Best seating depth toolIs

[BenPerfected]

Is there a seater die that is easy to adjust using the hash marks on the die? It seems to me somebody should be able to make a die that is easy to adjust and will consistently seat +/- .001 after a change in seating depth. I don't think it is Wilson or Sinclair.
Maybe Berger could challenge there tool and die makers to make a seating die that is adjustable and will seat to the same manufacturing tolerances as their 6mm 105-108 gn bullets.
Ben

 

[onelastshot]

Whoever makes the product will make a fortune!

 

[jimbires]

I'll say it's not the die . the only way it would be the die , is if you would turn the seating stem and nothing moves . unless the die is pushing on the bullet tip . there are things that affect seating depth . neck tension , differences in the bullets ogive , powder being compressed . as you add more resistance to seating the bullet , the clearances in the press linkage become a factor too .

 

[Richard Coody]

Is there a seater die that is easy to adjust using the hash marks on the die? It seems to me somebody should be able to make a die that is easy to adjust and will consistently seat +/- .001 after a change in seating depth. I don't think it is Wilson or Sinclair.
Maybe Berger could challenge there tool and die makers to make a seating die that is adjustable and will seat to the same manufacturing tolerances as their 6mm 105-108 gn bullets.
Ben

why would you say that a wilson in-line seater wouldn't. i do it all the time more accurately than +/- .001

could be the bullets you are using or the condition of your brass or your seating method

not the die

 

[Joe Salt]

21st Century's primer seater, has nice clicks to seat primers a thou. at a time. Maybe they can put that in a seater die! Maybe PMA Tools might try it.

Joe Salt

 

[mikecr]

Basic reloading doesn't require clicks & gadgets.
Wilson gets it done just fine.

 

[BenPerfected]

Basic reloading doesn't require clicks & gadgets.
Wilson gets it done just fine.

Mike,
How often do change the seating depth on your Wilson? If you have multiple guns/barrels they will each have different seating depth requirements. I have 4 Wilson seaters and it is a PITA to have to dedicate dies to each barrel. Also, what tool do you use to measure your seating depth on a loaded round?
Ben

 

[dsculley]

forster micrometer seating die

 

[Gina1]

forster micrometer seating die

+1

 

[kvd]

I'm partial to the way Wilson Seating dies function but that is personal preference. I especially like the Sinclair/Wilson collaboration with the 0.0005 inch click adjustment but these aren't made for a wide variety of rifle calibers.

The micrometer adjustable seating dies all work well. Variations in bullet ogive and CBTO measurements are the main source of the apparent inconsistencies.

Ken

 

[BenPerfected]

I'm partial to the way Wilson Seating dies function but that is personal preference. I especially like the Sinclair/Wilson collaboration with the 0.0005 inch click adjustment but these aren't made for a wide variety of rifle calibers.

The micrometer adjustable seating dies all work well. Variations in bullet ogive and CBTO measurements are the main source of the apparent inconsistencies.

Ken

You have gotten me to rethink my seating process. For recent SD testing, my process has been to seat all my bullets in advance and seat some long and then re-seat at bench. Testing today, will try "pre-seating" bullets .150-.200 long and see if this improves the consistency. Also like the comment to polish/condition the seater stem to the exact bullet.
All input is much appreciated,
Ben

 

[kvd]

Ben,

A real eye opener for me was when I started using a Bob Green Bullet Comparator. Bullet weight, overall length, and of course caliber are all fairly consistent but the point on the bullet ogive where the diameter equals the diameter of the rifling lands is not that well defined and moves around from bullet to bullet. The BGC tool is great for sorting bullets into groups with similar dimensions so that seating depth is more consist. This is the only type of bullet sorting I do anymore. Because there is such a thing as copper fouling, I do not weigh bullets. Clearly an unknown amount of the copper jacket remains in the barrel which in turn means that the exact weight of any given flying bullet must be unknown as well.

Ken

 

[jds holler]

but the point on the bullet ogive where the diameter equals the diameter of the rifling lands is not that well defined and moves around from bullet to bullet.

This has been driving me nuts also. I'm starting to believe that the way to overcome this inconsistency in bullets is to seat a little further from the lands. It seems that a .002 difference in bullet ogive would make less difference at .015 off the lands than it would at .005 off lands. jd

 

[davecb]

My Sinclair/Wilson seater is dead on every time I check it.

Dave

 

[kvd]

My Sinclair/Wilson seater is dead on every time I check it.

Mine seen to be accurate as well. Good tool if they happen to make one in your desired cartridge - a good investment.

Ken

 

[T-shooter]

My Redding Competition seater with micrometer dial will easily stay within +/- .001" if I use the same pressure on the press handle. My Lee press doesn't cam over and putting 10lbs or so of force on the handle after is bottoms out will seat the bullet .002"-.003" deeper.

 

[alb]

My Redding Competition seaters also seem to be very consistent.

 

[JRS]

The dies perform what you adjust them to do. It's your responsibility to control what the die produces.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

I have a Wilson and a Carstenson seating die for 6PPC and .30BR. They are both custom made and are both dead on every time. I'm not a klutz but I am careful about what I want and what I'm doing and I have no problem with repeatability with either die.

 

[BenPerfected]

My Sinclair/Wilson seater is dead on every time I check it.

Dave

Dave,
I agree that the Sinclair/Wilson die with .0005 adjustability is excellent. My bitch was directed at the earlier dies from both companies. Just ordered a second Sinclair/Wilson seater die.
Ben