tell you no other brand of die will beat the Forster full length benchrest dies for reducing neck runout.

You can also remove the expander on any full length die and then use a expander die to expand the case necks to reduce neck runout. The biggest cause of case neck runout is when the expander is locked down off center and induces runout.

I use the Redding neck thickness gauge below and want my cases to read no more than .001 more than the neck thickness variation on unturned necks.

The Forster full length benchrest dies will produce far less neck runout than bushing dies in a SAAMI chamber.

 

[Bowfishn]

I tested out a few rounds (10 each) for effects of Full length Sizing, Bump Die and Collet Neck sizing as well as Body Die and Collet Neck sizing.

I used the Redding Competition Shell Holder set to set case Head Space.

I seated them with a Forster Bench Rest Seater Die.

I checked for bullet Run Out on each type with the 10 loads each. The results were:

Full Sized with Forster Die was the best with .0005" to .0015" with the majority .001" or below.

Body Size with Redding Die and Lee Collet Neck die ran .0005" to .0015" with the majority between .001" and .0015"

Lee Collet and Forster Shoulder Bump was .0015" to .005" the majority were .003" and down.

Not a lot of difference with full length and Body size Collet Neck size, but just Neck sizing does leave a bigger variance.