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Anyone using the Frankford Arsenal universal seating die set?

cavedweller60

I searched back a bit to see if you folks are using this system and there hasn't been a lot said, good or bad. So, are you using it, do you like it and, is it something you would recommend?

www.midwayusa.com

Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die

The Universal Bullet Seating Die works with .224 to .338 caliber bullets. Featuring a cutout window die body, the Universal Bullet Seating Die holds the...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
NMUltra said:
I bought one from urbanrifleman, haven't loaded too many rounds yet, good so far. I like just dropping a bullet into the top and not fumbling trying to keep it in case neck.
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A buddy showed me his RCBS version earlier today and he makes some tremendous ammo with it. I looked and the dies I need are out of stock in the RCBS versions but I saw this. Thanks for the input.
 
NMUltra said:
More input:

Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die Users

Anyone use the Frankford Arsenal Universal Seating Die system? I have an RCBS Rock Chucker. Looks like it would be helpful in more accurately adjusting seating depth.
forum.accurateshooter.com
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I read that but, if you look at the comments, it is mostly people saying it worked fine while they are / were waiting for their custom dies. There is only one comment from someone that was a regular user that I saw and, that post was two years ago.

I am hoping for some responses from people that have more than a temporary usage a few years ago, point of view. Let me clarify, are there folks here that have used the dies regularly and, more or less, as their main seating tool?
 
I have the RCBS equivalent. At the time I got invested into to RCBS seater, they would not allow you to buy just the sleeves and stems for other calibers. They wanted you to buy a whold new set for additional calibers.

The die body itself is interchangeable. It's just the seating stem and sleeve that need changed.

So I had a machinist friend of mine make me some custom ones. They work great but he put a lot of time into them.

Had this Frankford seater been available at that time, I would have just went that route instead of the RCBS
 
I have several comp bullet seaters 2 of which are the FA unit and the RCBS comp seater. The FA seater loads me straighter ammo than the RCBS die and also with less CBTO variation. Had I known this in the beginning I would have only purchased the FA die. JME
 
I've been using one for 4-5 months. They supply 3 VLD seating stems for use with different bullets. Let me see if I can write what I am thinking...Each stem is for use with different bullets. However, the range of the stems overlap, and it was a bit tricky for me at first. I failed to notice that the stem measurements overlap, and I got the stem stuck, and I couldn't remove it. I called the company and they sent me a complete new kit. Now that I am used to it, it is finer than a frog's hair. Every once in a while, I try to put the bullet on the case instead of dropping it into the slot. Old habits! Not a bad purchase, I would buy again.
 
I bought one a few months back and like said earlier, it’s nice to be able to just drop the bullet through small window and the die does the alignment. But, the problem I had with it was coming from my .224 bullets, especially the VLD, long ogive bullets. I was loading for a 22 creedmoor and due to its case length, I had to use the “medium” length stem. The end of the stem that actually contacts the bullet is obviously a little larger than the longer stem, and this would cause the tip of the bullet to stick in the stem. It started out as a pop in the die as I retracted the ram, but eventually got bad enough that it would pull the bullet out just enough to make it frustrating as hell trying to get my seating depth consistent. I reached out to Frankford Arsenal and their reply was they wanted pictures of everything and a video of it doing what I was claiming. I didn’t have time to mess with all that, so I just bought a Forester die for the 22 Creedmoor. But on a lighter side, it worked great with my larger calibers.
 
Killing Time said:
...The end of the stem that actually contacts the bullet is obviously a little larger than the longer stem, and this would cause the tip of the bullet to stick in the stem. It started out as a pop in the die as I retracted the ram, but eventually got bad enough that it would pull the bullet out just enough to make it frustrating as hell trying to get my seating depth consistent...
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I've been hearing a click, especially when loading 22BR ELD-VT rounds. My CTBO is staying consistent so far. Interesting they want video.
 
Just used my FA seater last night loading up 6.5CM with VLD`s.

I find when i turn it one notch, it gives me a perfect one thousandth movement every time. I no longer have any of my RCBS or Redding competition bullet seaters, the FA works better and it is more consistent, for me. When loading those real tall skinny VLD bullets, make sure the tip is headed into the seater stem squarely. I find that once in awhile, one might tip a little bit away from going up into the seating stem. It`s usually not a problem all the time, but just something to be aware of with certain type bullets.

Would i recommend it, or buy the FA bullet seater again, h.e.l.l. yes.
 
I have been using Vickerman dies for quite a few years. The FA dies are an inexpensive copy of the Vickerman. I have better results setting the seating depth with the Vickerman, than the Redding or other dies. The port in the side make it very easy to seat small caliber bullets like 17, 20 or 22. The dies are caliber specific, not case specific a 22 die will load from 22 Hornet to 22 Swift. The case holder in the ram of the press may vary. The Vickerman is a true American quality item (he was a great gunsmith here where I live) and now handled by Nosler, according to a post here on Accurate Shooter.
 
Kittitas George said:
I have been using Vickerman dies for quite a few years. The FA dies are an inexpensive copy of the Vickerman. I have better results setting the seating depth with the Vickerman, than the Redding or other dies. The port in the side make it very easy to seat small caliber bullets like 17, 20 or 22. The dies are caliber specific, not case specific a 22 die will load from 22 Hornet to 22 Swift. The case holder in the ram of the press may vary. The Vickerman is a true American quality item (he was a great gunsmith here where I live) and now handled by Nosler, according to a post here on Accurate Shooter.
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Never tried the FA but Vickerman is ALL use. Started when I first got a 17 caliber and never looked back
Safe shooting
Doug
 
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