Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best neck die,Lee Collet,or Redding Bushing

I haven't heard the using next size up for a body die before....does that mean I can use say a 280 Remington or a 30-06 for a body die of a 25-06? Just take out the decapping pin and expander ball? I have a spare 30-06 die that would be useful again....

I really like and use the Lee Collet Neck Sizing die, but I've had to order two undersized mandrells for two different dies due to inadequate neck tension on sized cases. One a 308 win and one a 7-08. The mandrels are only about $10 if I recall correctly, but not sure why they don't just use the smaller mandrel initially. I also have a Redding Type S bushing die for my 243 win which is great as a body die only or as a neck and body die if needed.

The most non-concentric bullets I've loaded were using a RCBS neck sizing die. This was in two different cartridges - terrible!

So far, all the Redding neck dies size cases as straight as the LCD's, plus it sizes a lot wider variation of neck wall thicknesses straight when the LCD won't.

That's with 5 different chamberings. I'm buying some more Reddings in other chamberings so we'l see if my luck holds out.

Yep.

DF

"Where do I find the little grinding thing you used?"

That's just a worn down Dremel grinding stone. I just happen to have an old one that I could use.

You can take the truing stone and cut a grinding stone to size. I didn't have to. The turing stone is a little square stone that comes with Dremel kits.

DF

Try the Lee Collet die first as it is not that expensive. In my opinion the bushing dies are best for tight chambered rifles or if you are neck turning. Both of these are better kept to the target shooting realm. The Lee die can benefit from polishing the fingers on the collet and the mandrel to get at least .002 neck tension. In hunting rifles I notice little or no increase in accuracy with neck vs full length re-sizing but brass can last longer with mostly neck sizing and only a shoulder bump every third or so loading.

Oddly enough, the most crooked ammunition I’ve ever had the misfortune to have loaded (and measured) came off of Redding’s bushing sizer and seater, working Lapua brass. I’ve never had a Collet die + dead length seater give me anything like that much wobble. Spare collets, whether undersized from Lee or ground yourself, are cheaper than spare bushings, just as the dies themselves are (radically) cheaper. I can’t for the life of me see a practical or pragmatic reason to use a bushing die rather than a Collet. Preference is not practicality, so I won’t argue that.

I've found special ordering 0.002" undersized mandrels are the way to go. $5.00 a piece is cheaper than having a handful of bushings.

Good stuff.

Me neither!

slick!

https://leeprecision.com/home.php?cat=19098

Sycamore