clearance or no clearance

[Steve Ladino]

When the ram of your reloading press is raised, with the shell holder installed and a case with a bullet to be seated, to the base of the spring loaded cylindrical column within a Redding micrometer top seater die do you have clearance between the top of the shell holder and the spring loaded column ? I can think of reasons that support both possibilities but I am wondering what yours are...….Thanks !

 

[rwj]

No.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its all according to how it fits your chamber. Bump it til its right. Could be anywhere but yes id say 99% of the time its compressing the spring at least a little bit

 

[anschuter2013]

Here's a little tip I learned from the great Jackie Schmidt. I don't know him personally, just read what he wrote. This applies to shorter cases like 6PPC, 6BR and 30BR. This flies straight in the face of Reddings instructions, but it works perfectly at accomplishing dead nuts seat depths. When seating, use an extended shell holder that makes contact with the die body, it acts as a dead stop that results in absolute seat depth every time. Yes...if One is ham fisted I suppose you could damage the die face and swage it to the point that the sleeve will not slide. Don't do that, just go easy and all will be fine. I've been seating in this manner for 1200 plus rounds now in both 6PPC and 30BR without any problems. This method makes Reddding sleeve type seater dies work as good as any Wilson type seater with regard to consistent seat depths. The sleeve will be fully compressed and in full contact with the shell holder. With longer cartidges, One may not require an extended shell holder.

 

[ChocDog]

When the ram of your reloading press is raised, with the shell holder installed and a case with a bullet to be seated, to the base of the spring loaded cylindrical column within a Redding micrometer top seater die do you have clearance between the top of the shell holder and the spring loaded column ? I can think of reasons that support both possibilities but I am wondering what yours are...….Thanks !

I am assuming you are talking about the Redding competition bullet seating die.
From the instructions included with the die: "When installing the die it is very important to allow slight clearance between the shell holder (in its uppermost position) and the threaded outer die body."
Raise the ram with shell holder, screw down die to compress inner sleeve and the out body contacts the shell holder, then back-out the die body until the micrometer readings are facing the front of the press. This should be about .020-.070" clearance.
The comp seating die outer body does not and should not have any contact with the shell holder or any cam-over.

 

[anschuter2013]

I am assuming you are talking about the Redding competition bullet seating die.
From the instructions included with the die: "When installing the die it is very important to allow slight clearance between the shell holder (in its uppermost position) and the threaded outer die body."
Raise the ram with shell holder, screw down die to compress inner sleeve and the out body contacts the shell holder, then back-out the die body until the micrometer readings are facing the front of the press. This should be about .020-.070" clearance.
The comp seating die outer body does not and should not have any contact with the shell holder or any cam-over.[/QUOT

The seat depths will vary significantly when following Reddings instructions. Most presses have too much linkage slop. This will result in seat depths that are all over the place...and it will show on paper.

 

[243winxb]

makes contact with the die body, it acts as a dead stop t

Its on Reddings website.

 

[anschuter2013]

Its on Reddings website.

Perhaps the instructions have changed, but I thought Redding recommended NOT to allow the shell holder to contact the die body as a dead stop. I do anyway because it works.

 

[243winxb]

Its a tech tip. Instructions are different.

If your loading press is worn, the ram may not stop in exactly the same spot each time you raise it. Obviously, this will cause variations in bullet seating depth. Although our instructions warn against it, raise the shellholder and adjust the outer, threaded die body to make light contact with the shellholder. (Make sure you keep the contact light, so you don't damage the die.) This creates a "dead length" seating chamber that is unaffected by where the shellholder stops. The only disadvantage to using the die adjusted this way, is that it may be awkward to read the micrometer if it ends up on the back side of the die.

http://www.redding-reloading.com/tech-line-a-tips-faqs/143-seating-depth-variation

 

[anschuter2013]

Its a tech tip. Instructions are different.
http://www.redding-reloading.com/tech-line-a-tips-faqs/143-seating-depth-variation[/QUOTE

.243winxb...that tech tip quote is exactly what the included instructions should say. Thank you for sharing that! The OP now has the knowledge at his disposal to use or not to use. This post has unveiled a widely used, but rather hidden method of using Redding Comp Seat dies. Brilliant!

 

[maxwatt]

Hmmmm.... Does this apply to forsters micrometer seater as well?

 

[243winxb]

Lee makes a "dead length" seater that contacts the shell holder.

The seat die should not crimp, is my guess. Most standard seat dies, when contacting the shell holder, will crimp.

If using a progressive press to seat bullets, contact may not work well. Each station may be different.

Does this apply to forsters micrometer seater as well?

C. Continue screwing the die clockwise until you have fully
compressed the sliding Die Chamber. Next, back it off at
least one full turn because the Die Chamber should
never be fully compressed when seating bullets.

Forester makes 2 seat dies. Above is for " Ultra" I dont know, dont have one.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I am assuming you are talking about the Redding competition bullet seating die.
From the instructions included with the die: "When installing the die it is very important to allow slight clearance between the shell holder (in its uppermost position) and the threaded outer die body."
Raise the ram with shell holder, screw down die to compress inner sleeve and the out body contacts the shell holder, then back-out the die body until the micrometer readings are facing the front of the press. This should be about .020-.070" clearance.
The comp seating die outer body does not and should not have any contact with the shell holder or any cam-over.

With a rifle chamber cut to provide full case support to the extractor groove I'm thinking that to utilize the full length ( like 0 headspace in a rifle chamber ) of the sleeves chamber you would want clearance between the shell holder and the sleeve otherwise the case is not fully seated in the sleeve. In other words the case would be able to go for and aft within the sleeve, and not be bottomed out within the sleeve's chamber. I will look at the Redding web site instructions but I'm not having any problems , just trying to think of another way to use the tools to their capability.

 

[Steve Ladino]

Perhaps the instructions have changed, but I thought Redding recommended NOT to allow the shell holder to contact the die body as a dead stop. I do anyway because it works.

I do not touch the die body but do touch the spring loaded sleeve with the shell holder, which in my case allows the case to not be fully seated against the sleeve's shoulder area. I think I will reduce the height of the S/H and see how it works out. Thanks.

 

[Steve Ladino]

No.

Why not ?

 

[rwj]

Why not ?

To minimize and control the clearance between the sleeve and case. Knowing that there will be some eccentricity and misalignment present, I believe it’s best for the case to have some degree of freedom to self align inside the sleeve during seating. In a perfect world, a rigid setup would be best.