Redding Reloading Dies Explained
Redding Reloading Dies Explained - Background
Redding Reloading designs and manufactures a full line of rifle and pistol dies. This ultimately is very valuable to shooters, both novice and advanced but comes with some complexity. If you imagine for a moment, creating a list of virtually every cartridge currently in use in the world, then even after reducing that list somewhat to account for obsolescent calibres, you are still left with a long list. To add to this list, there are several specialized dies combinations that precision shooters use in addition to or in lieu of the basic versions.
The key to understanding the vast array of dies is to start with the part number. Redding Part Numbers consist of a product type prefix and a cartridge suffix. A basic 30-06 Die Set 80148 can be expanded to ‘80000’ Full Length Rifle Die Set, Cartridge ‘148’ or 30-06. A Premium Deluxe Die Set for the 30-06 68148 translates to ‘Deluxe Die Set’ upgraded to ‘68000’ Premium Die Set, Cartridge ‘148’ or 30-06. Understanding the product family groupings will greatly assist you in choosing the dies that meet your needs. A the part number for a basic 308 Winchester 2 die set would be ‘80155’, as the die family is the same as the earlier example, but the cartridge number is now ‘155’, which represents 308 Winchester.
For the purpose of this article we will focus on a common modern bottleneck rifle cartridge and use the 308 Winchester as an example. Redding Reloading offer a comprehensive range of dies designed for high volume pistol shooters that include carbide pieces to extend die life and many other technical features that make loading automation possible.
Redding 308 Winchester Die Set Basic Examples
Many shooters use the 308 Winchester Cartridge by choice or because they are required to by match rules. The 308 Winchester was first developed for military purposes, then adopted by civilian shooters. It is used for a wide variety of purposes including military, hunting, formal target shooting. training, and recreational shooting. Thus Redding make a full line of dies to support the various requirements for different uses of the 308 Winchester Cartridge.
Starting with the most basic Redding Full Length Die Set 308 Winchester 80155, ‘80000’ (2 Die Full Length Set), ‘155’ (308 Winchester Cartridge), you can perform basic reloading tasks including removing the spent primer, resizing the cartridge case body and neck, and bullet seating. This is the most commonly used set of 308 Winchester dies and will accommodate 90% of all accuracy requirements.
The next step in complexity accommodates shooters who don’t want to full length resize their brass all the time and want the ability to neck size. Redding have added a Neck Sizing Die to the basic set to create the Deluxe Die Set ‘84155’ for the 308 Winchester.
Many shooters want the capability to make rapid and accurate fine adjustments to bullet seating depth. For those individuals, there is the Redding Master Hunter Die Set 308 Winchester 28155. Redding make the widely used Redding Competition Bullet Seater 308 Winchester 55155, which is used by many precision shooters. The 28155 set includes this die, and a Full Length Sizing Die with a carbide sizing button. The carbide button resists wear longer than the standard hardened steel version. There is also a Deluxe version of this set, the ‘29155’, which includes a neck sizing die. Although named ‘Master Hunter’, this die set would be ideal for TR or MR for those who don’t want to use the Bushing Dies described further below.
Now we will introduce another variation in the product line. The Premium Die Set, 68155. This configuration is built around a standard bullet seating die with the added convenience of micrometer adjustment. The Premium Die Set 68155 is a 2 die set consisting of the micrometer bullet seating die and a full length sizing die. The Premium Deluxe Set ‘68155’ adds a Neck Sizing Die to the set. Thus you have parallel ‘68000’ and ‘84000’ series, with the difference being the micrometer bullet seating die. This seating die is not the same as the Redding Competition Bullet Seater 308 Winchester 55155, and is of much simpler construction, lacking the ‘in-line’ capability of the competition version. This series of Redding Die Set for someone who wants a flexible and simple process but does not require the degree of accuracy as the Competition bullet seating die produces, but still wants to quickly adjust bullet seating depth.
To be fair, most individuals start out with a basic 2 die set and upgrade it over time, as their requirements change. Redding offer the upgraded sets because there are shooters that either want to make a wholesale swap to high end equipment or want to skip the entry level step based on advice received from fellow shooters.
In the United States a lot of competitive shooting is done with the AR platform. Redding offer a specialised range of National Match Die Sets, which include a Full Length Sizing Die with a carbide sizing button, the Redding Competition Bullet Seater 308 Winchester 55155, and optionally, a Taper Crimp Die. This allows a shooter to load accurate ammunition, tuned to a particular rifle, that can be fed through a magazine without the worry of recoil changing bullet seating depth. For the 308 Winchester the part number would be ‘39155’ for the basic 2 die version and ‘85155’ for the 3 die version.
