I'm reloading for a Rem 700VS, So do you think I will see a difference? Looking at the forester BR dies, they run about $57 while a set of the Redding type "S" sizer and competition seater will run about $107. I'm still learning this reloading thing, I've got quite an investment made in my reloading hardware, with several mistakes along the way in terms of purchases, and it seems you get what you pay for, so to say that the Forestor dies are better, yet they are half the price, that throws up a flag. Could someone help me out and clarify how the quality of these dies match up?

Bonanza dies are tops with some of the specialised Redding dies completing the package. The specialized stuff is Good for those that have a real need for them.
bigbull

The bench rest die set from Forster are fine ones,you can get them directly from them or by dealers(diccounts).The sizer sizes smooth( Rcbs and Lee didnt do the same thing),the seater is great..

I know the are not a "premium" die, but the Hornady dies have really impressed me. The resize dies are polished, and the seating die has a bullet holder that's pretty slick.

I use rcbs standard dies , full length(fl) sizing, for most loading of other calibers.Just neck sizing with rcbs gave poor accuracy in my guns, I get better accuracy by fl resizing when using rcbs std. dies. In the 243win, rem 40x i also use the redding type s full length sizing bushing die. The Redding bushing die can be used with or without the expander button. With the correct size bushing the brass is worked less in the neck area, making for better ammo. A standard die (rcbs) will size the neck down way more them needed to hold the bullet. This oversizing of the neck area makes the expander button have to open the neck up to hold the bullet. It is not uncommon to size the neck area down .010" to .015" , much more than needed to hold the bullet. The is where the Redding bushing die comes into play. With the redding bushing u only size down the neck the amount u need to hold the bullet, working the neck area less, making a straighter round of ammo. If you are going to neck turn your brass, before neck turning i must size my brass first in the rcbs fl die so i can turn the brass all the way to the shoulder. After the necks are turned on my Lyman turner/trimmer, then i can use the Redding bushing die without the expander button. The bushing die will not size all the way to the shoulder,this helps center the round in the chamber. Will a bushing die help you get more accuracy in a standard chamber factory gun? You really have to try it to know. Bushing dies have made my standard chambered rem 40x 243win more accurate.

One more thing. Go to the Redding web site and read all. One problem they state<> If the bushing has to size the neck more that .010" + smaller, that can cause a problem. Best if you read it on the web site. What this is saying, if your rifle has a very oversize/loose chamber (neck area), bushig dies may not be for u.

I have used RCBS dies and found them to have inconsistent quality over the years. I have a current set of RCBS 7mm WSM dies and the sizer is great. I also have used the Forster seater dies and found them to work fine. My personal pick is Redding. I have never had a poor quality die from them, and the Competetion bullet seater always is top quality for fit and finish. I don't have any experience with the Type S dies, but based on the quality of the Redding dies that I have used I would not hesitate to use them.

Jeff....I have at least one set of every die mentioned in the other post.....the RCBS competition dies are nice and better than standard in the SEATING die..with the sliding sleeve and micrometer head....the sizing die is full length and is slightly different in internal specs than the standard die.....the Forster are similar but with a spring loaded sleeve in the seating die and with a micrometer head in the Ultra series....the Redding S dies are different in the SIZING die...they use a replaceable/sizing bushing to allow you to taylor the amount of compression-neck tension and also the length of the sizing of the neck.....the Lee collet die is sizing die that extends case life and does mostly neck sizing of the brass....you need both a neck die and a full length die for long brass use....use the full length die when brass gets hard to chamber....buying good brass..Norma or Lapua...OR hand selection of good neck/case wall consistancy regular brass will let the dies do a better job and make the handloads more consistant and accurate......almost any of the sizing dies that use a expander will benifit from polishing the expander mandrel and making sure the expander mandrel is centered in the neck and the die..again ...look at the two different die needs...sizing and seating to get the best of each type....I use RCBS competition dies for full length sizing and Redding bushing neck dies for neck sizing OR Lee Collet dies for neck sizing.....the RCBS competition seating die,the Forster standard or Ultra with micrometer head is great....the Hornady sliding sleeve seater is good also.....ANY of them need to be seated as to directions and checked for a "bad die" and use a known good flat shellholder...they are all made to the same specs except for the competition shell holders from Redding to use with full length sizing dies to avoid shoulder set back...check for best prices and use which combo of sizing and seating die has the features you want at the best price....HTH..good luck and good shooting-loading!!!

These are my opinions and others "mileage" will vary. I have lots of die sets from lee on up to forester competition dies. I also own lots of hornady, rcbs and redding. I have to say it's always fun working with the "quality" stuff. It just feels better.

BUT.....all that being said I have come to believe it isn't the dies that make the good ammo--it's you the reloader. It's finding the bullet, seating depth, powder charge that your gun likes. It's all related to your gun and barrel harmonics. If you are going benchresting that's a whole different story. I have really really liked hornady dies lately. I can guarantee I can build as accuarate of ammo on my tuned hornady dies as I can my expensive forester benchrest dies. I can guarantee I can make you ammo that will shoot .5 moa if your gun is up to it---I can be just as careful with my expensive forester dies and if it doesn't like the load I made I can make you ammo that probably wont' do much better than 2moa.

My advice--if you want the "feel" of quality and the joy of using nice tools---go for the best dies......but the end result most likely won't be any better than what you have now.

I am looking at getting another set of dies in 308 and I was hoping for some input. my current dies are a set of RCBS neck dies, but I was wondering if one of the more expensive sets would yeild better results. For instance Redding has their type "S" bushing dies, and RCBS has competition dies. Would these dies yeild any better results than what I am using now?

I used a set of RCBS compitition for the first time this weekend, for a 7mm-08. All I can say is wow!-What a difference over the standard RCBS dies. What I liked the most is how smooth the resizeing die is, no binding at all, well the seating die works great too. Now I want to start replacing all my old style dies as time and money permits.

Woody