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Micrometer seating dies :

I’ve used Redding in my T7 press and Wilson in an arbor press. I prefer the latter because occasionally I feel one seat a bit rough and I just put that cartridge into the fouler corner in the ammo box. As a bonus, there’s a bit of money to be saved with the Wilson, after you pay for the cheap arbor press.
 
I have a Forster Ultra Mic seater die in .270 WIN. that I dislike enuff to sell it. Its brand-new in box. It just wont seat bullets BTOL consistently. Their BR seater die works the best for consistently.
 
I like Micron seaters but it seems like I've wasted a lot of money according to few posters :(
Waste?…… how can one “waste” money when they have the money to buy quality?….i don’t look down on anyone, if Lee or Hornaday make you happy, if there work satisfies you,… if there all you can afford and still be able to shoot…. God Bless you!… I have almost every kind of die made and use them when the job requires it but like you I like quality, I like nice stuff so I have custom dies and high dollar off the shelf dies and if that’s “Wasting Money” I’m wayyyyy guilty!… for factory off the shelf dies it’s hard to beat Wilson both there inline and f/l sizing dies.
Wayne
 
Keep in mind. A seating die has two main functions. The first is to maintain consistent seating depth from round to round. The second is to prodce reasonably straight ammunition.

All of the other features are for convienience.
 
Forster (1), Redding (7), RCBS (1), Hornady (2), Whidden (1), plus Wilson (2). Also have the Frankford Arsenal micrometer bullet seater -- a total rip-off of the RCBS Matchmaster, that does 9 calibers.
I also have multiple bushing die sets, in full-length and neck sizing. I don't think I've ever changed the bushing once I "found" the right one. The last few dies sets I bought were non-bushing with neck and full size dies.
I think technique has more to do with creating minimal runout than which die set you use.

I've become spoiled with so many micrometer seater dies. A fellow reloader came across a ton of Redding stems at an estate and many of them fit my Redding die sets. They are so much easier to adjust, but to get the best accuracy out of them, you always want to make your settings only turning the stem in one direction.
 
That's one of the more interesting recommendations I've ever heard ... "Try this, it's wicked expensive and I've never used it, but try it anyway." :p

Well, the guy asked what was the best (which I took as "what's out there?") I threw out a suggestion to look into. I never said it was better than anything else.
 
I have the Forster and Hornady. Not sure I can say the Forster is any better. The BTO consistency is about the same. I don't measure runout yhough.nSimilar to Alex, I found pressure on the press makes a big difference. I found the short handle on the coax, just barely let it touch the stops, no pressure, and then rotate cartridge 1\4 to half turn and repeat works best. Doesn't add time, cuz the chargemaster takes longer to throw than that. The Hornady does very slowly move back though. In 500 rds it could maybe creep .001. I just check it every now and then. Probably why they now have the click adjust. I should see of I can add something to the threads for more tension on the knob. I will try a Redding next.

Some interesting stuff on YouTube about runout. Some extreme tests show its probably not worth worrying about.
 
I use Redding Micrometer seating screws mainly because I use the Redding Pro-Series dies and by buying the micrometer seating stem, I can record the different settings for seating different bullets, mostly pistol cartridges.

I've been pretty well satisfied with most of the loading equipment I have used over the years, Lyman, RCBS, Redding, even some LEE dies. I am not a fan of Hornady dies. Are they good dies? Yes, but like LEE dies I do not like to have to get out two big wrenches to set up the decapping rod.

I don't shoot a lot of rifles anymore or shoot in any matches so the higher end dies, and equipment are not anything I'm interested. in. But I do pay attention on here when someone recommends this or that. Sometimes it is worth a look see.
 
I use Redding for .223 and Frankford Arsenal for everything else. Like them both. I loaded for years without the micrometer readout. Can't believe I waited as long as I did to get my first one (Redding). I don't measure run out so I can't comment on which is best in that particular area.
I like the open port on the FA seating die as far as features go. It also saved me a fair amount of money since I use it for 6 or 7 different rifle calibers
 

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