Redding vs Forester Dies

[bazzturd]

Hey there. Looking for people with experience or a lot of knowledge regarding these two brands specifically in the Redding Master hunter deluxe die set and the Forester Ultra Micrometer and full length bushing sizing die set.

I have the Forester set. I use it for 6.5 CM and have had fantastic results on my Dillon 550 loading mono's with best results in the 1/2-1/4 MOA. Really haven't been doing too much lead. I am building a 7 PRC and my friend just picked up a nice 7mm-08 that I will load for. Should I just stick with what I know or does anyone recommend the Redding over the Forester set I mentioned?

The main thing I was swinging towards trying the Redding was because they have the carbide steel expander ball vs the Forester hardened steel. The Redding is nice and smooth vs the Forester has some cross scoring.

Thanks for any useful input.

 

[hand skills]

I thought the whole point of a bushing die was to do away with the 'expander'.

I'd lean toward the Forster for that reason. or consider Redding Type S (FL bushing)

 

[bazzturd]

I thought the whole point of a bushing die was to do away with the 'expander'.

I'd lean toward the Forster for that reason. or consider Redding Type S (FL bushing)

My understanding from the tech I talked to on the phone was that the expander does not expand the neck beyond the selected/desired bushing.

 

[SDHNTR]

My understanding from the tech I talked to on the phone was that the expander does not expand the neck beyond the selected/desired bushing.

This is correct.

As for your question, I have used both extensively. Both are excellent. My Forester dies do not have scoring on the expander. If I had to choose, I would pick Redding for the carbide expander ball, but in all reality, I’m not sure I can shoot the difference. Properly lubed necks probably matter more.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm a fan of forster non-bushing FL sizing dies with honed necks to size to desired dimension. Supposedly they do better on runout and they also size the full neck.

Also never had an issue with the forster expander but a guy could polish it or get a replacement if it is rough. If you've got an extra station on your progressive the ideal setup would be to remove expander ball and expand with a mandrel on the station after the sizing station.

Edit to add: Forster micrometer seating dies are good but the seating stems kind of suck for long soft match bullets. Can be fixed with a custom order or lapping them but it is a negative vs redding IMO.

 

[wind gypsy]

I thought the whole point of a bushing die was to do away with the 'expander'.

I'd lean toward the Forster for that reason. or consider Redding Type S (FL bushing)

Primary point was to not overwork the necks or and have flexible neck tension settings. Bushing dies still come with an expander.

 

[hand skills]

Primary point was to not overwork the necks or and have flexible neck tension settings. Bushing dies still come with an expander.

Indeed, I thought it common to remove the expander entirely. A lot of guys seem to think there are advantages to using a precision mandrel instead

Thanks for clarifying, and I absolutely agree with your assertion that Forster FL with neck honed (to match brass) is preferred to bushings!

 

[EmptyPocket75]

For what its worth. I have and use both. I have the Redding set in 6.5 Grendle and the Forster set i. 7 SAUM. I dont use the expander in either. I pull them and I use the 21st Century expander mandrel's I use to control my neck tension. Both sets work wonderfully.

 

[Marbles]

I like the feeling of a carbide expander on my single stage. I doubt it improves the quality of my reload, but I think they are worth it.

I like the stem top of the Redding dies, no screw shaft to snag my arm on.

So, while I cannot tell you if one makes better ammo, I enjoy using Redding dies more (my other dies are RCBS, but the points of comparison should carry over to Forster).

 

[Ramem7mm]

I have both Redding and Forster bushing dies and I like both. I also have both Redding and Forster micrometer seating dies and both work awesome.

As far as the ball, goes on the sizing die ideally it should be removed and get a mandrel setup. I started with bushing dies using the ball and no matter what size bushing that was used it changed the OD to a larger size than the bushing so obviously the ball was expanding. Nothing wrong with it really either if the down range performance is acceptable.

 

[Backcast88]

I remove the expander ball from all of my dies regardless of brand so carbide or not, I don't care since I will run them over a mandrel before its all said and done.

I will say, I really liked my Forster FL Bushing die for my 6.5 PRC. I had very good result with it and had zero issues getting it to size 6.5 PRC brass down correctly. I tried a Redding bushing die and it wouldn't squeeze the base down enough to chamber fired rounds so it went back. But for a non bushing die, I like Forster will hone them but do not know if I will every do it but its nice to have the option. I also have no complaints with my standard FL dies from Redding in 270 and 30-06 so its kind of a toss up.

The seating dies are a different story. I like the Redding better since I can buy a VLD or standard stem and swap them easily. I know Forster will hone that also but the stems are already thin and not the most durable so the Redding is the clear winner for me.

If it was me, I would buy the FL bushing die or standard FL die from Forster depending on what's available and desired outcome. And then buy a Redding Micrometer Comp seating die with both stems. Might be a little more $ in the end but for me it was worth it since dies are an investment.

Don't overlook the RCBS Matchmaster dies either. Their seating die is very slick and I never had issues with my standard FL RCBS die in 270 WSM. You can get the Matchmaster set either with the bushing die or standard FL die.

 

[WeiserBucks]

My rifles shoot small groups with budget dies. You guys are way overthinking it.