Type S F/L bushing die or standard F/L or body & collet dies?

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tcoz

tcoz

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I could really use some help here guys. I've searched and read previous threads, all of which are at least a couple of years old and I'm more undecided and confused now than before I started.

I've been loading for my Savage 10FCP-SR using almost exclusively Lapua cases with a few other good commercial brands mixed in (mainly WCC) and 168gr Hornady BTHP Match bullets. My shooting is all done at 200 or 300 yards but nothing longer.
I anneal every loading and I've been using a Lee collet die along with a Redding body die set to bump the shoulder .002" when chambering gets tight, and I've been satisfied with the results.
Lately though, I've read so much that seems to indicate that f/l sizing every time with minimal shoulder setback is the trend. I figured I'd switch over to this method and cut back the two-step process to one step. Although I've never used them, it also seems that a lot of the good shooters recommend the Redding Type S f/l bushing die so I thought my mind was made up.

As is my nature, I continued to read and study and realized that thus isn't as cut and dried as I thought and many people either don't recommend the bushing die for use in factory chambers or recommend it only if you neck turn which I don't do and have no immediate plans to start doing.

So, I don't know which way to go, keep doing what I'm doing or switch over to the bushing die. I suppose I could just use a standard f/l die as well and I have both a Lee and an RCBS sitting in a drawer.

I realize that I've read comments on the subject from a lot of the same people who will likely be responding here but everything is at least a couple of years old maybe your opinions have changed or methods have changed and somehow you can help to shed some clarity on the subject for me.

Thanks in advance for your comments.
 
I think the best option for no neck turning is what your doing now. Another good option would be to order a full length sizing die from Forrester with the neck honed to be about .005" smaller than your smallest loaded neck diameter. This way you will work the necks on the brass a very minimal amount but you will still have an expander ball in the die opening up the neck by about .001-.002" for consistent neck tension. By comparison some of the standard full length dies I have the expander ball has to open the neck by as much as .015" which is just asking for an out of round case.
 
tcoz said:
I have both a Lee and an RCBS sitting in a drawer.
Click to expand...
Take measurement of how much the neck is worked. If a lot, hone out the die neck area.

At one time, RCBS would make a FL die , if you sent them 3 fired brass from your rifle. Same with Redding. I would ask RCBS if they could make adjustments to you current die, if needed. But its still not going to be as useful as a bushing. Both companies now make bushing dies, i don't see them honing out any dies.

The die really doesn't matter, if the chambers neck is to large. If sizing down more than .008" , the difference between fired and ready to load neck diameters, not worth changing your current method.
tcoz said:
Lee collet die
Click to expand...

Have you sized only 1/2 of the neck using the Lee die? If like a Redding bushing, the unsized part of the neck will expand to the chamber, centering the round in the chamber. Takes at least 3 or more firing. Not for autos.

LEE -
Partial neck sizing with collet die

If you want to resize just a part of the neck, find a washer at your local hardware store the has an inner diameter large enough to fit over the case, and an outer diameter large enough so that it contacts the collet sleeve that protrudes from the bottom of the die. Slide this washer over the case after the case has been inserted into the shell plate. Now when the ram is raised, you can still close the collet by applying force at the top of the stroke, but the case will not go up as far into the collet, and the neck will be sized less an amount equal to the thickness of the washer.
Click to expand...
 
RCBS or Redding full length bushing style sizer or get Forster to hone your full length dies neck.
 
f/l sizing every time with minimal shoulder setback is best. Lets the 1/2 sized neck center the bullet in the chamber.

I read a government test on the 5.56. Case volume was 4% more after firing , then the factory sized round.

When neck sizing only, the case expands a tiny bit more on each firing, till it won't chamber.

Keep everything the same for each loading, is best. Imo.
 
tcoz said:
f/l sizing with a bushing die is the way to go whether I turn necks or not?
Click to expand...
I use a Redding type S fl bushing die. Using the expander is optional. Neck turned brass/no expander. Unturned brass should use a bushing that creates light drag from the expander, as its pulled through the lubed necks. This moves any difference in neck wall thickness to the outside.

Your Redding body die and Lee collet neck sizer should produce good ammo as well. I just have not tested it.

Testing is the only way to know.
 
I use the Redding body die, combined with Redding Competition bushing neck sizing die. Basically the same as win243xb,
Just two separate dies and it has a micrometer on it. I combine the Redding body die with the Redding Competition shell holders, which allow precise shoulder bump without
Moving the body die.


Russellc
 
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