I have used RCBS dies extensively in the past, however, recently I was looking to improve results and looked into what would be an improvement. I have had expectional results with Forster's Ultra Bench Rest Die Sets. I am told Redding also makes a good product and certainly the RCBS dies are very good, however, I am producing better handloads with the Forster than I was with the RCBS...granted the Forster sets cost more, however, I feel they are worth the added expense.
The standard answer: A Lee Collet die for neck sizing (throw the seater away), Forster Benchrest Seater (you don't need the one with the micrometer), a Redding body die for when you want to bump your shoulder back a tad (seperate step from sizing the neck with the Collet die).
All available in .300 Wby at: Lock, Stock & Barrel to give you an idea of prices. This is probably the best you can go for the least cash. - mike
Posts: 6653 | Location: Switzerland | Registered: 11 March 2002
I prefer Reddings. I have had a bad set of "Benchrest" quality Forster dies. RCBS I have never had problems with but the Reddings are a little finer finished........DJ
Posts: 3976 | Location: Oklahoma,USA | Registered: 27 February 2004
I too generally prefer Redding, but I've had better luck with concentricity when neck sizing with the Lee Collet die than I have with the Redding S type bushing neck dies. And you don't have to lube your brass which is nice too.
I do prefer the Redding Competition seater to the Forster benchrest seater. However, I can't use a Redding Comp seater for my .300 Wby in my Co-Ax press. It's too tall to clear the handle. Wish I could, though.
Posts: 407 | Location: Olive Branch, MS | Registered: 31 December 2003
I don't necessarily disagree about the votes for Redding Competition Seaters vs. the Forsters. It is just that the difference in price is rather pronounced, so being the cheapskate I am, I often end up with the Forsters . I happen to think they deliver very good results for a very reasonable price - as a matter of fact, results are comparable to Redding Comp Seaters. The only thing I have found about the Forsters, sometimes (not often) I need to take them apart and polish the seating stem a bit, that stops the stem from creating a ring around the seated bullet. - mike
Posts: 6653 | Location: Switzerland | Registered: 11 March 2002
Thanks for all the great input. I have a couple questions. I have never just reized the necks on my reloads. I generally do full resizing. So with the Lee Collet die it will just resize the neck and that is all I need? With new brass do I do the same, just resize the neck? I'll be ordering norma or weatherby brass when I order the dies.
Sorry if these are too basic, it's just a new technique to me.
... So with the Lee Collet die it will just resize the neck and that is all I need? With new brass do I do the same, just resize the neck? I'll be ordering norma or weatherby brass when I order the dies.
You can get away with neck-sizing only for most bottle necked rifle cases - i.e. you only need to re-size the neck, and sizing the neck is also all you need for new brass. It is possible (likely), that at some point in time (5-10 reloads), you'll need to bump your shoulder back a tad (attention: not too much, lest you create a headspace problem) to ensure easy chambering. For that (occasional) operation you then use either a full length die, or as I prefer, a Redding Body Die in a step separate from sizing the neck with you collet die.
(Note: neck sizing will only work for cases fired in the same chamber! Don't mix brass if you decide the neck size only).
The above process is not gospel, it is just a common way of doing things. Other reloaders prefer to use a FL sizing die every time they size, say the case is better supported by the FL die. Me, I like the combination of the Lee Collet die (very little run-out, no lubing necessary) and the Body Die for occasional use. I prefer the Body Die to the FL die, as it does away with the pesky expander of the FL die, a common source for runout. But doing so "costs" me an extra step, as cases have to be run through both Collet and Body dies (the latter die DOES need lubing - get a tin of "Imperial")
Like I said, there are many ways to skin a cat...
Weatherby factory cases are manufactured by Norma, so whether the cases are headstamped Weatherby or Norma makes little difference. .300 Wby cases are also available from other sources - Remington is cheaper, but perhaps not quite as good quality as the Swedish brass. - mike
Posts: 6653 | Location: Switzerland | Registered: 11 March 2002
. I happen to think they deliver very good results for a very reasonable price - as a matter of fact, results are comparable to Redding Comp Seaters. The only thing I have found about the Forsters, sometimes (not often) I need to take them apart and polish the seating stem a bit, that stops the stem from creating a ring around the seated bullet.