So as you can see, Redding offer a full line of die sets that cover a multitude of requirements.
Redding 308 Winchester Die Sets Advanced Examples
Redding offer a full line of bushing dies for those who need to manage neck tension to achieve the degree of accuracy they require. The Redding Type ‘S’ Bushing dies use interchangeable bushings to vary the amount the case neck is reduced during the sizing operation. As you may well imagine, no two batches of brass cases have identical neck thickness and there is a tremendous variation across various manufacturers. Bushing dies allow you to customize the die to fit your batch of brass correctly to extend the life of the brass and provide the desired tension on the bullet. This tension affects powder combustion and thus can effect accuracy.
A simple way to determine a starting bushing size is to take a loaded round from the batch of the cases you are working with and measure the diameter of the case neck (containing a bullet). This yields a dimension that you subtract 0.002″ from. This is the ‘starting’ bushing size. The size that yields the best accuracy can only be arrived at through testing. Redding also recommends subtracting 0.001″. Each batch of brass will offer slightly different ‘spring back’ depending on alloy content, work hardening, and degree of annealing, thus only a ‘starting’ figure can be recommended.
Using the 308 Winchester as an example, the Redding Type S Elite Die Set 308 Winchester 60155 consists of a Type S Neck Die, Type S Full Length Die and the competition bullet seating die. This set offers the maximum flexibility to the precision shooter letting them neck size or full Length size as required and seat bullets accurately.
There is also the Redding Type S Full Length Match Die Set 308 Winchester 36155 which includes a Type S Full Length Die and the Competition Bullet Seating Die. If you neck size, then there is the ‘38155’ which includes a Type S Neck Die and the Competition Bullet Seating Die.
You can use the Type S Full Length Sizing Die as a ‘Body’ Die by simply removing the bushing.
Individual Redding Dies to Solve Specific Problems
There are specialty dies available to address a number of different issues that may come up during the reloading process. They are either used once to mitigate a problem or used to replace another die permanently in the reloading process.
Using the 308 Winchester as an example, we will start with chambering issues. A combination of factors can result in a sized cartridge not chambering in a rifle. There are many possible reasons that could cause this but two of the most common ones are; trying to use brass fired in a rifle with a large chamber in a rifle with a tight chamber and just having a really tight chamber as some gunsmiths recommend. The solution most often used to remedy this issue is the ‘small base die’. For the 308, these are available as the Redding Small Base Body Die 308 Winchester 74155 and the Redding Type S Full Length Bushing Sizing Die 308 Winchester Small Base 77355.
The former body die is usually used once to correct the problem. The latter Type S die is usually employed permanently as it is designed to accommodate rifles with a really tight chamber. This issue often arises within clubs who load their own ammunition. Undoubtedly there will be a member with an oversized or oval chamber and another member with a really tight chamber making it difficult to share brass.
Some shooters want the ability to quickly trim a small quantity of cases without having to resize them first. You probably won’t be doing this for the 308 Winchester but if you did, you could use the 83155 308 Winchester Form and Trim Die. This die allows you to place a case in your press and use a file to simply remove any excess material. The die is harder than your file so will survive the process. This type of die is commonly used by people who shoot obsolete cartridges and have to form their brass from other more available cartridges.
There is one die that I have to mention. The Redding Competition Bushing Neck Die 308 Winchester 56155. This is a specialty neck size die that utilizes bushings, allowing the user to set the neck tension. In addition to that, it has a micrometer adjustment feature that allows the user to precisely set the amount of case neck that will be sized, as it could affect accuracy.
Conclusion
We have briefly covered the currently available die sets including the Reloading Die Set, the Deluxe Die Set, the Premium Deluxe Die Set, the Master Hunter Die Set, the National Match Die Set, the Elite Die Set as well as some specialty dies. New die sets are being added based on requests from shooters.
For the 308 Winchester, the part numbers all end in ‘155’. The full selection of die sets mentioned are available in 223 Remington with part numbers ending in ‘111’. Most of the dies mentioned above are available in any modern calibre, so they key is to find the cartridge number you need, then start looking for the die within the product family. You can access the Redding Chart here. Many of the dies mentioned here are available individually, reflecting the fact that most shooters start very simply and upgrade dies one at a time.
Redding Die pricing is structured into Series. There are groupings of cartridges by popularity. Very common calibres are in Series A. These are well priced and readily available. These include the 308 Winchester, 223 Remington, and a multitude of other common calibres. Series D on the other hand are more obscure and include both ‘newer’ cartridges like the 6mm Dasher and the ‘older’ 25-35 Winchester. Delivery of this Series of dies takes longer as they are made in smaller batches less often than other calibres. Cartridges are listed by Series on this chart Redding Shell Holder Cross Reference.