Question about 35 Whelen Ackley Improved

[Robert]

I am waiting for my newly rebarelled 35 Whelen Ackley to arrive.  I did a search for dies and it looks like they are close to 100 bucks for a full set.  I have many other dies and have been able to re-load some other cartidges with existing dies and a little modification.  I bought a 35 Whelen expander/de-capper assembly and succesfully made a 35 Whelen from 30-06 brass, it just needs to be fireformed to the Ackley.  Can I get by with just a neck-size die, and use my 358 Winchester dies for seating?  I am open to suggestion.  I have done quite a lot of re-loading, but still do not consider myself any kind of expert.

[onesonek]

Redding Fl Dies (set) at Midway are under $60.00. I've haven't had any problems with Redding. What you are proposing may work, and may not .  I haven't tried any such method.

[BruceP]

Robert, I am in the same boat as you in that my 35 Whelen AI should be finished soon. (I hope) If by a full set of dies you are refering to the standard 2 die set you can get Redding Dies from Midway for $57.95 pluss shipping. I have also seen them somewhere else listed for about the same maybe slightly less but I cant remember where right now. It would have been either Mid-south or D&R though. I posted on this subject below in the post Reloading dies Hornady vs. Redding. You can read the replies I got there without me having to repeat them here. I am still not sure how I'm going to go with this but in my case I dont have any other dies I can use. I do have a standard 35 Whelen set that belong to a friend that I can use to load fireforming loads though. Keep me informed in what you find in your search and I'll try to do the same. maybe we can also pass load info when we get started.
BruceP

[Robert]

I will certainly swap notes with you.
  Another question.....I am not familiar with neck-size dies.  Can I use the neck-size set alone if I am only using ammo in one rifle? Can they be adjusted to bump the shoulder back if necessary?.....will this ever BE necessary?

[onesonek]

Yes, No, Not likely, But  I would chamber each finished round, making sure they chamber OK
PS. is this a bolt action? Personally I prefer not to neck size hunting rounds in a single shot. Also remember, you can set FL dies so you are essentually neck sizing.

[Robert]

I am just trying to learn here, but I dont understand....for instance, 30-06 when running it into the die, it seems like the case is contacting the walls of the die less than halfway through the stroke, yet the part of the die that sizes the neck is all the way at the top.  The best I can understand is that neck-sizing shouldn't be forming the chamber area but only the neck.  What do I do?  Just back it off 1/4 inch or so?

[onesonek]

About two turns to start, but I'll get back to you, as your ?'s require some explaining. And I'm aliitle short on time this morning. But don't hesitate in asking, we're here to help and learn

[Robert]

This morning I called Graf's and ordered the Redding Deluxe set and 100 brass.  Thanks for the help, I decided to do it right, or it would always bug me.