Collet or Bushing?

[ColColt]

I have a couple of calibers that I have both the Lee Collet size die and Redding's Type S FL Bushing Die. I haven't gotten around to it yet but plan on a little experimentation to see which may be the more accurate of the two.

Has anyone beat me to this and can extol the virtues of either as yet?

 

[DrMike]

I have used both at various times. I can't say that one is more accurate than the other. Either will do the job so long as I do my part to ensure consistency.

 

[ColColt]

That's pretty much what I thought. When I bought the collet dies I also bought a Redding body die for when the time comes it's needed.

 

[joelkdouglas]

ColColt, I have found my Lee Collet Die (LCD) outperforms both a Redding Type S bushing die AND a Redding Competition Bushing Die in 30-06 in some areas, but not others. The concentricity error of neck sized brass is consistently better out of the LCD. However, the LCD is more sensitive to neck brass hardness, and will eventually yield less neck tension if one doesn't pay attention/anneal. The concentricity error of the LCD is almost always <0.002, with the majority being <0.001. The concentricity error of the Redding Type S die is sometimes as high as 0.005. The concentricity error of the Redding Competition Bushing die is normally from 0.001 to 0.004.

For my Redding Type S bushing die in 6 BR, however, the concentricity is quite excellent.

I may just have a pair of 30-06 dies that aren't perfect. And I don't notice the difference at the range--only on the concentricity gauge.

If you choose the LCD I would also recommend a small torch for annealing. It's quite a simple procedure and will result in consistently good neck tension out of the LCD. I would also recommend you put the collet in a drill, wrap sandpaper around it, and polish it up a bit. This will also improve neck tension.

 

[ColColt]

I anneal cases after the third firing usually. The system I use incorporates two tanks and works quite well and quickly using Tempilaq. Sometimes I use the 450 degree and other time their 750 degree.

http://www.cartridgeanneal.com/

The first thing I do with the Lee is polish the collet and then put a dab of Lubriplate on it. It seems to work rather well.

 

[kraky]

I think after experimenting you'll love the LCD...especially as often as you anneal!

 

[ColColt]

I do like Lee's system if for no other reason I don't have to lube the cases. My .222 dies are both Lee and Redding's. I wasn't sure which may work best so bought them both.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Yep, sounds like you have it all figured out!

I have loaded separate lots of LCD vs Redding bushing ammo, but there wasn't a big enough group change in my sample to tell any difference on paper. I think by the time you shot a group big enough for statistical certainty you would have two rather large groups, and the dies wouldn't make much difference.

If you had a rifle that could put 20 shots inside an inch, that would be one very accurate rifle!

 

[ColColt]

If you had a rifle that could put 20 shots inside an inch, that would be one very accurate rifle!

I do have one like that,a Sako L461 Vixen pre-Garcia in .222.

 

[HOGWILD338-378]

Nice looking rifle and like how ya got it set up, I like the optik down on the barrel with just enough room to add flip ups if wanted! Real sweet looking rifle!

 

[ColColt]

It's a sweetheart for sure. Bofors barrel as well. It had an old Leupold M8 16X but I exchanged it for the Zeiss a few months ago. No regrets.