Newlon Die Blanks/Micrometer Top Seater

[Coolhand]

I have just re read the earlier postings concerning several opinions of 7/8 x 14 seating dies. One of the posts mention the Newlon die blanks. Newlon is offering a die blank which has a Mitutoyo Micrometer Head.Also anybody using the Whidden Micro Seater ?

I would like to hear the opinions of any members that own either of these dies.
regards
Mike.

 

[Patch700]

Couldn't offer an opinion of the former mentioned die blank , with respect to the Whidden it is similiar to the Forster but in my opinion is held to tighter tolerences and has a better overall finish to it as compared to the Forster.. Would recommend the Whidden dies to anyone looking for a nice set if 7/8x14's for sure.

I have a Forster micrometer top seater as well that does a very nice job but as mentioned above it did require some final finishing with respect to the seater stem ( no big deal really just a quick polishing) and with the sliding body needing a light polishing (it had a slight sticky feel when compressed)

When you dis-assemble the forster micrometer portion there is an O-ring in there to provide some resistance to the micrometer top so it somewhat holds its position , replace with a thicker O-ring and that seems to tighten things up a bit.

With the Whidden seater it works flawlessly rite out of the box after a proper cleaning.

 

[Coolhand]

Thanks Patch , I met John Whidden when he was out here for the Worlds , he his a real gent and I hear good things about his products. I particularly like the concept of the Mitutoyo Micrometer head in the Newlon die , I have a Warner Custom FL die and it is a testament to the machining skills of Alan and Dan Warner , and would like to supplement this with a really good 7/8 x 14 seater , I will give the Whidden some consideration.

regards
Mike.

 

[Patch700]

Indeed Newlon's seater top looks to be very nicely made , i too was considering using one of their blanks for my last caliber of choice and the only thing that was a deciding factor was whether or not the sliding chamber was going to short change me so to speak with regards to having enough room to seat bullets with the press I use for loading at the range.
For my needs I have enough room to utilize the sliding chamber so I opted for the Whidden , if I were in a position where i needed the extra 1/2" clearance in the press then it would have been a Newlon.
I like the idea of the sliding chamber although I don't feel it to be an absolute must when the dies are held to tighter tolerences such as the Newlon etc.

 

[Coolhand]

"the only thing that was a deciding factor was whether or not the sliding chamber was going to short change me so to speak with regards to having enough room to seat bullets with the press I use for loading at the range."

A good point , the Redding Micrometer seater I have only just has enough space to allow me to seat 155 grain projectiles when screwed into my Harrels Magum Press , luckily I only shoot 155's in .308.

Patch700 , tell me about the seating stem in the Whidden Die , I assume it is nicely finished and not covered in machining marks like some of the off the shelf dies ?

regards
Mike.

 

[Patch700]

That is the same press I use as well for loading on site... The seating stem in this Whidden I have did not require any polishing (nor did the sliding chamber) , i disassembled the die for cleaning and it was finished very nicely as is.

The forster wasn't horrible mind you but I did notice i was getting a slight stick along with leaving a ring on the ogive area when I started to experiment with higher neck tensions (.003"+) , that problem was solved with a minor polishing using a patch chucked into a dremel tool and red jewelers rouge.

 

[Coolhand]

Thanks again Patch , I am about to pour a single malt and mull over my options , I've run out of CC.

Mike.

 

[Patch700]

Thanks again Patch , I am about to pour a single malt and mull over my options , I've run out of CC.

Mike.

...lol... Well running out of CC is not always a bad thing particularly when the inlaws are over visiting lol...
One thing to mention about the Whidden seater is that the top portion is made from aluminum , something to consider as some folks like the feel of steel. Being as it's a seating die I personally don't mind but some might.

 

[jonbearman]

Ok<what does CC stand for,LOL.

 

[Patch700]

It's Canadian Club lol... A whiskey , when drank in copious amounts it has been known to give "moments of clarity" lol.. Great for making purchasing decisions or just deciding on general reloading practices.

Not to be used during the actual act of reloading of course Jon lol.

 

[Coolhand]

Only to be consumed before during and after a Flames / Oilers season opener , and never to be mixed with Crown Royal , the two , when mixed are perfect for self defense!


Patch , I reckon I just might go with the Newlon Seater , or maybe that's the single malt talking !

regards
Mike.

 

[Patch700]

Sounds good lol , be sure to let me know what you think of it once you get a hole bored in it I would like to know if it might be a better suit for my 284 based cases in that harrells press.

 

[nhm16]

One thing to mention about the Whidden seater is that the top portion is made from aluminum , something to consider as some folks like the feel of steel. Being as it's a seating die I personally don't mind but some might.

Yeah I got a set of Whidden dies for the wildcat I shoot (7mm Walker, basically a Shehane with a 40deg shoulder), and the aluminum seater top threw me for a loop. That said I'm more than satisfied with the dies, and I paid about the same as for an equivalent set of off-the-shelf Reddings (though I hear Whidden's prices have increased from other shooters who are going to the same wildcat).