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Feel a bit dim asking but I have a set of Redding Competition dies with the micrometer. I've loaded 100 .308 and I'm about to start my second batch. I'm comfortable with using the dies but I made the mistake of downloading some new instructions from the Redding web site. They talk about backing off varying amounts for various settings and I found myself struggling to understand what the scales on the die actually meant; presumably units of inches but which? Can anyone advise? Thanks.

If they are the Redding micrometer dies then each horizontal graduation on the scale of the thimble (Part you turn) is .001" or one thousandth of an inch. So seat the bullet high, remove and check the overall length and then adjust down accordingly. I tend to get the seated bullet close to my required OAL and then seat a set of bullets to confirm the measurement is correct across the set and then seat each one down a couple of thou more until I have the desired OAL. You will get a more accurate measurement if you measure from the Ogive as opposed to the Meplat.

ovenpaa wrote: You will get a more accurate measurement if you measure from the Ogive as opposed to the Meplat.

For which I will use my top quality Shooting Shed ogive gauge!! Thanks for the help; appreciate it.

W