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Best setup for seating bullets at the range?

What do those that seat bullets at the range to test seating depth use? All the arbor press stuff is foreign to me.

Just looking to see what others are using these days. I figure I could seat some long and then fine tune at the range and obtain immediate results/data.
 
What do those that seat bullets at the range to test seating depth use? All the arbor press stuff is foreign to me.

Just looking to see what others are using these days. I figure I could seat some long and then fine tune at the range and obtain immediate results/data.
If you want to keep it simple, and inexpensive, bolt a press to a piece of plywood, use your regular threaded seating dies. All you need is a pair of C clamps and some sort of table or shooting bench to clamp your press to. Unless your range is busy on the day that you test, you can probably clamp it to the bench next to the one you are shooting on, or to the other side of the one that you are shooting from, if it is.
 
I do as RegionRat mentioned.
Any arbor press & Wilson inline die.

Or if you press esily demounts, then do as Allen B. suggested.
 
What do those that seat bullets at the range to test seating depth use? All the arbor press stuff is foreign to me.

Just looking to see what others are using these days. I figure I could seat some long and then fine tune at the range and obtain immediate results/data.
JL -

While I have a portable arbor press, I have probably used a Lee hand press along w/
a ( Hornady ) micrometer top seating die most often.

Loaded cartridge " runout ' has not been an issue ( for me, my loads).

Pics show:
- My wildcat " DEEP 6 " w/ Sierra 95 T-MK seated

- Hornady " Custom Grade New Dimension " seater die in-use in a Lee Hand Press, along w/ a Lyman X2 shell holder. The Hornady seater features a case holder " sleeve " that interfaces w/ the shoulder of the case/cartridge. " Micro-just " seater top not shown.


With regards,
357Mag
 

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Lee single stage mounted on a short section of 2x 8 clamped to the bench with a Franklin Armory Universal seating die mostly. I also have a Sinclair with 260 Rem, 6BR and .30 Grendel dies but find the Lee/Franklin setup works better for me
 
Agree with LHsmith 100% on using Wilson arbor dies at the range. If you don't have an arbor press you can use a plastic mallet to gently tap the top of the seating die after you have adjusted the depth. Hypothetically if you forget your arbor press at home & have everything else with, field expedient modification is in order... Sharing for a friend:)
Al
 
I like Redding dies. I find them to be very accurate.

However, I do not rely on the cam over of the press linkage to determine the highest point that the bullet achieves in the die.

I set the die up to where the shell holder seats firmly against the die body, setting the depth with the stem.
 
The advantage of seating with an arbor press is you can feel the amount of resistance as the bullet enters the case. There is an initial learning curve with this - especially in how you grasp the handle. I find "choking up" on the handle lessens the mechanical advantage and gives a better feel on the seating pressure. A press specifically made for reloading usually provides the best sensitivity. The K&M with the force measurement gives you the added benefit of the gauge reading the force which may be redundant once you become adept at "reading" the seating force by feel.
My early days in BR I used a Lyman Tong tool with a neck sizing die and a Wilson seater. These days I still use the Wilson seater and the same Sinclair Arbor press and the Tong tool is now just an artifact along with the Harrells powder measure.
 
For cartridges that I don’t have a Wilson arbor press die, I use this cheap Lee press clamped to the bench. I’ve never detected any difference in accuracy when seating with this set up even if it is a little crude.

94F4CF96-27D0-4BDA-A7BA-C3D44900A61F.jpeg
 
I use a Forester die / Redding... for testing at the range I use an RCBS partner press.
accessories
- 6" C clamp.. to attach to what ever table, or structure I can find
- Calipers
- Favourite depth checker
- Pen and notebook

Trevor
 
Is there standardization of dies that fit in an arbor press? Just called arbor dies?

They are sometimes referred to as hand dies.

 
Is there standardization of dies that fit in an arbor press? Just called arbor dies?
The Wilson style seater over all length depends on the caliber and the bullet, but those are no problem for typical designs.

When you use something like the K&M I showed in the photo above, that whole blue toggle body is adjusted up and down as required.

Sinclair and a few other outfits also made their copy of the Wilson style seater die, so if you look around you will find alternatives.

I've got some miles on my odometer and have seen lots of folks at BR matches over the last 40 - 50 years or so. If you go to a well attended club match and walk around, you will learn a lot just by walking around and watching.
 

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