New 22BR coming! Which dies?

[Evan]

My smith found a 22 bartlein heavy varmint barrel, 7 twist, 5R rifling. He has the PTG off-the-shelf reamer with a 253 neck and 100 freebore. I went ahead and okayed it, so that's all in motion! Woohoo!

Ok so here's the question: how should I go about dies?

I saw that Redding has a FL 22br die for 50, and Forster has a 22br micrometer seater. Is this a good way to go, or is there a 6br bushing die I should look at? I need something to make and fire some pieces of brass to send to Harrels or Whidden.

 

[varget204]

The Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater is Awesome

 

[Evan]

The Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater is Awesome

I have one for my now burned out 22-250 and really like it. I don't know if the seater stem in the 22br version will work with 80 and 90 vlds. I guess I can always modify it.

 

[NorCalMikie]

You need to go in and dump the other/previous thread.

IMHO, RCBS Competition Seater Die with the side window. Saves finger tips and makes good ammo. Got them for every caliber/round I shoot except my rim fires. I'll pick them up used if I can find them then swap the guts to fit my needs. A used Comp seater die, a quick call to RCBS will get you what you need. Add an extended shell holder and there isn't any round you can't build.
And one thing to keep in mind when it comes to building ammo for the 22 BR, You don't bump the powder charge up like you do other rounds.
Maybe 1/10 th. at a time and go slow. You go 1/2 grain and you'll never find a heavy enough hammer to beat the bolt open. Go slow and enjoy the ride.
I just happen to use/prefer Forster Precision Bushing Bump Dies. Swap bushings and load just about anything. I load 20/22/6 and 6.8 BR rounds with mine and no issues. Throw in a body die when the bolt lift starts getting snug and your brass will last a loooong time. I have Lapua BR brass with 20/25 resizes, no trimming, snug primer pockets and it's still going strong. Mid range loads don't work the brass to hard and still deadly accurate. YMMV.

 

[xswanted]

I use a Redding full length bushing die and a competition seater form mine.

Works about as good as it can.

 

[ASbobcat]

My smith found a 22 bartlein heavy varmint barrel, 7 twist, 5R rifling. He has the PTG off-the-shelf reamer with a 253 neck and 100 freebore. I went ahead and okayed it, so that's all in motion! Woohoo!

Ok so here's the question: how should I go about dies?

I saw that Redding has a FL 22br die for 50, and Forster has a 22br micrometer seater. Is this a good way to go, or is there a 6br bushing die I should look at? I need something to make and fire some pieces of brass to send to Harrels or Whidden.

I would not recommend the Redding straight FL die. Like most manufacturer's F/L dies , the neck is too narrow and will overwork the brass. A bushing die is far better. Redding tech recommends against using bushing bump dies because you can't "have your cake and eat it too". If you push the shoulder back without supporting the side walls it will bulge the case just below the shoulder.
Another option is to buy a Forster FL die and send it to their custom shop to have the neck honed to your speck for $20(shipping included). I've had several done and they are very precisely finished.
I personally prefer the Redding bushing because it leaves a small portion of the neck un-resized, which acts as a gas seal at the neck shoulder junction.

Whichever you choose you will enjoy the cartridge, especially with the wide availability of high BC .22cal bullets.

 

[264win]

I have two .22 BRs made with a reamer designed for the 80gr Sierra (or lower cost Custom Competition). I use the Wilson seating die and half neck size die for routine reloading. Wilson has a readily available VLD seating stem. I have a Redding bushing full length die for case forming. The Wilson bushings are also superior to the others available. They are smoother and more likely to be just what the stamp says they are. Wilson bushings are tapered. You can turn them around and get a half of a thousandths to fine tune your neck tension. I like 1.5 thousands below bullet diameter with my HBN coated bullets.

Since the tipped Match Kings have come out, the 77gr tipped seems to work rather well and I don't have to trim the tips. I did notice that the tips melt on my 22-6.5X47 Improved (.220 Swift volume but small primer pocket) but at the lesser velocity of the .22 BR (under 3,000 fps) they hold up to 600 yards.

 

[DogBuster]

Forster & Redding

 

[Tom Blue]

Redding & Wilson seater

 

[Evan]

So for future reference, I got the Redding FL bushing die and the Forster Micrometer seater.

The Forster Micrometer seater stem appears to be fine with 88 ELDs, 90 VLDs and the other big bullets. Seats on the ogive and doesn't bottom out in the stem.

EDIT: For those interested, here is an update on the rifle:
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/my-new-22br.3981971/