Bench-Talk

I recently had a Forster neck sizing die honed to a specific diameter for my .308 no-turn chamber. But the die is creating vertical scratches on about a half of the neck's circumference. They are deep enough to "click" when dragged over by a fingernail. Did I screw up the die? Aren't these dies supposed to be so hard that they won't get damaged? Can anyone suggest a better/harder/more precise neck die? I love my Forster seater, but I'm worried that the necks are being moved off center by the neck die... ( I don't have any concentricity gauges - What's the best value in those tools?) I also have a Redding bushing die, and that works well. Should I stick with that die or get another neck-only? Should I send my scratched die back to Forster? Do I need to cull the scratched cases? What's the meaning of life?

The meaning of life is hidden in the line: " bring out your dead . . . clang, clang . . . bring out your dead . . ." ;) That's the depth of my understanding . . .

But, yer Forster die shouldn't be scratching the case necks - I had the folks at Forster make several custom dies for some pals and myself  - all top notch stuff. :) I sent the reamer prints to the Forster people who made GREAT fitting FL size-dies! :)  If Forster provided the service, I'd check with them to see what they'll offer as a remedy. In my opinion, the BEST die is a FL die featuring the proper neck diameter, closely followed by a Redding Type "S" FL/NK bushing die. Good shootin'! RG

 

Don’t be hard on yourself. Ever! The world is filled with magnificent contributions, created by dysfunctional learners and undisciplined people . . . (Author unknown). This pretty much describes the Sagatarian crowd - especially BIG MIKE and hiz alter ego . . oh, and Francis, 'The INNOCENT' too! ;)

 

 

Randy - I figured I did something stupid, since it was unlikely that Forster screwed it up. Since that was honed to yield .002" neck tension, I guess it's pretty much toast. well, maybe I just got an expensive decapping die... She turned me into a Newt! I got better...

Jim, it's always possible that they forgot to 'de-bur' the edge - I'd still check with them. Another option would be to have Jim Carstensen convert it into a neck-bushing die. RG

Hmmmmm.... great idea!

   Jim, I can second R.G's recommendation on a JLC conversion. They are smooth with 10 'o's'....smooooooooooth.

   As to the meaning of life, R.G.'s reference to Monty Python pretty much sums it all up.

   "I'm feeling fine."   "I can't take him if he's not dead."   "Well, when's your next run?"  "He must be a king." 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs

   Laffin' in The Forbidden Zone.......

   

   

Thanks, Al.  I plan on sending the die out next week. 

 "Someday this will all be yours."

"What...   the window?"

   Words to live by:  "That's no ordinary rabbit!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcxKIJTb3Hg&feature=related

  

:)

 

Here's one of my favorites,  "work 29 hours a day in the mill and pay the mill owner for permission to come to work"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo

Just a follow up for what its worth...   I just started using my Carstensen modified neck sizer.  WOW!.  I didn't understand Al's comment about them being smooooooooth until I started using it.  I thought my ancient RCBS cast iron single stage press was a state of the art Redding because the entire range of motion is, as Al stated, SMOOOOOOOTH!.

Thanks for tip, RG - eventually I'll have a custom die built by him as a result of this experience.  He took my lemon, and sent back a lemonade stand!