Last Updated on July 7, 2022
When you‚re setting up your seating die, you‚ll want to keep a zero clearance between the die and the shell holder, which is crucial for achieving accurate reloading. This way, you‚ll be sure to produce the best possible reloads every time. Here are some tips:
Keeping a zero clearance between die and shell holder at max stroke
Using the shellholder as a headspace gage is an important first step in setting up a redding competition seating den. The case should be slightly shy of the bottom surface of the die, while the shellholder should be at or slightly below the die‚s maximum stroke. While crushing the shellholder against the die won‚t actually push the case any further into the die, flexing might raise the case shoulder setback by 0.001 inches.
The shoulder bump is a critical adjustment. Using a feeler gauge will not help if the shell holder is bumped on the shoulder of the die. The shoulder bump can vary widely depending on the chamber and die, so adjusting the shell holder to keep a zero clearance between the die and shell holder at max stroke is necessary for accuracy.
The large Reamed Sleeve should be pushed against the shellholder to the point where it‚s nearly flush with the outer Die Body. Then, back the die away from the shellholder, making sure to keep zero clearance between the die and shell holder at the max stroke. The stop will not affect the seating chamber‚s dead length, but it will make it awkward to read the micrometer on the back side of the die.
The shellholder is an integral part of your seating die. It provides a firm base for the shell to sit on. It can be used on the right or left side of the shell. The Redding Competition Shellholder Kit contains five thicker shellholders that are marked +.002 and +.004 respectively. These shellholders are black oxide coated for extra durability.
The decapping pin must be held securely in place. Visually check for straightness and push it gently with your finger if it‚s loose. The seat die depth adjustment will depend on the type of bullet and its overall ammunition load. If it‚s too deep, the bullet will get stuck in the seating chamber. This is a common mistake, and can lead to bullet ejection.
Make sure that the die‚s cam over is tight enough for your resizing process. A small amount of overbelling can cause the case mouth to collapse on the die‚s edge and result in an excessive shoulder bump. Figure 5 illustrates an example of a.357 case with too much belling versus the right amount of belling.
A Redding die lock ring contains a Bismuth piece that engages the die threads when set screw is turned. Bismuth lock rings are expensive, but more effective than brass screws, which are prone to stripping. Additionally, Redding uses steel on steel for strength and places a lead piece between the set screw and die threads to provide a secure lock up.
Redding reloading dies are shipped with a moisture-displacing oil. The oil may migrate to one side of the die during storage. It can even harden on one side of the die. To avoid this issue, clean new dies with bore solvent and dry with a brass bristle brush. Make sure that the solvent does not stay in the top of the die threaded area, as it will cause sizing difficulties.
The redding comp shell holder is incredibly valuable for those who shoot multiple rifles. It eliminates the need to juggle the sizing die lock. This makes it easy to swap shells between rifles and get the exact amount of bump that the bullet or case needs. It is a good idea to use a case gage with your redding comp seating die.
The Lee single stage press has lever adjustments to adjust frame flex and linkage slop. These adjustments are made by raising the ram and screwing the die against the shell holder. When the die contacts the shell holder, the reloader will feel the Ram contact the die before the stroke is completed. This is a good sign.
Using a redding competition seating die is an essential component of any reloading arsenal. The redding comp set comes with 3 dies: a type S neck with a decapper, a type B body without a neck, and a seating die. In addition to the three dies, you should also choose a hand-priming tool, case lube, and a redding comp seating die.
While most of the redding competition seating dies are easy to use and maintain, RCBS and Lee Precision are a few of the more impressive options. Lee Precision dies are easy to adjust and require minimal setup. For steel dies, lubricant must be applied to the die before it is used. Tumbled cases, on the other hand, do not require lubricant.
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