Posted by Alex on February 14, 1999 at 09:46:37:
In Reply to: Lee "Deluxe" set w/ Full Length Sizer, Collet, and Seater! posted by ALEX on February 14, 1999 at 06:37:58:
Chip: I also have a Redding "Deluxe" set. One at my office (when things get slow, I do some brass forming and prep), which are very good. I just like the feature of the Lee Collet neck sizing die that doesn't require lube, and my look at the geometry of it indicates that it is the best way to neck size only. Would love to be able to get a set in 17M4.
The Redding seating die is nicer than the Lee, but if you are after the best of all worlds, the Wilson seating die with the Sinclair micrometer head allows you to adjust your depth precisely and repeatably. You can do it with the Redding, and in fact, I don't really think there is any significant difference in the runout. A lot depends on your press. If Forster made their benchrest seater die in the "ultra" model with the micrometer head, I would definitely recommend one of them. Without the micrometer head, it is still very good, better than the Lee or the Redding.
By all means avoid the Hornady 17 Rem dies. In fact, if you would like, I have a sizer and seater (New Dimension) with the Micrometer for the seater that I will let you have for the Midway price of the Micrometer (18 bux, I think). They are junk!!! I had a set of the Hornady dies for my 22-250 with the micro for the seater, and thought it worked really well. Have only loaded 50 rounds with them, and will load no more. The rounds loaded turned a rifle that shot half moa into one that wouldn't shoot moa. I thought all dies were the same....WRONG!!!
When I started out with the 17 Remington, Todd Kindler advized me to get the Redding FL sizer and the Wilson seater. He likes to partially FL size each time, setting the FL die so it moves the neck back 0.001", only. Says that makes sure your brass is always the same, but not worked too much, and the rest of the case is fireformed to your chamber. I've had such good luck with the Lee collet dies I will continue with them. Maybe I'm missing something.
Alex