Micrometer Seating dies

[FeMan]

Another vote for Forester. Love the BIG turret that I can actually read. I have a couple Whiddens and like them for the same reason.

 

[FeMan]

I use custom bullets, Micron seating dies and AMP press and there's hardly any variation B to O, recently loaded 200 rounds for a match and found two or three rounds where B to O was off by .001"
So if uniformity and precision is what you're looking for a quality components and tools are critical IMO

I can say that I am jealous! I often fight the CBTO spread and rarely have results that uniform.

I would bet though that little if any of that success is due to the dies. I would guess it is attributable more to custom bullets with very consistent ogive, great brass prep, and a consistent hand on the press.

 

[Chris Edmondson]

and no set screws of any kind to introduce runout

I'm guessing the set screws you mention refer to the Sinclair (LE Wilson) die since it does use a set screw to keep the seating stem in it's set position. Since I use their seating dies, I'm curious why you feel that set screw might, or will induce runout?

Thank you.

 

[quest450]

Both the Sinclair and 21st Century seater are using set screws that could knock the seating stem off kilter, switching to a tight tolerance and beefy stem in the Micron seater greatly reduced bullet runout and B to O variation in my handloads

 

[Pete Wass]

I use custom bullets, Micron seating dies and AMP press and there's hardly any variation B to O, recently loaded 200 rounds for a match and found two or three rounds where B to O was off by .001"
So if uniformity and precision is what you're looking for a quality components and tools are critical IMO

What are you using to measure with?

 

[Pete Wass]

Years ago I did a test, comparing 6PPC loaded round straightness produced by a Hornady seater, and a Wilson. The cases had the same runout. The runout for the Hornady round was twice that of the Wilson. Admittedly this was the smallest possible sample, but I was familiar with what my usual results were for the Wilson. The most finely fitted seater that I own is one made by Don Nielson, it fits much more closely than any other, and is specific to a .262 neck 6PPC chamber. Since no micrometer is available for it, I learned to adjust it by the overall length of the stem and cap. Since then, for arbor press dies, that is my preferred method of adjustment.

I thought it interesting in the interview Erik Cortina did with Jeff Pinehardt in which Pinehardt said he had never ben able to see any relevance to straight ammo vs not straight and thought it a waste of time being concerned about it.

 

[quest450]

What are you using to measure with?

Accuracy One gauge, it’s a comparator it eliminates human error

 

[padom]

Accuracy One gauge, it’s a comparator it eliminates human error

View attachment 1678160

I have the same thing along with their shoulder garage and bullet length gauge

 

[quest450]

I have the same thing along with their shoulder garage and bullet length gauge

I love the bullet length gauge, actually I’m using it right now to sort couple thousands of Wheeler’s KHP 103 for upcoming matches

 

[muleystalker]

If you want a threaded seating die Short Action Customs make a very nice one, it comes with a Mitutoyo Dial on top and the die is modular within the parent case parameters. It comes with different size seating stems. So say in a die made for .480 cases you can do all BR .22,6mm,25,30. or all BRX and Dasher, 6.5x47 and all caliber sizes. all Creedmoor, Gt family, 308 family all off this one die. They are made very well. Mine have worked great. https://shortactioncustoms.com/product/the-seating-die/

 

[muleystalker]

I'm guessing the set screws you mention refer to the Sinclair (LE Wilson) die since it does use a set screw to keep the seating stem in it's set position. Since I use their seating dies, I'm curious why you feel that set screw might, or will induce runout?

Thank you.

The seating stem in the Sinclair die is hand fit to the bore of the die and so tight I doubt the set screw could affect anything. Also you could leave the screw out.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I'll vote for the Redding Competition Seating Die. I have one for every caliber I reload, even the 45 acp.

 

[dthomas]

I do like the sac also seating die. One die does just about every cartridge just use a different base for each cartridge family. It's not cheap and each base is about $50.

 

[209jones]

Mostly depends on what you really want to accomplish, what your OCD level is, and whether you can shoot the measured/percieved difference, and what you are willing to spend. I'm content with mostly Forster, have Redding and RCBS too. Forster are pretty nice and easy to read, I like the bullet window on RCBS too. RCBS may have improved over the years, one I have is 1st version, about 35 yrs old, new one has a new head on it, may be easier to read. Not that I find any of them hard to read. Rseults seem to be about te same on them +/- about .001 is what I've been getting for the most part, occasional .002 or 3 here and there, I usually blame that on the brass. Consider the tooling these companies have these days, they have to have an operator screw up pretty bad. Not sure what you are really paying for with some of the higher priced stuff these days, and if whatever extra finishing they do is really worth the loot. Wind has way more influence.

 

[quest450]

reading comprehension is important

let me quote the OP from first post in this thread



"Who makes the best micrometer seating dies ?"

thanks,

Pete

 

[ELR LVR]

Neil Jones is pretty nice
But the Redding Comp Dies seem to perform just as well and equal to Forster
I usually don't get more than .001" runout on the Reddings if all else is good

 

[ArtinNC]

My vote is for seating die is one that LVLAaron made for me with my chamber reamer and a Wilson micrometer seater cap .