Thread: Bushing die recommendations

I'm after a full length bushing die, and I've been looking at either the LE Wilson one or the Redding S Series Die.
Ignoring the bushings themselves, are they very different in terms of quality and consistency?
I'll be picking up a SAC bushing, so I'm mainly wanting to know how they perform outside of the bushings they use.

Not different in quality or accuracy.

I'd say its all about personal preference and availability.

RCBS Matchmaster FL Bushing dies, best dies set ive used and still affordable.

I have a Redding S FLS die and just ran into the issue outlined here:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co..../brass-fl-sizi

Die wasn’t bumping the shoulder because it runs out of space between bottom of the die and shellholder (which is also Redding). It appears this is a common issue with the Redding S dies (not sure if other FLS bushing dies have the same issue too). I solved it by doing what many others have done and sanding .010” off the top of the shell holder (some take it off the bottom of the die). After that, shoulders were bumping back as expected.

If I was buying again I’d probably avoid Redding as it appears to be a known issue.

They are all much of a muchness the bushing dies - the shoulder issue can happen with any of the full length dies not just bushing ones. It is a mismatch between the chamber of the rifle and the die measurements, I had a Lyman .308 full length die that wasn't sizing back far enough for a Rem 700 chamber. I could wind that die out one full turn and have it resize the cases enough for a Parker Hale .308 though - go figure.

I pretty much only go for the full length bushing dies as you get a handy body die with them if you take the bushing out for those times you don't want to touch the case neck.

The competition seater dies are a bit of a different animal, I have had an OK run out of the redding ones.

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

RCBS Matchmaster FL Bushing dies, best dies set ive used and still affordable.

I've had a look at those before, but they are pretty difficult to find in 6mm Creedmoor in NZ.
I'm probably going to get the Forster Ultra Micrometer seating die, and was debating which of the fl bushing dies I should get.

Whichever seating die you get, make sure the seating stem fits the profile of the pills you are using.

They normally come with a more or less "standard" profile seating stem, which means it might not fit that well if you are using low-drag long match projectiles. I've had to get a second stem and extend the inside of it on the lathe so that the bullet contacts the stem better and it's not pushing on the bullet tip. It works fine with plastic tipped pills, and dirty old exposed lead interlocks and the like (the old faithful kill anything never fail hunting bullets) but with match jackets where the tip might be swaged a bit unevenly it was giving me a bit more runout than I was happy with.

Originally Posted by No.3

Whichever seating die you get, make sure the seating stem fits the profile of the pills you are using.

They normally come with a more or less "standard" profile seating stem, which means it might not fit that well if you are using low-drag long match projectiles. I've had to get a second stem and extend the inside of it on the lathe so that the bullet contacts the stem better and it's not pushing on the bullet tip. It works fine with plastic tipped pills, and dirty old exposed lead interlocks and the like (the old faithful kill anything never fail hunting bullets) but with match jackets where the tip might be swaged a bit unevenly it was giving me a bit more runout than I was happy with.

The seating stem that comes in the Forster dies seem to handle the vld pills pretty well, from what I've read.
Doesn't look like they really sell stems specifically for vld bullets, though, which some other manufacturers do.

I had a 6mm CM die from SAC it was pricy but loaded awesome ammunition.

Originally Posted by ariki

I had a 6mm CM die from SAC it was pricy but loaded awesome ammunition.

A SAC bushing, or one of their dies?
The cost of their dies is a bit rich for my blood.

I'm running Whidden bushing dies as well as Redding S dies in numerous chamberings.
No issues with either

Originally Posted by camenzie

I have a Redding S FLS die and just ran into the issue outlined here:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co..../brass-fl-sizi

Die wasn’t bumping the shoulder because it runs out of space between bottom of the die and shellholder (which is also Redding). It appears this is a common issue with the Redding S dies (not sure if other FLS bushing dies have the same issue too). I solved it by doing what many others have done and sanding .010” off the top of the shell holder (some take it off the bottom of the die). After that, shoulders were bumping back as expected.

If I was buying again I’d probably avoid Redding as it appears to be a known issue.

Timely your input as just bought a foster shoulder bump, neck bushing die & struggled to get 2th shoulder bump, found a shorter shell holder & wella no problems.

Competition shellholders are a partial solution here, combined with a very careful and slight modification to the die itself (a few thou off the bottom of the die). Depending on how or who made the die and what heat treatment they used, it might be a requirement to grind the small amount off the die in the lathe or you might end up with an ugly cut...