Redding Competition Bushing Neck Sizing die v.s. Redding Type S dies

[mofosheee]

Hello Forum
Would I be correct in understanding that the differences between the Redding "Competition Bushing Neck Sizing die" and the Redding Type S die set is that the "Competition Set" has the added attribute of allowing a reloader to fine tune the length of sizing along the neck to the desired amount using the micrometer where as when using the Type S set, that distance is fixed?
Thank you

 

[Demi-human]

If I read their page correctly, the micrometer is for the seating die only. The depriming rod is what adjusts the neck bushing up or down in the sizing die.
A micrometer could probably be put on the sizing die, but that is what Redding sells their competition shell holders for.

Place the rule end of your calipers, vertically, on the rod’s adjustment screw and the tail on the top deck of the die body. You can now adjust the neck bushing in thousandths.

 

[Blue68f100]

The regular Type S set does not come with the competition seating die. The Match/Elite set does.

 

[mofosheee]

If I read their page correctly, the micrometer is for the seating die only. The depriming rod is what adjusts the neck bushing up or down in the sizing die.
A micrometer could probably be put on the sizing die, but that is what Redding sells their competition shell holders for.

Place the rule end of your calipers, vertically, on the rod’s adjustment screw and the tail on the top deck of the die body. You can now adjust the neck bushing in thousandths.

Yes, the seating die has a micrometer. The sizing die in the 58111 kit also has a micrometer. As you detailed above, this seems unnecessary as one can use the shell holders
Thanks for responding

 

[BBarn]

The S-Type Bushing sizing dies are available in full-length or neck sizing only types and use floating bushings to size the neck. The length of neck sizing is adjustable with a standard threaded adjustment.

The Competition sizing die uses the same neck sizing bushings, but is only available in a neck sizing style. It has a floating body that provides alignment but does not size the case body. The length of neck sizing is adjustable with a micrometer style adjustment.

Both of those sizing dies are also available in various sets with other dies.

 

[mofosheee]

The S-Type Bushing sizing dies are available in full-length or neck sizing only types and use floating bushings to size the neck. The length of neck sizing is adjustable with a standard threaded adjustment.

The Competition sizing die uses the same neck sizing bushings, but is only available in a neck sizing style. It has a floating body that provides alignment but does not size the case body. The length of neck sizing is adjustable with a micrometer style adjustment.

But is the competition set really worth it?

 

[Walkalong]

You can adjust how much neck gets sized with the bushing on any of them. The ones with the micro top are over kill, but yes, it's easier to fine tune how much.

I've never seen the need to adjust the amount by .001.

You adjust the amount the bushing sizes (I adjust it so the bushing has a slight amount of play in the, which sizes most of the neck), then tweak the decapping rod if need be.

 

[Walkalong]

But is the competition set really worth it?

The sizer with the micro top and sleeve? Not to me.

The seater with the micrometer top? Yes.

Redding FL bushing style sizer. Forster Micrometer top seater. .308

 

[mofosheee]

I'v stumbled upon various posts regarding this well beaten up topic. Consensus, sizer with micro unnecessary, seater with micro a big plus. Thanks!

 

[Walkalong]

Agreed, and that's the trend in my dies....although I have plenty of seaters with no micro top. I like them though.

 

[mofosheee]

In the spirit of simplicity, I intend to dispose (sell) the frivilous. So..............Lee sizing and decapping die and the Lee micrometer seating die?
So the sizing die uses a bushing for the neck followed by use of an expanding die to get proper diameter (tension) ?

 

[Walkalong]

You can use just the bushing, but, assuming non neck turned brass, but quality stuff with good neck wall uniformity, I like to use a bushing that sizes all of the necks enough so that the mandrel in my next step does at least a tiny bit of work on all of the cases.

Wilson makes good ones, but I have Sinclair and 21st Century mandrels.
I have mandrel bodies from Sinclair, 21st Century, and PMA Tool

 

[BBarn]

But is the competition set really worth it?

I have a couple of the full length S-Type sizing dies
with bushings. Unless case necks are turned to uniform thickness, I see little advantage to them.

If I were in the market for a set of Redding rifle dies, I'd buy a set of their full length Premium Dies (micrometer seater are handy). But I don't turn necks or shoot competition benchrest.

 

[Chuck R.]

You can use just the bushing, but, assuming non neck turned brass, but quality stuff with good neck wall uniformity, I like to use a bushing that sizes all of the necks enough so that the mandrel in my next step does at least a tiny bit of work on all of the cases.

Wilson makes good ones, but I have Sinclair and 21st Century mandrels.
I have mandrel bodies from Sinclair, 21st Century, and PMA Tool
View attachment 1187193

View attachment 1187195

Same method I use, the bushings in conjunction with mandrels saves a lot of wear and trimming.

 

[mofosheee]

You can use just the bushing, but, assuming non neck turned brass, but quality stuff with good neck wall uniformity, I like to use a bushing that sizes all of the necks enough so that the mandrel in my next step does at least a tiny bit of work on all of the cases.

Wilson makes good ones, but I have Sinclair and 21st Century mandrels.
I have mandrel bodies from Sinclair, 21st Century, and PMA Tool
View attachment 1187193

View attachment 1187195

I really like the manderal approach

 

[Roc_my_tims]

But is the competition set really worth it?

I sold mines. Somethings you set and forget. At that point the extra monet spent wasn't justified ad I'm not going to continuously switch it around and need to come back to the same measurement

 

[N555]

But is the competition set really worth it?

Not that I can see.
Maybe if you're running a barrel burner like a 264 win mag and have to bump your seating death 1/10,000 of an inch every 10 shots or so.

 

[Walkalong]

The micrometer top competition seaters are handy dandy if you switch between bullets fairly regularly.....

 

[BBarn]

Perhaps it's worth pointing out that Redding has two types of micrometer seating dies. One with floating body alignment (Individual Competition Seating Dies, and Competition, Elite, Master Hunter, and National Match Die sets), and a simpler one that replaces the normal threaded seating adjustment with a micrometer adjustment (available separately as a replacement for the standard seating stem, or with the Premium Die Sets).

 

[AJC1]

The micrometer top competition seaters are handy dandy if you switch between bullets fairly regularly.....

Rounds like 223 where one may be loading all over the place from 40 gainers to 80s its sure handy.

 

[Chuck R.]

The micrometer top competition seaters are handy dandy if you switch between bullets fairly regularly.....

Especially when loading for multiple rifles in the same caliber.

I just record my settings on a spreadsheet. That combined with using die shims for sizing gives me the flexibility to load for multiple rifles pretty easily without adjusting dies.