What is the Best 308 resizing die?

[1006]

All previously made good points aside:

I would keep your accuracy reload brass segregated from one gun to another.

Once the case webbing gets blown out - between the primer and powder, it is very hard to resize. Anytime you get that shiny ring above the base, be aware that case head separation is next. Some brass is more prone to resize problems. I understand small base dies could be beneficial in some instances, but you should not need them if everything is correct: chamber size, quality brass, ect. Weather for pistols or ARs, small base dies were invented to compensate for blown out brass being reused-not good from a safety perspective.

I will refrain from ranting further. Just be careful of overworking brass.

 

[BHPSteel]

All previously made good points aside:

I would keep your accuracy reload brass segregated from one gun to another.

Once the case webbing gets blown out - between the primer and powder, it is very hard to resize. Anytime you get that shiny ring above the base, be aware that case head separation is next. Some brass is more prone to resize problems. I understand small base dies could be beneficial in some instances, but you should not need them is everything is correct: chamber size, quality brass, ect. Weather for pistols or ARs, small base dies were invented to compensate for blown out brass being reused-not good from a safety perspective.

I will refrain from ranting further. Just be careful of overworking brass.

Rant? Valid points.

There's ONE use case for small base dies, I think - and that's making sure your ammo will chamber reliably in all of your guns, especially semi-automatics. But you're right that they really work the brass and you should plan for that brass to have a much shorter life.

 

[Rambler]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I move the resizing die to a single stage press and are using a Lee shell holder. The die is still not reaching the bottom of the case, but the resizing seems to be more consistent case to case. I will be borrowing a different set of dies from a friend of mine. I will keep y'all updated.

 

[Nuke And Juke]

If you run a 550, I would use 2 dies:
1) Universal decapping
2) Hornady without the spindle

Keeping these two seperately has saved me a ton of headache while resizing rifle brass

 

[jas4u]

I have the same issue on my resized 308 cases. I have used lee, rcbs FL and SB dies, and redding but same results. In the end, I just ignored it since it chambers on my cheap AR10 and Marlin XS7.

 

[YOTESHOOTER]

RCBS, small base, full length, RCBS BLACK BOX DIES, expensive however they are well worth the money...

 

[jas4u]

Ok, after trying to figure out last night, here's what I found out, the decapping rod is causing it.
1st test, with decapping rod, I get about 1mm base outside the case gauge. Removing the decapping rod, the case base is now flush on the case gauge. Putting the rod back in, same 1mm base/rim is protuding tye case gauge.
My suspicion is the rod is bumping the shoulder back when it is removed from the case.