Wilson seater die will it survive a rubber mallet?

[Shawnba67]

I have a membership to a club with a 100 yd range and when I do load development I usually pick a seating depth and go do an OCW test then go home and come back for a seating depth test. I was thinking if I could seat bullets at the range I could save a good deal of time developing loads Would the Wilson arbor press style seater die stand up to the repeated "walloping" of a rubber mallet? So that I could seat bullets at different test depths the range? Or would a cheap single stage press be a much better option? Thank you

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Even with a hammer, it takes a soft touch. Too much, and the inertia of the bullet can cause the seating depth to go deeper than intended.

 

[dkhunt14]

Why just not take your arbor press to the range? Matt

 

[LHSmith]

L.E. Wilson addresses that question in their FAQ. I doubt you will get as consistent seat depths as if using an arbor press. A simple homemade press can easily be made ....or find a press attachment where you mount a standard pistol grip drill to convert to a drill press.

 

[JakeGraves]

Use an arbor press or get a small vice with soft jaws or wooden blocks to seat.

 

[6MMsteve]

wood can be used in a pinch

 

[MarkS]

I have a membership to a club with a 100 yd range and when I do load development I usually pick a seating depth and go do an OCW test then go home and come back for a seating depth test. I was thinking if I could seat bullets at the range I could save a good deal of time developing loads Would the Wilson arbor press style seater die stand up to the repeated "walloping" of a rubber mallet? So that I could seat bullets at different test depths the range? Or would a cheap single stage press be a much better option? Thank you

I do all for load development at the range. I use a arbor press, but a hammer or just hand pressure will work. Get a arbor press!

Mark

 

[Shynloco]

Why just not take your arbor press to the range? Matt

That's the best thing to do......Or set your neck tension to less than .002 and use your hands to seat and be sure anneal your brass that'll make that process easy.

Alex

 

[joshb]

Ok. I'll admit that I used a rubber mallet. New gun with dies and I really wanted to shoot it. "Leaning" on the die hurt my hand after 20 rounds so I got out my mallet. I finally realized my foolishness and put up a post for a used arbor press. (Yes, I can squeeze a nickel till it screams) I had three offers in as many hours.

 

[Shawnba67]

So since I was going to have to buy a Wilson die but know I will need a press also I'm thinking that a single stage press($40lee)and the die I already have might be a more cost effective option are the Wilson dies $60 better than a standard seating die? (Wilson die $50,harbor freight press $60. Vs $40 lee press )

 

[snakepit]

Would the Wilson arbor press style seater die stand up to the repeated "walloping" of a rubber mallet?

I have several Sinclair/Wilson Bullet Seaters and they work great but are not cheap. I couldn't imagine not using a Arbor Press and instead "walloping" them with a rubber mallet to save a few dollars.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I have a membership to a club with a 100 yd range and when I do load development I usually pick a seating depth and go do an OCW test then go home and come back for a seating depth test. I was thinking if I could seat bullets at the range I could save a good deal of time developing loads Would the Wilson arbor press style seater die stand up to the repeated "walloping" of a rubber mallet? So that I could seat bullets at different test depths the range? Or would a cheap single stage press be a much better option? Thank you

Take your O press (Rockchuker ?) with you to the range mounted on a board or set up in your trunk/truck/Suv, should work using the ram without a shell holder or die installed. I use a drill press at home.

 

[LHSmith]

When seating bullets for accuracy, there are two functions that one must control to a high degree of consistency- 1/ maintain base of case to bullet o-give with repeatable precision and 2/ maintain the same "felt" resistance of the bullet as it seats in the neck on all loaded rounds. That is why in-line seaters are favorable for competition- with the proper press (i.e. low mechanical advantage) case neck prep, and user technique it gives the reloader a much better feel of this resistance.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I would strongly suggest just getting an Arbor Press. There is no other way, IMHO, to seat bullets to within .001" or less any other way...

 

[dkhunt14]

A Wilson die with a micrometer top is so easy to adjust for different seating depths. I like to feel my bullets seating. When you get one that seats harder or easier, they won't shoot the same as the rest. Matt