Redding 73 Style Steel Neck Sizing Bushing .243 Diameter (73243)

Description

This is the .243 diameter bushing from Redding's 73 series of heat-treated steel neck sizing bushings. It's a small but important piece of the precision reloading puzzle, letting you control exactly how much your case necks get sized down and how much tension holds onto your bullet. Instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all die with an expander ball doing all the work, you pick the bushing that matches your brass and bullet combo. That means less working of the brass, longer case life, and the kind of consistency that shows up on paper.

The bushing is machined from heat-treated steel and the sizing diameter is hand polished to a surface hardness of Rc 60-62, which keeps sizing effort low and the finish slick. It carries the standard 1/2 inch outside diameter by 3/8 inch length that Redding uses across the line, so it interchanges freely in any Redding bushing-style neck or full-length sizing die. These dimensions also match the Wilson-style bushing pattern, giving you flexibility if you run dies from other makers. Each one is clearly marked with its size ID so you always know what's loaded in your die.

How to Size Your .243 Steel Bushing

Picking the right bushing is simple once you measure. Take a loaded round and measure the outside diameter of the case neck with a good micrometer, then subtract about .001 to .002 inches to account for brass spring-back and to set your bullet tension. If you'd rather work from the components, measure your case neck wall thickness, double it, and add the bullet diameter, then subtract the same .001 to .002. That number tells you which bushing to run, and this .243 covers that spot in the range.

Why the 73 Series Earns Bench Space

Because the bushing is free-floating, it self-centers on the case neck as the brass enters the die. That self-centering action is a big part of why handloaders chase bushing dies in the first place, since it helps concentricity and keeps runout down. For anyone building match or hunting loads who wants to fine-tune neck tension in .001 inch steps, these Redding bushings are a proven, made-in-the-USA standard.