Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Bad Die or loosing my mind

I purchased Redding die set a number of years ago for .308 Winchester. It has full length die and bullet seating die. The die box says .308 winchester .307 winchester on it.

The rifle die set is for a pump rifle my dad had and is seldom used. So this is first time using the die since purchasing a few years ago. I have set up many Redding dies before.

So I set the full length die so that it is just touching the shell holder. However, when I resize the case, the neck is not resizing and not touching the neck expander on the up stroke. I can take a bullet and freely run it in and out of the resized casing.

Do I have an improperly sized die or am I missing something? Questioning if I'm loosing my mind.

It sounds like the die is suspect. Maybe a .338 Federal or .358 die got put in your box by mistake.

Yup, defective die. Did they send you a bushing die (with no bushing) by mistake?

Also, adjusting the die to fit brass to your rifle is much better than just running it down to the shellholder, and it's not difficult to do.

this method is fine for bolt action rifles as they have the camming action to close the bolt. I seen many pumps. lever, and semi auto actions jam using this method, you better off using small base dies for these actions. If you size this way for those actions you may get away for it for awhile but it will bite you in the azz down the road. Set your dies up as the manufacturer suggest. What are the markings on the die itself, if you have cerrosafe you can do a chamber cast but make sure you use molding clay in the threaded area where the recapping stem threads into the die or you will not be able to get the casting out.

It has to be the wrong die, I have a set of 308 small base dies I would let you have cheap if you want them. I bought them for an auto rifle I no longer own.

You might send them to Redding, they might send you a new set. RCBS probably would if it was their die.

Well the good news. I'm not loosing my mind. lol. I will give RCBS a call on Monday. Hopefully they'll send me a new resizing die. I hope they just take my word for it but my guess is they will want the bad die. I don't mind sending it to them if they pay for it. I'll find out tomorrow.



Thanks for the replies.

What make of brass are you using?

What is the OD of the expander ball?

What is the OD of the neck of the brass after sizing?

ARE THEY REDDING BUSHING DIES? Redding does not send the neck sizing bushing part with the die but you have to purchase the bushings separately. Been there done that.


Trystan

I think you may have loosed your mind. Calling RCBS about Redding dies will likely get you nowhere.

[/quote]
I think you may have loosed your mind. Calling RCBS about Redding dies will likely get you nowhere. [/quote]

I was just thinking the same thing

That's just how good RCBS customer service is.

I think you may have loosed your mind. Calling RCBS about Redding dies will likely get you nowhere. [/quote]

I was just thinking the same thing
[/quote]

Thanks for pointing that out. There's always someone on this site to point me in the right direction. Boy wouldn't I have looked stupid calling RCBS. Or maybe is was just a slip.

Also why don't you learn how to use the quote reply.



Thanks also Wttail for your helpful comments don't know what I'd do without guys like you.

Did either of you have any further help on the situation? Or is that all you got?

I'm using Winchester brass. OD of expander = .306.5 OD of neck is .332 ID of neck = .306 depending on where one measures

The unfired new Winchester brass OD of neck .330 ID of neck = .303 depending on where one measures

I checked 5 different bullets weights from two different manufactures and all of them just fall into the resized case.

No. I have two sets. One for my xbolt and one for the pump rifle.

Am I reading that right that a 0.308" bullet is falling into a 0.306" hole?

What caliber bullets are you loading?

All my .308 bullets Hornady and Nolslers vary from .306.5 to .307. Maybe my micrometer is off .001. But it's all relative. I'd be curious to find out if my micrometer is off .001?

For what it's worth, I just tried pushing a .243" bullet into a .241" neck with my fingers, and couldn't. I don't want to go back and read everything again, so will ask. Are both sizing dies giving you the same results?

Ya think?

Smokepole for a gay guy you are one dumb Sum of Bich. Not all .308 bullets measure .308. Some will be slightly over and some under. I measured some .277 that my micrometer measured .277. Likely it's off but most are slightly off. But might be .0008 or .0006. Before you speak out so stupidly do some research. Dumb A$$.

Instead of sitting on your computer all day long on this site get out a live a little and do some things so you can report real world experience instead of spewing out crap you know nothing about.

I got one hornady bullet I can push in with my fingers but can't pull it out with my fingers. All the rest of the bullets I can. My other die set in .308 is much tighter and measures the same as new cases at .303 inside diameter maybe .304 if my micrometer is off a full .001 but most likely it's somewhere between there. So there is obviously a problem with die and needs replacement. .002 on your .243 is not a lot of neck tension.

Any other die sets I have I can't put any of the bullets in with my fingers. I have die sets for 8 different calibers all of them Redding.

most pumps and semi-auto`s you should use small base dies to full length size your used brass or just best to use new brass always you will have less trouble.good luck,Pete53

I'd say that's a pretty good sign your micrometer is off a bit. Bullets do vary a little in diameter, but not that much unless they're very old. Anything of more recent manufacture should be very close to .308", close enough to calibrate your micrometer to and be within a half thou (.0005"). Just in case you didn't know, most micrometers are adjustable, and need to be recalibrated sometimes especially if they've been tightened down with too much force.



I'm sure you mean well, but that just isn't true. Very few barrels actually need small base dies.




