Redding/ Forster competition seaters

Never tried a Redding but I do like my Forster Ultra.

Fortunately, I didn't have to learn from buying other competition seating dies and then discovering Forster. I tried them first and never looked back. A lot to be said for a little research and a lot of dumb luck....best wishes

Yeah, Redding jacked-up the price of the competition seaters this year...Paying over a $100 just for one die is getting crazy. If I had to do it all over again, I'd buy Forster's Ultras instead.

I did the same. Three Forsters ago. Forsters going forward for me.

I completely agree on Redding's prices. 281$ for a competition die set? That a ton more than their T-7 press. Lee collet die has better runout than button die. And the Forster is same tech as the Redding seater die. I'd also be interested in Wilson die and arbor press.
I run the Redding comp dies for .223. But I went with Hornady f/l die and RCBS comp die for 6.5 creedmoor.

Ok so I have been reloading for a little over a year now and I am wondering about these comp seater dies do they make that much of a difference

I love my Redding Competition die for the 9mm and 10mm. Just a twist of the knob and it's set. No unlocking the ring, twisting the die, and relocking the ring.
Works great especially if you change bullet shapes.

Bonanza Acquired by Forester

I will say I have liked my Bonanza benchrest die set I got several years ago. And since they were acquired by Forester, I feel included!

Lou

Doesn't the P-30 tube on the Forster insure the bullet and the brass is straight? Is the brass is supported by the tube, or just the neck? It does have close tolerances. The standard 308 tube was pulling my slightly oversize Cast bullets back out of the case! I had to order an oversize tube for the Lead ones. That was $47.00 to my door due to the shop work involved.

Another Forster comp die fan here. I've been using the micrometer competition seater and resizers for over 20 yrs. I don't own a Redding competition die and doubt I ever will.

I have both Redding and Forster competition seating dies.

I prefer the Redding collet neck sizers for neck turned brass. But the Forsters are absolutely solid.

Either way you go, they are extremely good dies. I'm using Redding dies on 300 Win Mag, and got a load to consistently hit between .210 and .255 MOA (measured from center of impact on 10 shot groups). The dies are only part of that equation though; there's an immense amount of other prep work that goes in to that load.

If you are loading plinker ammo or stuff for shorter range 3-gun matches, the competition dies are pretty much a complete waste of money.

If you are shooting out past a couple/few hundred yards, and need tighter groups to hit, they're *part* of the solution.

The dies, in and of themselves, are limited in benefit; you also have to have good reloading practices, *consistent* brass, the right overall length for your particular rifle, etc. That same load I have that gets .210 - .255 MOA, when not fully prepped, averages right about .700 MOA, using the same dies!