SmallCaliberCentral

Hello,

I'm new on here but have been reading up on everything on this site for months.

I've been reloading .22-250 and .243 for a little while, new to .204 Ruger.

What dies are you guys using? I usually use Lee Dies with my Lee Challenger Press but cannot get them for .204 Ruger...?

What case length gauges do you use? Lee does not make one more .204, how do you measure and trim your cases?

Just bought a M77 Hawkeye in .204, now I am having trouble finding dies......

Thanks for your help
Greg

Greg,
I am also new here but am learning as I go. I have found that the consensus for the loading die question seems to be Redding dies. Of course I found this out right after I bought RCBS dies. I am looking to get a set of competition dies next week. As for the case length gauge I cannot help you there I have not posted that question yet to know the answer. I did just post the question one the dies. I was more interested in if it was worth using the competition dies or not. Hope this helps at least a little.
Dar

Greg, first off welcome to the forum! As to which dies, Dar is correct when he told you that Redding seem to be the way to go. Have fun and keep posting. And by the way we love pictures around here. Gary

I went with the Forster dies for my 204 and am very happy with them. I favor Forster and Redding dies. You can use a caliper to measure your lengths. The Nosler reloading manual has 1.850 inches for a case length. Welcome to the site, great bunch of shooting fanatics lurking around here.

Redding, Forster, & Hornady (in that order).

If I had the ultimate die...it would be manufactured on Redding's equipment, with blank dies from Forster, and uses a Hornady expander/decapper.

You can add the micrometer adjustment to Hornady's dies for $15-18.

For sizing I went with a Redding Type S Full Bushing Die (.225 bushing). I set it so it sizes about 75% of the neck and just bumps the shoulder for easy chambering. For seating I use the Forster Bench Rest Seater. Uniformity is excellent with this system. Another option that i use for .223 is a Redding Body Die and a Lee Collet Neck Die. Once i figured out the Collet die in a RCBS press uniformity is as good as the Redding/Forster combo. Or you could go full out Redding Type S die sets. I did not have much luck with standard die sets. Good luck!

I use a Lee neck sizing die and a foster micrometer seating die and it produces ammo in the very low .3`s.

I'm a LEE fan and thats what I use for all.........

I like Redding but Forester has worked real good for me too. They're just harder to find on the shelf.

Jim

I use Hornady dies.......No Problems.

I used the Lee Die set and had major problems. The collet die I still use for neck sizing and de-priming. I use a Redding Competition Die for bullet seating now, and it is amazing. The numbers are easy to use, and precise!