K & M Arbor press with "seating force measurement gauge"

[searcher]

normmatzen: the problem with the K&M press (if we really want to call it that) is that when using very light seating pressure as we do in benchrest, when the bullet seats, you can barely (if at all) tell it has done so. The press handle continues to go downward and the dial indicator continues to move because there is nothing built into the system to stop this moveement after the bullet seats. In essence, the poundage WILL continue to increase well after the bullet has seated.Once the crush washers bottom out (probably at 125 pounds on your dial), then you are applying force to the seating die with no interaction of the crush washers. I'm quite certain - from seeing the same thing in my press - that your bullet had seated LONG before you get to the lofty poundages you are encountering after fully compressing the crush washers.

 

[butchlambert]

searcher, read it many years ago. I do know several of the principals that were involved. You might find what shot zeros in the warehouse and tunnels do not always do as well outside.
I'm terrible with names also.

 

[searcher]

There is no question that once you move outside a controlled environment, all sorts of influences come into play.

The purpose in shooting in a controlled environment is so you can eliminate or reduce the effects of these other variables so one can obtain results that are less tainted by the results of these other influences. When testing the effects of weight sorting bullets for example, it sometimes takes a controlled environment to see whether the results pay off. Some people think that becasue when they leave the controlled environment, and they can no longer see that tangible change, it is not there. Personally, I disagree with them in most cases when it involves case, neck and bullet uniformity. If anybody believes uniform bullets become less uniform because of a powder or primer change - I just don't buy into it. I do believe they may not be able to replicate a controlled environment load where the temp or humidity is substantially different. There are indeed a lot of variables.

 

[normmatzen]

Butch,

Yes, I did read #48. And, I must agree with all you said.

I am hoping that the Process of watching the seating force will keep me paying attention! Just trying to improve the discipline.

And, I too seem to shoot way better when I shoot a lot!

 

[FroggyOne2]

http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html

 

[searcher]

normmatzen: I'm interested to see how your results continue with the K&M and/or other neck tuning. Share if you will. I get my reloading area back after my move and probably won't get much chance to look at post in future (hope to be busy shooting) but can send PM to me if you care to. Thanks

 

[Bamban]

searcher, read it many years ago. I do know several of the principals that were involved. You might find what shot zeros in the warehouse and tunnels do not always do as well outside.
I'm terrible with names also.

Virgil did not dominate the outdoor matches, but he is the King in the warehouse, a human machine rest.

Here are some names for you mentioned in the article. TJ Jackson did all the metal work, and Frank Wilson did all the bedding. I used to travel to matches with these folks from Austin. I spent many hours in TJ's shop watching him fireform in a barrel and turn 220 Russian cases. He did the inside and outside neck turning in his lathe, twice after each fireforming, making small cuts, and then finish the final dimension with steel wool as he test fitted each case by seating a bullet by feel using a L shaped bracket arbor press holding a plumber toggle clamp mounted vertically. The short handle of the toggle clamp allows better feel for bullet seating pressure. I still have mine and still use it.

I was usually the happy recipient of TJ's barrels that do not quite meet the zero standard. Being a young guy with a young family I never shied away from shooting his cull barrels, I won a some matches with them.

Those were the days when the Hunter cartridge was still the .308 and of course the 6 HLS deployed by the Cajuns. And they were good.