Anyone have/are using an RCBS Competition Full Length Die Set? Questions

[nedro]

I'm getting ready to buy a set of dies for 308 Winchester.
This will be for my bolt gun. So most of this will be for precision bench rest shooting.
For 6.8 SPC, I bought Forster Ultra Micrometer seating and Full Length sizer.
I bought a set of Lee for .223 since none are precision.

So here goes;
For the sizer, are all bench shooters using neck only sizers? (I've never used neck sizer dies)
Does a neck sizer also bump back the shoulder, or is that only with full length dies?

How would you compare the RCBS to Forster or Redding?
Do you like the side window on RCBS for seating the bullets? Is it a non factor?

What dies are you using for precision 308 reloading?

Anything else I'm not covering here?

BTW, I can get the RCBS Competition set (Sizer and seater) for about $90.00.
I paid $79.99 for just the Forster 6.8 Ultra Micrometer die, which is comparable in design to the RCBS.

[OpenSightsOnly]

How would you compare the RCBS to Forster or Redding?

The Forsters micrometer seater has a better seating stem (it's also hardened for compressed loads) than Redding since it can handle VLD and non-VLD bullets. For Redding, you may need a separate seater for VLD bullets.

For FL dies, I'm sold on the Forsters floating spindle assembly with the expander ball that is higher up or closer to the case neck since it helps with case sizing as well as run-out. Dillon's decap assembly also has their expander ball situated higher up. hmmm

Haven't used the RCBS comp dies but I read that those are just "dressed-up" small base dies. For the RCBS seater, haven't used it but I read (google search) that some folks had some issues with the seat stem.

I went with Forsters.

[nedro]

The Forsters micrometer seater has a better seating stem (it's also hardened for compressed loads) than Redding since it can handle VLD and non-VLD bullets. For Redding, you may need a separate seater for VLD bullets.

For FL dies, I'm sold on the Forsters floating spindle assembly with the expander ball that is higher up or closer to the case neck since it helps with case sizing as well as run-out. Dillon's decap assembly also has their expander ball situated higher up. hmmm

Haven't used the RCBS comp dies but I read that those are just "dressed-up" small base dies. For the RCBS seater, haven't used it but I read (google search) that some folks had some issues with the seat stem.

I went with Forsters.

Hmm,
I think I'd rather get an FL die that sized the case larger rather than smaller since I really don't want to resize the cartridge. I really only want to bump the shoulder back a couple of thousandths.

[OpenSightsOnly]

An FL die or a small base die that is properly adjusted to how you want to size the case will do just that.

A small base die will size the case head area a bit more. This type of die is good for once fired 5.56 or 7.62 cases that were fed through an MG.

A small base die is also good for if you happen to have a custom made match-type chamber made to your specs.

Since you already have a Forsters die set for 6.8, why not get another one for .308?

Your $$, your call. This aint rocket science

[Witch Hunter]

Small base dies are for autos and pumps. You need a FL die. You can buy a bushing sizer die that sizes the neck to a changeable diameter via different bushings. A micrometer die is nice to seat to a repeatable seating depth. You can use a FL die to just partially size cases. Dies do not make cases bigger, only smaller. Adjust your FL die to only make your brass fit your chamber, do not use the cam over method unless that is what is required to make it fit.
Good Luck.

[mike.h]

Redding type "S" die uses neck bushings. For my most accurate brass I full length resize with the type "S" die without a neck bushing. Bump the shoulder about 0.002 thousands, then use the Lee Collet Die to resize the neck.

Both the Redding and the Forster micrometer bullet seaters are good units.



Hope this helps.

[dwalker]

Look into Whidden dies.

I use rcbs competition dies for 223, and Lee fuss for 6.5 CM. The Lee collet die is a very good die and you can load very accurate ammunition with it. I also like thirty seating die.

[fguffey]

For the sizer, are all bench shooters using neck only sizers? (I've never used neck sizer dies)
Does a neck sizer also bump back the shoulder, or is that only with full length dies

?

A cut and paste response claims bench resters went to full length sizing 15+ years ago; that leads reloaders to believe full length sizing is all that is necessary. No mention is ever made about the rifle and chamber and cost to build. And then no one knows what kind of dies the bench rester is using.

The neck sizing die does not touch the shoulder of the case. Reloaders are infatuated with pushing the shoulder back; if the neck sizing die pushed the shoulder back the case would bulge. I know, that confuses all reloaders but it proves the shoulder can not be bumped/pushed back with a full length sizing die that has case body support.

F. Guffey

[nedro]

Well,
I started off with getting one of these. A Forster Bushing Bump Neck Sizing die with bushings. Best of both worlds.

https://www.forsterproducts.com/product/bushing-bump-neck-sizing-die-kits-with-3-neck-bushings/?attribute_caliber=308%20Win.

I will probably end up with a Forster Ultra Micrometer die.