Recommend precision dies

[ar15barrels]

Bushing dies have that "extra step" as well if your brass isn't all identical. Forming the OD to induce an ID has it's pitfalls.

Redding bushing dies leave a step.
Forester neck/shoulder bushing dies do the neck and shoulder with no transistion as the bushings include the shoulder.

The best setup is a properly sized full length die that's had the neck honed to the diameter you need.
I can hone out die necks to any size.

[OpenSightsOnly]

I will say i wish i had spent just a little more money to purchase the micrometer format of projectile seating die....i've been trying to optimize distance of the ogive to the rifle lands with a variety of different projectiles and the micrometer would have made it a little less hit and miss.

I have the Forsters bench rest non-micrometer seater and the micrometer seater.

Not having a micrometer seater is not a deal breaker. It does come in handy if I want to try a different bullet than what I use (non-VLD vs VLD); however, the convenience is minimal and inconsequential.

[kcstott]

I doubt they're doing it with box stock "Ruger Precision Rifles" either.

Again...what is OP using and what are his expectations?

A body die, FL die and (Lee) collet die is not a bad solution for many. The body and FL dies are not used every loading (unless you're into that sort of thing).

I presume this competition involves targets?

Hunting I care more about utmost reliability vs. utmost accuracy. My hunting barrels aren't likely to see much gain from some of the more painstaking operations.

Mongoose posted that he felt Lee was perfectly fine for Precision. I disagree.
You questioned what I posted about precision and my opinion of Lee based on my reply to Mongoose not the OP's original question. A Yugo is also not a bad solution for many. It's a bad solution for me. and so is anything Lee makes. I'm sorry I'm not making a buck over minimum wage saving for two week to buy a pound of powder. I can afford better gear

Hunting I care more about utmost reliability vs. utmost accuracy. My hunting barrels aren't likely to see much gain from some of the more painstaking operations.

and there is the issue. What you mean by precision is not what I mean.

I shoot 1000 Yard NRA F class. Load consistency is key. it's near benchrest type loading procedures. at least for me it is. Yes there are targets involved but it ain't target shooting.

You can use anything you like. You can justify Lee anyway you like. The discussion was "Is Lee considered good for precision" and the consensus is NO. It may get the job done for you but we have still to hear what the OP is planing to do. Notice in my first post i mentioned Lee? I guess you missed that.

Now Lee may be good enough for you, Lee may be good enough for a lot of people. Hell they were good enough for me at one time but not any more.

[bsumoba]

The best setup is a properly sized full length die that's had the neck honed to the diameter you need.
I can hone out die necks to any size.

This is the answer. Forster and Whidden would be my two choices. But, I use Whidden because I have FL dies custom made with my desired neck, shoulder, and web dimension.

In general, this does mean that one has to turn necks to get the desired neck clearance or stick with a particular brass and hope the neck thickness doesn't change from the mfg. I noticed that Lapua brass in 2014 was thicker than brass mfg in 2017. It didn't matter in my case because I just turned necks, but no neck turn guys with non-bushing FL dies will struggle with consistent "neck tensions"

[JagerDog]

Mongoose posted that he felt Lee was perfectly fine for Precision. I disagree.
You questioned what I posted about precision and my opinion of Lee based on my reply to Mongoose not the OP's original question. A Yugo is also not a bad solution for many. It's a bad solution for me. and so is anything Lee makes. I'm sorry I'm not making a buck over minimum wage saving for two week to buy a pound of powder. I can afford better gear


and there is the issue. What you mean by precision is not what I mean.

I shoot 1000 Yard NRA F class. Load consistency is key. it's near benchrest type loading procedures. at least for me it is. Yes there are targets involved but it ain't target shooting.

You can use anything you like. You can justify Lee anyway you like. The discussion was "Is Lee considered good for precision" and the consensus is NO. It may get the job done for you but we have still to hear what the OP is planing to do. Notice in my first post i mentioned Lee? I guess you missed that.

Now Lee may be good enough for you, Lee may be good enough for a lot of people. Hell they were good enough for me at one time but not any more.

We seem to be missing each other. I'm only speaking to the collet die. Does the same job as a neck only bushing die, but without bushings to control OD the effect ID. It really is unique and should be experienced before being poopoo'd.

Those, a factory crimp die in .45 ACP (because i was having issues with cast bullets in a tight Gold Cup chamber) and a universal de-capper are the only Lee dies i own.

[kcstott]

We seem to be missing each other. I'm only speaking to the collet die. Does the same job as a neck only bushing die, but without bushings to control OD the effect ID. It really is unique and should be experienced before being poopoo'd.

Those, a factory crimp die in .45 ACP (because i was having issues with cast bullets in a tight Gold Cup chamber) and a universal de-capper are the only Lee dies i own.

I've seen the die. I understand the mechanics and I choose not to trust a single thing that Lee makes. Sorry but if they wanted to make high precision gear they can. but they choose to use a lot of aluminum where it's not appropriate and o-rings to take up slop.

See a bushing die has but one wear surface. and this collet die has three. I don't like the design. and I don't trust anything Lee makes other than maybe a bullet mold.

So with that we can agree to disagree.

[vinconco]

I did a test on 6.5CM ammo I loaded with the Lee seater die and a Forster Straight Line competition seater die. Using a NECO runout gauge the Forster seater die produced less runout than the Lee.

That said the Lee seater die usually produces less runout than standard seater dies.

[JagerDog]

I've seen the die. I understand the mechanics and I choose not to trust a single thing that Lee makes. Sorry but if they wanted to make high precision gear they can. but they choose to use a lot of aluminum where it's not appropriate and o-rings to take up slop.

See a bushing die has but one wear surface. and this collet die has three. I don't like the design. and I don't trust anything Lee makes other than maybe a bullet mold.

So with that we can agree to disagree.

Many replace the lock nut with Hornady or equivalent.

There's no aluminum where it would affect function. A disassembly knob (which also backs up the primer punch pin/mandrel) is it.

Any supposed wear is adjusted out. My Hardinge 5C collets have seen many millions of operations.

A bonus is no brass build-up at the crotch and no need to lube cases (takes a step or two away from the process).

I really don't understand the "blackball" bias to a name, but to each his own. <0.001 run out is good enough for me.

[MrElectric03]

I tend to keep different sizers depending on use. I like the redding type S full length sizers for hunting rifles and have a lee collet die for most every bolt gun I have. For seaters I try to only use Forster dies. I buy the bench rest seaters on eBay individually and have the micrometer tops. They only make two sizes so one is for around 6mm and under and the other is for all other. Only thing you need to convert the becnhrest to micrometer is the micrometer and in some cases a longer seating stem. Also I load on a CoAx so typically the redding seaters are too long and get in the way of the handle.

[MongooseV8]

One of my Lee collet dies has at least 20k pieces of brass through it. Not sure about all these wear surfaces but it still makes precise ammunitions. Seems like one should have some experience with a tool before driving a new reloader away from the entry brand.

[ExtremeX]

I am pretty happy with my competition seating die from Forester. I have had great results with them.

It was worth spending the extra for a micrometer adjustment knob, it is very convenient.

I also use a mix of other dies depending on the step. Lee dies are actually pretty good for things like neck sizing, I use the collect ones often.

[kriller134]