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Posted: 10/17/2013 5:43:17 PM EDT
| any suggestions on a neck size die for a 308? |
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I'm a little confused by the last post jimmyUT.
If you are looking at the long term, you will find you end up with multiple dies for different reasons. Some are to try them, others are destined to become workhorse tools. I keep at least one set of regular FL dies, the Lee Collet Die, a Redding bushing die, for every caliber I run. In some cases, I keep even more. For example, body only die, M die, X die, etc. I also have K&M Expand Mandrels in several sizes to be able to get necks opened to fit pilots and trimmers regardless of the sized neck or work hardness condition. YMMV Don't agree with the statement about FL sizer can't neck size. All you have to do is back it off a little and you have it. If your chamber is so loose that the case gets worked in the body, then you probably need a real neck-only die, but I would also say good luck with that chamber.... |
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Quoted:
I'm a little confused by the last post jimmyUT. If you are looking at the long term, you will find you end up with multiple dies for different reasons. Some are to try them, others are destined to become workhorse tools. I keep at least one set of regular FL dies, the Lee Collet Die, a Redding bushing die, for every caliber I run. In some cases, I keep even more. For example, body only die, M die, X die, etc. I also have K&M Expand Mandrels in several sizes to be able to get necks opened to fit pilots and trimmers regardless of the sized neck or work hardness condition. YMMV Don't agree with the statement about FL sizer can't neck size. All you have to do is back it off a little and you have it. If your chamber is so loose that the case gets worked in the body, then you probably need a real neck-only die, but I would also say good luck with that chamber.... Yup. I neck size with my rcbs FL die, and have no issues. I see no need to buy a collet die for myself. I am shooting brass from my bolt gun that is fire formed to my chamber. I have some once fired brass from another gun as well, so when I decide to get around to loading it, I can just reset my die to FL size. |
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Yup.
The reason I like bushing dies, is they allow me to control neck tension without neck turning. In calibers like .30-06, there can be brass thickness as low as 0.012" and as high as 0.0145". With a bushing die, you don't have to over work the brass regardless of the neck wall thickness. I also had very good luck with the Lee Collet dies, ran them for silhouette ammo for many years. |
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If you want Neck die that requires NO lube, get a Lee Collet die.
If you want a neck die that produces very concentric necks with very little Run-out, get a Lee Collet die. If you want a neck die that won't break the bank, get a Lee Collet die. As for neck sizing with an FL die, that depends. It depends on the amount of taper the case has. A case with a lot of taper can be neck sized by backing the FL die out so the die does not contact the case body. A case that is straight or relatively straight like the 308 is a little more difficult. Even with the die backed out it may contact the case body, if it does, then you are no longer neck sizing only. |
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As for neck sizing with an FL die, that depends. It depends on the amount of taper the case has. A case with a lot of taper can be neck sized by backing the FL die out so the die does not contact the case body. A case that is straight or relatively straight like the 308 is a little more difficult. Even with the die backed out it may contact the case body, if it does, then you are no longer neck sizing only. This is what I have read about the 308, so I figure its just as easy to buy a neck sizer. Ill check out the Lee. Thanks for the recommendation |
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Quoted: This is what I have read about the 308, so I figure its just as easy to buy a neck sizer. Ill check out the Lee. Thanks for the recommendation Quoted: As for neck sizing with an FL die, that depends. It depends on the amount of taper the case has. A case with a lot of taper can be neck sized by backing the FL die out so the die does not contact the case body. A case that is straight or relatively straight like the 308 is a little more difficult. Even with the die backed out it may contact the case body, if it does, then you are no longer neck sizing only. This is what I have read about the 308, so I figure its just as easy to buy a neck sizer. Ill check out the Lee. Thanks for the recommendation Give us more info, Rifle type? Bolt, AR-10? Or? Purpose of loads? Target, hunting, or general shooting? I use Win or RP cases, and standard Hornady FL dies for hunting/general shooting loads in my bolt rifle. |
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Rifle type? Bolt, AR-10? Or? Purpose of loads? Target, hunting, or general shooting? I use Win or RP cases, and standard Hornady FL dies for hunting/general shooting loads in my bolt rifle. Rem 700 SPS tactical - a few years old but still in new condition. about 200 rounds fired through it so far Target shooting, no hunting, currently shoot out to 200 yards, looking to eventually go to 800 I use 175g SMK Brass- LC 06 , Win, PPU, and Hirtenberger Currently FL size with a dillon die and trim on a RCBS trim pro (eventually will trim with the 1200 once i get a 308 die |
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Odds are you neck was reamed to 0.340" and you would be using no-turn brass. (Custom work can get tricky if you specified something tighter for the reamer, but you wouldn't be asking this if you did...)
Bushing dies allow your process to chase different brass thickness lots. A Lee collet die is also very forgiving. Fixed diameter dies can work just fine if you keep lot to lot brass variations minimized (applies once you push past 300 yards). The folks who make dies these days all do a very good job, so you may want to jump in and get going with whatever is available. If you study the topics for distance shooting like F-Class or Highpower match shooting, you can learn as you go. To minimize vertical dispersion at 800 or 1000 yards will require you to minimize variation on your brass neck thickness as well as control your neck tension. You will also learn to track the work hardness assumption by tracking the cycle counts on your brass and annealing. If you always use new or once fired brass of the same thickness, you can get started with just about anything. When you get so much brass piled up that you either sell it or learn to use it, you will have already learned much. http://www.redding-reloading.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118:type-s-bushing-dies |
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I use standard "neck only" size dies either RCBS or Redding and have had very good results.
I also neck size with my FL dies some times. It's usually called short sizing. What you read is correct but it changes due to chamber sizes. I have found that there is contact with the case body and the die when doing this but I take mine down to where the radius starts at the base of the neck. If you go shorter the contact will be less or maybe none at all but then the sized portion of the neck is less too. My brother has the Lee collet neck dies and likes them too. |
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