Again, no. Fitting to your chamber means fitting, not whatever you're assuming. It doesn't matter what kind of action it is, if it's too tight, you didn't adjust the sizing die right. Small base dies are not necessary. Measure headspace on the fired and the sized brass to make sure it's being bumped back an appropriate amount, rather than screwing the die down to the shell holder and potentially having excess headspace. A good rule of thumb is to bump shoulders back .001"-.002" for bolt actions and .002"-.004" for semi-autos and pump guns. Do you know how to do that?

Loosing or losing?

LOL, right Morticia. All the bullet manufacturers make .308 bullets that measure .306.5---.307 and your micrometer is dead nuts on.

I'd like to buy you for what you're worth, and sell you for what you think you're worth. I'd double my money and be all the way to paying for half a cup of coffee.

Adams, the only problem I've ever had with a Redding die was out of specification. It was a die labeled 6.5x284 which was actually 6mmx284. I called Sinclair and they said send it back with a label do not resell out of spec. In your case just call Redding customer service they will make good.

(607) 753-3331

Good luck and shoot straight

You guys piqued my interest sufficiently to energize me to go into the gun room and measure a few .30-caliber bullets. I grabbed four boxes that had been opened and extracted five each of 130 TTSXs, 150 ABs, 165 BTs and 180 Partitions. Every bullet mic'ed precisely .308".

I think that you may need to buy a new and/or better micrometer.

Too many guys think they can measure to 3 places with a set of calipers, dial or digital. Even a 3 place micrometer can be off .001 + depending on the owner's technique.

Never had any issue with Redding Dies or Forster. Both RCBS and Lee will work with sending the die in with three fired and un-sized cases. Both can adjust to factory specs or custom hone to your chamber depending on which you specify. Or they just replace the dye at no cost.

Also check the shell holder height or be sure to use a Redding just to eliminate another variable. If I have to start sweating 0.001" +/- 0.0005" I start loosing my mind quick.

no wonder reloading is so danggorus

You wanna step out back and find out what your worth? Didn't think so Coward! I'd take a 50 cent half cup of coffee any day before I drink a 3 cent cup of piss. Think about that real hard!!!


Adams,

Hey friend did you get to the bottom of the die problem?

Only other thing I can think of is if your brass might have been neck turned, Or its a faulty die.


Trystan

Just saw this. Gladly, sport.

Finally getting back here to post about my experience with customer service rep at Redding.

The Redding rep had me do everything by outside dimensions of the case neck. I gave him the following dimensions. Again using Winchester casings.

Before resizing shot casing .345
Original unused casings measured .331
After resizing with the die I use for my x-bolt measured .330
After resizing with the die that I'm having an issue with measured .334

Rep claimed the die I'm having an issue with which has an outside measurement of .334 was within specification. Rep said my brass is to thin. Claimed this was a common problem with Winchester brass. He stated the die that was resizing to .330 was of the edge of being out of spec. Said if was going to replace one it would be that one. I said I'm not going to give that one up as I much rather have the die resizing to .330. All the Winchester brass in all the different calibers I've resized I've never had this issue. So maybe I have a bad bag of casing not sure.

So I guess if I want to use this brass I have to run it through both dies as the x-bolt die is not full resizing and the die I'm having the problem with it setup to full length resize because this is being used in a pump action rifle. Doesn't sound right to me but I don't have enough knowledge on subject to make an argument one way or the other.

So after sizing the brass with the .334 die, set up the .330 die to partial neck size the .334 stuff. You should then be able to use the Win brass.

And if you can get another make of brass, R-P maybe, and you have a mic. measure the wall thickness of both makes,see indeed if that`s the problem.

You will also have a valid argument for the CSR at Redding.

Good luck.

Any product manufactured in bulk "will" have defects.
QA does not prevent this, though it can reduce the incidence of it. QA manages the defective product out of the production flow if properly implemented and executed.
I have a set of Hornady dies here that after FLS will not hold a bullet.

QA is just a certificate until proven.

John

Are these dies using a expander ball? The problem die sounds like the expander is too large. Check it.

Case doesn't even touch the expander ball. I can slide bullets in and out of resized cases with my fingers with very little resistance.

I have had the same experience with my Redding 30 06 FL resizing die and Winchester brass. I also called Redding customer service and was less than impressed. The Winchester brass I have has .012-.013"neck wall thickness, new out of the bag. Brass fully resized in the Redding die won't hold a bullet. The expander ball doesn't touch the neck on the upstroke.

Forster dies have been better as is their customer service.

tcp, you were able to load the same brass successfully with the Forster dies with out problem? I have had similar problems but was mostly the brass its self especially match brass

Some dies aren't quite right. My Redding neck sizing die for .223 will push the shoulder back about .003" if screwed down to the shell holder. I suspect the die instead of the rifle because the fired cases gage SAAMI length. For the die to be right it would mean both the rifle and the gage had to be wrong.

I also have a 6.5 Swede die from RCBS that will not set the shoulder back unless I screw the die in about .003" - .006" farther than the shell holder. Theoretically this shouldn't work but it does.

Quoted by someone who is having a problem and then makes this statement about someone he
knows nothing about?

I don't think Smoke would be on line asking the type of question you're asking
as he'd have no problem figuring it out....

I'd bank on his real world experience 100 times over someone as clueless as you are demonstrating...

but you keyboard commandos don't let anyone get in your way...

sounds like you and "Trystan" need to get a life... not SmokePole..

Feel free to bad mouth me now...

but when you do, don't forget to insult my dog, and let me know my mother wears combat boots...

yes.

I now use the Redding dies for "thick" brass such as Norma and the Forster dies for the Winchester brass.