Forster Bench Rest Seater Die

[mander]

I am looking for opinions on the Forster Bench Rest Seater Die and how the chamber/sleeve works in seating the bullet.

Thanks

 

[DanConzo]

They are very good, the Wilson chamber type) is real good, the Vickermans are good. I don't have a Redding so can't say but Whidden just came out with one that would be worth looking into. Of course if these companies make it in your specific caliber or you can get blank sleeves and have a machinist cut them.

 

[XTR]

I use the micrometer version of the Forster, my runout is typically w/i ±1 thou.

 

[tome]

liked the die..but hard to read the gage..black on black

 

[Max]

I have a Forster, Redding and Wilson that I use for casual benchrest in .222 Rem and 6mm BR. The fit of the seating stem on the Redding is better than the Forster and runout is also better. The Wilson however is my favourite and produces the straightest ammo but must be used with an arbor press.

 

[savageshooter86]

I have a Forester Mic seating die. I like it and runout is very low...right around 1 thou. If I buy another one I will be getting the Whidden Seating Die.

 

[Shynloco]

I have a Forster, Redding and Wilson that I use for casual benchrest in .222 Rem and 6mm BR. The fit of the seating stem on the Redding is better than the Forster and runout is also better. The Wilson however is my favourite and produces the straightest ammo but must be used with an arbor press.

I can confirm what Max wrote, except for the Forster which I don't have nor have ever used. I have Redding and Wilson Dies, but use the Wilson to seat bullets in all my calibers because of the best runout overall.

 

[mgx1138]

Forster BR seater dies are my favorite dies... I am not sure why, but in my hands/press they turn out the best quality ammo (least runout). Only my Wilson hand dies make better rounds and not by much.

 

[DennisH]

The Wilson however is my favourite and produces the straightest ammo but must be used with an arbor press.

I have tried them all. I just started using Wilson Seater Dies. Not bad at all to use. I check the runout on all my bullets after seating and the Wilson is always on the money.

The last 100 I seated, only two were beyond .002

I will have to give the Wilson Seater a thumbs up.

 

[Lazydays]

I have a couple Redding seaters, but rarely use them anymore. The Forster is better. I swap bullets a lot, and the micrometer head on the Forster has less than half the backlash in it than the Reddings do. I typically see about .0015" TIR or less with the Forster and just can't get there with the other, but we're only talking about a few tenths at that. The Wilson is slightly better (maybe two tenths), but the Wilson micro head is a crap shoot on a good day. I found shims to be a little better. All my measurments are done off a Neco gauge or a home brew one that works off tooling balls. Use nothing but Interrapid indicators with them as I know they are dead on in accuracey. The one thing the Redding does better than the others is that the numbers are easier to read, but that's about it. Just could never figure out all the hype over the Reddings at 33% more money and lesser accuracey.
gary

 

[kelbro]

Can you convert a regular Forster Bench Rest seater to a mic top like you can with a Redding?

 

[jelenko]

Can you convert a regular Forster Bench Rest seater to a mic top like you can with a Redding?

Yes. I've done it on one of mine.

Also, with using a Forster CO-AX press to resize the cases and to seat the bullets, the run out is always less than 1/1000. Over the couple hundred I've measured, the run out went from no perceptible needle movement to 3/4 of a thousandth.

 

[Martin52]

Can you convert a regular Forster Bench Rest seater to a mic top like you can with a Redding?

Yes, i have done that and never looked back, you can buy the conversion kit from Forster. Easy to do.

Martin

 

[kelbro]

Thanks. I have not been able to find it listed at any of the online retailers. I may give Forster a call today.

 

[fdshuster]

mander: To answer the second part of your question: the spring loaded collet holds the case firmly in alignement throughout the bullet seating. With a standard seater die many times the case is not being supported during the critical start of bullet seating, when the base of the bullet first makes contact with the case mouth. This is the time when the bullet can be tipped and not aligned with the case neck.

I do prefer the Forster Benchrest Micrometer top seaters, but also use the Wilson's. $25 less costly than brand "R" and only .025" of adjustment for each complete 360 turn compared to .050" of adjustment with brand "R". I like the finer adjustments of the Forster. Lines & numbers can be more difficult to read especially on the older Forsters, but I position the die in the press so the reference line is facing the available light & it has not been a problem. Have checked loaded round runout with my Sinclair gauge, between those loaded with the Forster & Wilson & can see no difference. "Peoples choice" as to which is their favorite, much like cleaning solvents, primers, Chevy versus Fords, etc.

 

[Lazydays]

Can you convert a regular Forster Bench Rest seater to a mic top like you can with a Redding?

yes you can. You used to be able to buy all the parts from Sinclair (they also stocked stems and sizer balls as well).
gary

 

[kelbro]

Ordered direct from Forster. $36 + shipping

 

[amlevin]

I use a Forster BR seater die but for some reason it leaves a nasty scrape mark on the side of the bullet. The scrape extends up from the case about 1/4" on finished cartridges.

Any others with ideas on what causes this. Can't find any rough spots in the die.


FWIW, I too get nice low runout readings on finished rounds, less than .001" on average. However, I also have a Custom Grade New Dimension Hornady seater die that does exactly the same. Difference is that the Hornady die came in a set that cost less than the single Forster die (both w/o micrometer adjust).

All my "fixed seater plug" seating dies are going "bye-bye".

 

[Lazydays]

I use a Forster BR seater die but for some reason it leaves a nasty scrape mark on the side of the bullet. The scrape extends up from the case about 1/4" on finished cartridges.

Any others with ideas on what causes this. Can't find any rough spots in the die.


FWIW, I too get nice low runout readings on finished rounds, less than .001" on average. However, I also have a Custom Grade New Dimension Hornady seater die that does exactly the same. Difference is that the Hornady die came in a set that cost less than the single Forster die (both w/o micrometer adjust).

All my "fixed seater plug" seating dies are going "bye-bye".

awhile back I picked up a Hornaday New deminsion die set for a 30-06. It came with a micrometer head on it, and I'd lable it as a toy! The sizer is a complete joke, and will move under high pressure from sizing. I later bought a standard RCBS die and it was better in everyway. Then even later I came into a lightly used Co-Ax die set for the 30-06, and it was pure joy! After about twenty cases going thru the full length sizer, I told the die that I'd never go cheap and abandon them again!
gary

 

[StevenDzupin]

If you have difficulty reading the markings on the micrometer,they can be improved by rubbing

a paint stick over them and wiping off the excess.

Paint sticks are used in industry to highlight engraving and stampings all the time.

There are several makers .The one I use most is " Laquer-Stik " brand,from LA-CO industries

They are available from camera repair suppliers,or on line.

Available in many colors,White and Black as well.

Good for perking up old faded scope and Iron Sight markings as well.


Regards and Good Shootin,

Steve