Hi All,

I am about to buy a .243 for which I will be reloading for.

Now I would like your input on what dies to get.

I have tried most I currently use Redding comp neck bushing dies and seater.

I am thinking of getting a Redding Type S full length bushing die and a wilson comp seater, along with a set of redding comp shell holders.

What would you get if starting from scratch and more importantly why.

Loading for a .243? Wonder where that came from?



Those Redding Dies are a quality product for sure and are, will or could be the basis for accurate handloads providing the rilfe you've purchased can eak the final 10,000th of millimeters out of a hunting barrel chamber.

Personally, for a hunting rifle that will see some paper punching use too; I'd purchase a vanila-flavored set of RCBS F/L Dies and round that set off with a Lee .243 Collet Die & Factory Crimp Die. shellholder would be whatever's on special, probably Lee.

If you've managed to turn the option we disussed earlier into fruition then those will be nice Dies to have but their cost will overwhelm a hunting rifle chamber IMO. Off-the-shelf will do fine.

Let me know if you want to trade dies and brass for some British hunting and shooting magazines.

I can run down to Cabelas this week and get them in the mail to you.

Post from yourside will be cheap as Britain considers it to be "news and library material".

Dave,

I have never had much luck with the Redding Type S dies. When I have tried them, they have produced a bunch of runout for me... The Redding Competition dies are excellent, if slightly pricey. The Wilson seater will need an arbor press, I don't know if you have one of those - it would be too slow for me.

I really like the Forster dies. The seater is as good as the Redding Comp seater, which is really a better finished copy of the Foster, but at considerably lower cost. I proceed to mail the FL die to Forster, and have them hone the inside neck diameter (= loaded neck diameter minus .003" or .004"). That allows me to size without the expander, which is not only extremely smooth, but also produces practically zero runout. Forster charges $10 for this service plus postage (talk to D99, it seems he might be willing to help, that would reduce shipping costs...). I find this setup gives me great results, is practical and fast to use, and can be had for reasonable cost. See also:

http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1433308/1464783.htm

http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1433308/945450.htm

So, for me it would be either the Forsters or the Redding Comp dies - which have the edge in versatility because of the bushings, but which are more expensive and produce more runout for me.

YMMV...

- mike

Another vote for the Lee neck and Factory crimp dies; they are inexpensive, yet can produce very accurate rounds. The only drawback is the lack of quality controls at Lee factory, so you possibly need some sort of little altering-polishing of even worse. I've just purchased a Lee deluxe set (FL+Collet+seater) and a Factory crimp die in cal 25-06; I couldn't insert the provided shell holder in the press slot, due to a manufacturing defect; I've just thrown it out since I have another one. BTW, the dies seem to work OK.

I have a set of RCBS 243 Reloading Dies (without shellholder) AND a Lee Factory Crimp die in 243 little used for £30.00 including postage in the UK. If interested please PM me.

Another vote for the Lee dies,I have the 3 die set and checking run out on my RCBS case master i`m getting almost NO run out.just my 2p worth