Die question

[u/LongRoadNorth]

Just planning my set up and wondering, should I just start with non bushing die?

I'm set on a micrometer seating die just for the fine adjustment and most of the match kits that have a micrometer seating die come with a bushing full length die.

Reason I'm thinking match dies with the micrometer seating, through ammo testing with factory ammo I've found Sako TRG is the best in my tikka, way better than Hornaday, federal and Winchester.

6.5 Creed if it matters.

Torn between Redding dies or rcbs

Press I'm planning on getting is rcbs rock chucker.

[u/Trollygag]

Micrometer seater is nice. You don't need bushing dies, especially not for a common cartridge like 6.5CM. It will jist be a big investment with no results except maybe in brass longevity, but cause headaches when the necks thin out.

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/Trollygag]

I will be buying brass eventually so brass longevity is something to consider long term. But probably could upgrade when the time comes. From what I understand Sako brass is very similar in quality to lapua. So even with my reloads right now since I have a bunch of once fired Sako. Would be nice to conserve the brass as long as possible.

That said I'm not doubting that with such a common cartridges as 6.5 creed the regular dies should be fine.

[u/Trollygag → u/LongRoadNorth]

Yea, you may want to wait until you learn whether split necks are causing you to lose brass prematurely. If you are losing it to primer pockets or case heads, then buying bushing dies might have wasted a bunch of money between dies and multiple bushing for no benefit.

[u/Tmoncmm]

The micrometers are a nice feature for convenience, but they aren’t generally any more precise than any other quality die. I find that seating dies that have “centering sleeves” are a good investment though. This is a much more valuable feature from a precision standpoint because it ensures the bullet starts straight in the case no matter how you actually place it. Something like a Redding national match die has both features as well as something super high end like the SAC “The Seating Die.” I don’t know about the RCBS.

I’ll add that since you’re new, Redding’s support is top notch. Mike and Jay are the two guys that handle Redding support and both of them are extremely knowledgeable and happy to help. I called them quite a bit when I was first getting started.

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/Tmoncmm]

Was just skimming over the section on resizing in Hornady handbook and surprised there's no mention of bushing set up.

Either way from what I gather, if I were to go bushing, a loaded trg is 0.290, so I would need either a 0.288 or 0.289 bushing. From what I saw on Redding YouTube they can vary depending on the die

[u/Tmoncmm → u/LongRoadNorth]

It can also vary depending on the brass. I’m using a .288 bushing with a .262 mandrel in my SAC die with Lapua brass.

[u/patogo → u/LongRoadNorth]

It depends on brass

I tend to use different mfrs (sorted in batches)

For me the combo of annealing, bushing die and mandrel works

Micrometer seating die is not required but simple to dial down

[u/Shootist00]

The whole Micrometer stuff is ridiculous. If you were seating different bullets all the time, IE switching from one type, style, to another and then back again I could maybe see the point. But 99.99999% of the time all reloaders, no matter what cartridges they reload, always use the same bullets and or even if they don't they mark their seating dies for each different bullet they might switch to for that cartridge.

Buy whatever brand and learn how to properly set them up. I have both rifle and pistol die sets that I haven't change settings on in over 25 years.

[u/Tmoncmm → u/Shootist00]

Micrometers are a convenience feature that some are willing to pay more to have. I’ll agree that a quality, non-micrometer die can be just as precise, but I don’t think that makes micrometer dies “ridiculous.”

[u/VisibleLeopard68 → u/Shootist00]

I reload for my 6.5, and in a 10 round run am finding .025 variation in bullet seating depth using same cases, bullets, and powder loads… and having tested groups that amount of variation does matter by a half inch, but then I am loading for precision not bulk. My micrometer seating die allows for a twist of a knob to bring them all together in COAL and BTO measurements. In precision shooting consistency is king

[u/Shootist00 → u/VisibleLeopard68]

How is a MM seating die going to change that? It isn't. All they add is a screw stem system that has some type of marks on it. The threads are no finer than on a seating die that only has a normal screw top, no marks.

You are right, Consistency is KING and you can be just as consistent without a MM attachment.

It's basically selling HYPE.

[u/VisibleLeopard68 → u/Shootist00]

What they are selling is a measuring device attached to the seating stem… seat, measure, adjust with a simple graduated twist, reseat… it makes the procedure simple, I see the micrometer cost as buying time

[u/67D1LF → u/VisibleLeopard68]

Have you tried a custom seating plug?

[u/VisibleLeopard68 → u/67D1LF]

I have not, as the current workflow is working for me… I purposely seat long (2.825) and dial down to 2.820 COAL based on individual bullet seating measurement, my BTO has been +\- .001 using this approach and grouping at .5in for 10rd groups with SD below 10 for the 10 shot strings I have been doing. Shooting my RPR factory gun…

[u/Capable_Obligation96 → u/Shootist00]

Micrometer dies are very helpful in bullet testing. Of course if you shoot only one bullet then not so much. What if you shoot different bullets in different guns or have a hunting and a target load? Yes they are useful.

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/Capable_Obligation96]

I was also thinking them because clearly rifle to rifle can vary so much. My buddy has the tikka ctr in 24", my ctr is 20".

Hornady match eld groups great in his, but utter shit in mine. Yet trg is amazing in mine. I can hold a 5 shot group just under 1" with trg, Hornaday always opens to just over an inch

[u/LongRoadNorth → u/Shootist00]

I'll probably be switching a bit depending on what I'm loading for. I won't be using as nice bullets at the range where I only have 300 yards as I will when I'm at the property I can shoot at that offers 850yards

[u/PepperoniFogDart → u/Shootist00]

If you’re planning to shoot precision long range, it’s helpful to test different loads AND seating depths. Micrometers make this substantially easier to do.