SmallCaliberCentral

I'm not knocking any other equipment.... You don't indicate what equipment you are using on your bench, so I can only go from my experience... I bought a Forster C0-Ax press and sets of Forster Benchrest dies and have never looked back...

I do use some RCBS and Redding neck sizing dies for my bolt actions, but most of my .204 shooting is done with an AR, so FL sizing is a must.....I think the higher quality of dies you can use will produce better results in neck sizing/tension as well as solving concentricity problems..The real key is getting the dies adjusted properly..

I agree with staying with a single stage press... I have a progressive that I use strictly for my practice handgun ammo, but even then, if I'm after quality loads for accuracy, I'll work those up on my single stage press...

Keith in Ga wrote:I bought a set of the Hornady dies a while back..........didn't care for them. REALLY worked the necks too much. I've since bought a set of Redding bushing dies, and they work much better. I've also had better luck with Blitzkings than v-max in my guns.

I agree, I have the 204 hornady dies and they doindeed work the necks very hard.

I've been using Hornady custom grade dies for my 204 and I'm getting too much runout. I've tried everything from how I prep my brass to readjusting my dies. I've decided after way too much time at my bench that it has to be the dies. So I "bit the bullet" and ordered Redding Competition Bushing 3 die Neck set. I measured my necks and ordered a bushing. If this doesnt work I'll throw my AR out.

As for bullets I loaded 39g BKs and they did the same things as the 40g Vmax. When I shoot a 5 shot group I'll have 3 holes at 3/8ths of an inch or so then the other 2 are spread out to make the group an inch or larger. I think my barrell may stabilize the 40grainers if I can get rid of runout. If I do the "roll test" on a table I can see about 1 out of 3 wobble slightly. I will be shooting the 39ers some more to compare when I get my new dies.