Porter mandrel holder Vs. Forster bullet puller for mandrel use.

[marchboom]

Currently I'm using a Forster bullet puller to hold gauge pins to set the neck I.D. I like the design of the Porter's Precision Products mandrel holder and have considered getting one.

Has anyone compared the concentricity of the Forster puller with a pin installed to the Porter holder?

Thanks.

 

[RegionRat]

When you snug a lock ring on the body threads and inspect the runout, you will discover that the quality of the lock ring and tooling threads on the inspection table can be a bigger influence than the pin to the body.

You also have to keep in mind that shell holders are not constrained and allow brass to "float" for true position and will also allow a low resistance to tilt.

That said, mine are on the order of <0.00025" so I don't sweat it. The threads in the press and the alignment of the ram need to be good too.

The Porter's tools are good to go, but if/when you use generic pins make sure you have a way to grind and polish a nice chamfer on the lead tip.

 

[marchboom]

I guess the pin-to-collet concentricity is much more accurate than the die (Porter or Forster)-to-press alignment. Didn't give that a thought (this is why I ask questions).

I grind a rounded taper on the pins and then put a high polish on that taper.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Started with the bullet puller route until I got some holders - Sinclair and Wilson. I also modified an unused Lee die (6.5CM) to hold a 264 Sinclair style mandrel. Works well - just holding it in place with a bolt and lock nut.