Neck sizing/ x die

[Norwest Alta]

I'm looking to obtain a 338 rum neck sizing die but I'm curious if any 338 neck die will work? Would a x die be better?

[Salavee]

Have a look at the Lee collet dies. They work great and are not expensive

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by Salavee

Have a look at the Lee collet dies. They work great and are not expensive

Just curious if a 338wm neck size will neck size a 338 rum? Also has anyone tried out these X dies?
I'll have a look at these collet dies as well. 338 rum brass is hard to find and I'd like to make it last as long as possible so I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this.

Thanks

[skidderman]

After several years of lurking I finally bought the lee collet dies for my 300 wsm. I can't believe I didn't do that years ago. I have only done a few brass and after using it I found the neck tension to be very consistent. For 50 bucks it might be one of my better decisions for reloading. I've read some that inconsistent neck tension can cause flyers so want to take that potential cause away.

[gitrdun]

The collet dies are a great invention. I have a few myself. Do keep an eye on your brass growth though as you may have to slightly bump the shoulder back with a FL die after several firings.

What is an X die Norwest Alta?

[Norwest Alta]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

The collet dies are a great invention. I have a few myself. Do keep an eye on your brass growth though as you may have to slightly bump the shoulder back with a FL die after several firings.

What is an X die Norwest Alta?

Made by rcbs. By what I gather is you trim your .020 brass shorter then trim length. Somehow you never have to trim again. I assume that it works the stretched brass back into itself. I might also be talking out of my ass and not fully understanding it myself.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Norwest Alta

Made by rcbs. By what I gather is you trim your .020 brass shorter then trim length. Somehow you never have to trim again. I assume that it works the stretched brass back into itself. I might also be talking out of my ass and not fully understanding it myself.

Haven't seen those around for a while!
Never used one, just saw them advertised
Cat

[gitrdun]

Originally Posted by Norwest Alta

Made by rcbs. By what I gather is you trim your .020 brass shorter then trim length. Somehow you never have to trim again. I assume that it works the stretched brass back into itself. I might also be talking out of my ass and not fully understanding it myself.

Ahhh! I see says the blind man thanks for the info.

[Norwest Alta]

I'll look for one of these collet dies. Thanks.

[gitrdun]

Lee is the only one that makes collet dies. They do have one for a 338 WM but not for 338 RUM. I don't know if it will work even though the shoulder angle is the same. Best to contact Lee and ask.

http://leeprecision.com/collet-neck-...-complete.html

[qwert]

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Lee is the only one that makes collet dies. They do have one for a 338 WM but not for 338 RUM. I don't know if it will work even though the shoulder angle is the same. Best to contact Lee and ask.

http://leeprecision.com/collet-neck-...-complete.html

Lee has (at last) introduced a 338LM Collet Neck die and set in a large series 1 1/4x12 thread.
Lee will make custom sizes for cartridges not in normal production, but they have a large surcharge for Canadian sales.
I plan to order some Lee custom dies from FSreloading as (AFAIK) they do not levy a surcharge for Canadian orders.

IMHO, the best cost/performance die set is a Lee Collet Neck 2 die set (with DL seater) combined with a Redding FL body die and Competition Shell Holder set.

Good Luck, YMMV.

[Norwest Alta]

I'll investigate further. Thanks guys.

[Dean2]

If you buy a bushing die you can neck size many different 338 cartridges. You get a 338 Norma Mag and you can do, 338 Win, 338 Lapua or 338 RUM. Just adjust the height of the die so you neck size as much of the shoulder as you want to. The neck die isn't designed to bump the shoulder so shoulder angle is not critical. The 308 Norma is big enough around at the shoulder that all the others will fit into it, you could even do 338-06.

[qwert]

Originally Posted by Dean2

If you buy a bushing die you can neck size many different 338 cartridges. You get a 338 Norma Mag and you can do, 338 Win, 338 Lapua or 338 RUM. Just adjust the height of the die so you neck size as much of the shoulder as you want to. The neck die isn't designed to bump the shoulder so shoulder angle is not critical. The 308 Norma is big enough around at the shoulder that all the others will fit into it, you could even do 338-06.

Hornady makes a series of universal neck dies with nicely teardrop shaped internal expanders. They have all the problems of standard FL internal expander dies without the benefit of positive case guidance. AFAIK the only neck dies with positive case guidance are the Redding Competition (not Type S) Neck Bushing dies.

I submit that there is little or no benefit from neck only sizing using any die with an internal expander, as compared with partial sizing using a properly adjusted FL die.
The Lee Collet die functions quite differently, and can produce very concentric case necks due to the center mandrel which can 'float' slightly, and there is no expander to pull the neck out of concentricity. I submit that they do not tend to overwork or harden thin sections of the neck wall, and may even push brass from thick to thin areas of wall, (and I suspect will extend case life by reducing longitudinal cracking of the work hardened case neck). They do not create (and may help to remove) the internal donuts (that can form at the shoulder to neck junction) using neck bushings with no internal expander.

Good Luck, YMMV.