Inline seater die, better choice ?

[rsbhunter]

Finally am stepping up to an Arbor press with force pack...load 6 dasher....out of the 2 best known names, Wilson or Whidden ? Don't want to start a cage match, just personal experiences, good and bad...I appreciate the input from all...rsbhunter

 

[PatMiles]

Wilson Sinclair for the win! More adjustability than the Wilson. Not that familiar with the Whiddens.

 

[AlNyhus]

The Wilson seaters are excellent. Make sure to specify the seating stem that will work with the bullets you'll be using (std. or VLD stem).

The best fitting seaters are made using the chambering reamer for your barrel...might be an option for you.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[padom]

Love my Wilson Micrometer inline seating dies and KM Precision Arbor press!!

 

[rsbhunter]

Well, Wilson it is! I thank you all for the input . I don't know if this new way will improve my a c curacy, but I need all the help I can get! I got a really great deal from a member here, and I can't wait to see what differences certain processes make, or don't...rsbhunter

 

[Jetpilot]

I have Wilson dies and very happy but I hear excellent reports about Whidden as well. As another mention get the correct seating stem (STD or VLD) for your bullets. The micrometer adjustment is great and of course keep your dies nice and clean. Enjoy.

 

[quest450]

Well Wilson used to be my go to seating die I’ve been using the Micron Precision Die for a while now, just look at the seating stem
Micron is made out of one solid piece of steel, no set screws to introduce potential runout.

 

[quest450]

21st Century is another good one
I just don’t care for the set screws in the die body but the stem is really nice

 

[AlNyhus]

Haven't had any issues with snugging the set screw on a standard Wilson introducing runout. But I have seen it happen with some micrometer seating adjuster tops for the Wilson dies.

That's why I use standard Wilson seater tops.

 

[Mulligan]

Haven't had any issues with snugging the set screw on a standard Wilson introducing runout. But I have seen it happen with some micrometer seating adjuster tops for the Wilson dies.

That's why I use standard Wilson seater tops.

Yep

CW

 

[urbanrifleman]

I was speaking to one of my customers that has progressed quite a bit in the last few years as a benchrest shooter. And he recently switched over to the Wilson inline seater and commented to me how his groups shrank. I told him that every customer I talk to I tell them that going to the Wilson seater with an arbor press is a true game changer. And until one actually tries it for themselves they cannot realize how much affect being able to feel the seating pressure with your fingers actually makes on your groups especially getting rid of flyers and outliers seating pressure. Most people don't realize they're having incredibly bad seating problems because they can't feel anything I have never had a customer come back to me and tell me that he tried the Wilson inline seater and it did not improve his shooting.

 

[nmkid]

Wilson and a Bald Eagle Arbor press. I tried a micrometer top...Once. It's now resting in my junk bin.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Every one of my wilson seaters are awesome. Highly recommend. No experience with whidden

 

[rsbhunter]

That's why this forum is the BEST!!! I recieve the best, and most comprehensive info possible. I'm going with the regu.ar seater, not micrometer. What stem for Berger 105 & 109 Hybrids? I figure the VLD ? Thanks for the advice and help. I'm excited to go through this learning process! Thanks to all !!! rsbhunter

 

[AlNyhus]

Wilson's dedicated micrometer dies are good ones. These are designed as micro seaters and get ahead of some of the issues that conversion tops have.
https://lewilson.com/stainless-steel-bullet-seater-with-micrometer-adjustment

Not sayin' other ones aren't, though. -Al

 

[AlNyhus]

rsbhunter: When ordering a new one, I opt the VLD stem regardless of bullet type. I would encourage you to add an additional seating stem to your order to have as a spare, too. These seater stems can be easily damaged if the top assy is dropped....like how toast always lands buttered-side down.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[alf]

Personally, I've never bought a dedicated VLD stem, mostly because they weren't available back in the day.

If the nose hits, I just drilled them a little deeper.

Now I'd just go with the VLD for everything.

 

[nakneker]

If I’m loading for groups and accuracy I’ll use my 21st century arbor with the force gauge dial, if I’m loading for the AR or hundreds of rounds for a prairie dog shoot I usually just use the RC or D750. Truth be told I really don’t use the force gauge dial much, you can see the force but I’ve come to use feel, if one seats too easily or harder than the rest it gets moved to the side to use in a clean barrel or for a sighter. I’ve always used the standard Wilson dies, never tried the micro top, I have been curious about some of these others arbor dies coming out but I’ve always been happy with Wilson dies. Plus they aren’t terribly expensive and they offer a blank die that you can use with your reamer on for a perfect fit. I use a VLD stem for all my Wilson dies, if I’m using those dies chances are I’m using a VLD style bullet.

 

[padom]

The micrometer top is very consistent so it makes doing seating depth tests so easy. And, once you shoot your seating depth test, makes turning the die back to the setting for your optimal seating depth stupid easy.

 

[BoydAllen]

One little tip on the arbor press dies with larger than bullet diameter stems: If you are using FB bullets, they could be a a problem. FB bullets can flop to one side in the stem bore, as the die is lowered around the stacked bullet and case. This puts the meplat on the flat, rather than in the tip cavity, and that is a problem. If you are shooting BT bullets, they tend to hold their position as the die is lowered so that is not a problem.