About to buy a set of dies for a 25-35 Winchester. RCBS makes a neck sizing only die, but not in a standard set. Lee does not, although they will make one custom (for $70, geesh). Redding makes a 3 die set, but damn is it pricey. Do I even need a neck sizing die? If not, which set would you do, RCBS or Lee? Thanks
Lever action or single shot rifle ? With a lever action rifle, I'd buy the standard RCBS dies. Easy to take the expander stem out, size, then trim, etc. w/ RCBS. With a nice, tight chambered single shot, I might want a Collet Size Die from Lee to extend brass life and cut down on the work load. E
Single shot German cape gun. 20 gauge over 6.5x52R (25-35 win). I think I want a neck size only die
Conventional neck sizing dies are to be avoided. A regular two die set should serve you well.
Conventional neck sizing dies are to be avoided. A regular two die set should serve you well.
Why should they be avoided?
They're notorious as a source of runout. When I want to neck size I prefer a Lee collet die.
If you don't want to FL size every time just back off your FL die some, it will size most of the neck and not much on the body especially on a tapered case like the 25-35.
Just to throw another thought into the mix, Hornady dies, I really like the sliding sleeve on the seater die. So much so that I have almost all my none Hornady dies set up with a Hornady seater.
I shoot combo guns in 12/5.6x50R Mag and 12/5.6x52R they are my goto coyote guns along with a drilling in 16x16/6.5x58R. My 25-35 was in a Sav 1899.
Several posters have made positive comments about the Hornady seater, but they've been a bust for me. They have never equaled the low runout I get from the Forster and Redding "competition" types, and they haven't really bested carefully used "regular" seaters from RCBS, Redding, and Lee either.
I don't mess with run out, just load ammo for tiny groups for hunting and targets(nothing over 300 yards). Where the hornady shines is with short fat bullets like 33gr in my 218 Bee and 222 Rem, 55gr softpoints in my 6x45 and any flatbase bullet. No cocked bullets and so much easier seating, just set the bullet on the case and let the sleave center and keep it straight.
This is a 90 year old gun, so loads won't be pushed to max. I was ordering things from Midway today so I ended up adding the Lee dies and some 110 grain Hornady FTX bullets. I still want a neck sizing die, but I have time for that. I stopped by a local gunsmith today who worked on this gun for the previous owner and we decided on him fixing and restoring some things. I will be without it for a month or two so working up loads will have to wait. Kinda bummed about it but excited for what I will be getting back! Here are a few pics of it as-is:
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