RCBS gold metal match vs competion dies

[gau17]

What's the difference and is it worth getting the Gold Metal Match?

[BigJakeJ1s]

IMHO, only if you are getting it for a short (308 class or shorter) cartridge, for which the Competition seater requires an extended shell holder, but the Gold Medal seater does not.

IINM, the GM sizing die has a raised expander ball, similar to Forster sizing dies. Upon retracting the case from the die, the expander enters the bottom of the neck while the top of the neck is still held centered in the neck portion of the die.

Andy

[Suwannee Tim]

Originally Posted by BigJakeJ1s

the GM sizing die has a raised expander ball, similar to Forster sizing dies. Upon retracting the case from the die, the expander enters the bottom of the neck while the top of the neck is still held centered in the neck portion of the die.

Andy

Not so! The RCBS die has a "raised" expander ball. Raised about a quarter inch above the standard die. Not nearly as high as the Forster dies which has the expander near the neck of the die. The advantage of the raised expander ball on the Forster is the leverage available to pull the ball through the neck. With the ball high, the leverage is high and it makes for smoother and easier sizing. The claims that it improves accuracy I cannot comment on.