Ian.
I've tried a number of approaches with the Redding 'S' type full length resizing die and bought a lot of bushings. Resized with both the expander ball removed and the expander ball in place. Also expanded with a standalone mandrel.
My current practice is just to use a Forster full length resizing die. One operation, little thought and good results. Also have ditched the Remington brass and focus on Lapua, Nosler and Norma brass as appropriate for the calibres I'm shooting.
Regards
JCS
Hi JCS -
I use Lee FL & collet neck sizer dies for all the chamberings I have & usually currently do a simple FL single op sizing, not bothering with the neck sizing at the moment due to rifle swaps & a re-barrelling currently ongoing.
This way I know that I won't have any chambering problems.
Nowadays all my rifles have good tight minimum tolerance chamber dimensions & they don't allow much permanent case deformation, so FL sizing doesn't move the metal too much.
I also have a 223 RCBS FL sizer to play with, & can't measure any improvement over the Lee option in use.
I see no need to go to the expense of expensive dies with expensive bushings - certainly as all my rifles are shooting well enough as they are.
I get adequate case life as I anneal after every couple of re-size cycles. Set up right the dies produce perfectly adequate quality ammo for my requirements.
I use various makes of case & have not yet proved to myself with clear evidence that one is truly better than another. - I think that the annealing really helps in this direction.
I think that the die mandrel size & surface finish quality is the real key & also the cleanliness of the case neck inside diameter a close second. --- The stainless wet pin polishing really helps to optimize this. - Dirty, oxydized or fouled surfaces in the necks is not going to help with either consistency or mandrel life so I always wet polish every loading.
Ian