Bushing die questions/Random reloading knowledge

[myhuntingjournal]

Can someone point me towards some resources for how bushing dies work? I want to start reloading for my 25cm and I'm wondering what the advantages are of taking a 6.5cm die and swapping to an appropriate bushing versus finding a dedicated 25cm die set.

My other question is: Is there any reason to go with a high end die like redding/SAC versus getting a Lee die set?

 

[43.6N]

You 100% can just get a new bushing to size 25 creed necks. Shoulder headspace and body taper is the same for these two cartridges, so die body size can be the same.


The bushing is simply a ring of steel that constricts the outside of your neck to whatever diameter you spec. It replaces the neck portion of your die. Any non-bushing die still sizes the neck, but you are at the mercy of whatever diameter neck the die company decided what best. Some companies used to offer a “honing” service, where you could send the die in for them to machine the neck to whatever diameter you wanted. This is less common now that bushings are in common use.

This constricting bushing is in contrast to an expander ball or mandrel, which dilates the inner diameter of the neck to whatever measurement you spec.

If your current die has an expander ball or mandrel, this will also need to be replaced or removed all together. Otherwise, the bushing can squeeze the neck all day long, but as soon as the ball passes through the neck it will be sized for whatever
ball/mandrel diameter you have.