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RCBS Competition Dies and a progressive press...

Permanently deleted user
I'm considering getting a set of competition dies in .223 and .308 for my Pro 2000 b/c it seems as if it might be easier/faster to drop the bullets in the side of the seating die rather than to hold them on top of the cases while loading. Here's my question for those of you that are familiar with the competition dies. You have to pull the handle partially down to make the brass come in contact with the die...Will this be enough to adversely affect the consistency of the powder charge??? I can see where these dies might speed up the loading process...provided they don't affect the powder charge. Thanks for any input I can get!!![:)]
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7 comments

Date Votes
  • jcook01
    How did the competition dies work out for you?

    I'm bleeding my eyes out surfing the net trying to make an informed purchase decision on 223 and 308 dies.

    There are a lot of types to choose from, collet, full length, short base and competition.

    I'm a single stage press user so I don't have the same concerns as you but was wondering how the dies worked out?

    I see that Hornady also sells a competition die set, any one have experience with them?

    Will case thickness between NATO and non-nato cases be a problem? The Hornday competition appears to come with adjustment in the resiziing die to compensate for case differences, I bet the RCBS does too but haven't read up on it yet.

    Happy Turkey Day all,

    John
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  • e8gm
    I have a Dillon 550b and a set of RCBS competition dies in 223. In order to use the seater die with the window in it you have to use the extended shell holder. This makes it impossible to use on a progressive such as the Dillon. You can use the sizer which doesn't require the extended shell holder.
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  • dcs shooters
    I have the comp. dies in 308. Like said above you have to use a extended shell holder for the seater. I don't see any way to use them in a progressive press.
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  • jcook01
    Anyone have experience with the Hornady competition dies?
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  • jtmarine0831
    I don't see the use in using Comp dies in a progressive. One, you have to use a extende shell holder for the seater and Two, if you don't verify length on each round after you seat the bullet, then you might as well just use a regular seater because the Comp die still hits each bullet around the same area and it is inconsistancies in these areas from bullet to bullet that give you your differences in C.O.L.. I use a RCBS Comp Seater only for my .308. I use it in an old RockChucker and spend a little more time with each round than is probably needed. I work a round down to the length I want graually and measure with a comparator. With my base to ogive length established, I spin the mic knob off a few thousandths and seat the next bullet, measure, adjust, measure, adjust, and measure til it is IDENTICAL or within .0005 of the ESTABLISHED length. (I guess I am a little anal, Sorry) I believe that the only way to have consistent groups is to have everything as close to identical as humanly possible. Unless you are going to buy some Comp dies and go back to the single stage with them, then you would just be wasting time and money. If you use very consistent bullets then you will have better luck knocking out variation on seating lentghs with a standard seater.

    Hope I could shine some light!

    JT
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  • XXCross
    Competition dies in a progressive loader? Isn't that like putting premium gas in an ol' worn out car?
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  • mgx1138
    I am a highpower Service Rifle competitor... last year I loaded 7500 rounds of .223 on a Dillon 650. I also shoot the M1A, so I load .308 on the 650 too. I have used both Forester and RCBS competition dies on my Dillon with excellent results. In fact, though I sometimes load small batches on a single stage Rockchucker and a Harrel measure, there is virtually ZERO difference in the quality of the ammo that results... as measured by runout on the seated bullet, velocity, ES or SDev. My match results also are the same. Using a good quality die set give better quality ammo regardless of whether it is in a single stage press or a progressive. It also makes it easier to adjust seating depth as I chase the throat on my rifle for slow prone ammo.

    Michael (Millbrae, CA)
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