Forster bump die flexibility?

[Fatelvis]

I've been wanting a Forster 308 bump die for some time, and it is out of stock everywhere. Could I buy a 260 or 7-08 die (that are in stock) without bushings, and use the appropriate bushings? The outer die should be to the same dimensions, correct? Thanks-

 

[Walkalong]

Die body diameter, I don't know. Is the body taper the same for those calibers?

The hole through which the neck goes, probably not. Call Forster and see.

 

[Fatelvis]

The hole through which the neck goes, probably not.

Actually, it is. It is very much like Redding's S series dies, where the whole neck area is the bushing, and the O.D. of the bushings are all the same.

 

[higgite]

I'm no expert, but I don't believe it would work. The main bodies of the 3 calibers are the same size, but the dimensions are significantly different above the body/shoulder junction. The sloped shoulder of a .260 or 7-08 is longer than that of a .308 for one thing. I suspect a .260 or 7-08 die might reform a .308 case to .260 or 7-08 shoulder dimensions regardless of the bushing installed, or worse yet, just deform it if Walkalong's suggestion that the neck opening is too small to pass a typical .308 case neck. I would heed his advice and call Forster before I did anything rash.

 

[Walkalong]

The sloped shoulder

Yep, didn't even to think about asking about the shoulder angles. Silly me.

 

[Fatelvis]

The shoulder angles are both 20 degrees according to the Hornady manual

 

[higgite]

The shoulder angles are the same. The shoulder lengths are different.

 

[Walkalong]

Which brings us back to the size of the hole at the top. If they are using the same for all three, I would be disappointed.

 

[higgite]

Exactly.