Question about Arbor presses

[Sandstorm]

Get your 7mm seating stem from FCP as they are better from my testing, but dont take my word for it
please test them for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
I use them in my Wilson seaters for my 180 Hyb bullet.

 

[L.Sherm]

Exactly the way Wilson says to *not* use their seater...

I know it does but ive done it and it hasn't hurt a thing, still made straight ammo.
Works fabulous on 20 cal bullets.

 

[L.Sherm]

Exactly the way Wilson says to *not* use their seater...

Tell me what does it hurt? I've found nothing so far.

 

[Kevin1990]

Ive only been reloading about 5 years. Was using a RCBS rockchucker for everything, and it did what I needed it too. I upgraded to the LE Wilson inline seater dies and a K&M arbor press and absolutely love them. I get a better feel when seating, and I plan on reloading at the range this summer.

 

[memilanuk]

Tell me what does it hurt? I've found nothing so far.

In theory? Additional, unnecessary wear on the fit between the stem and the hole it goes through.

Dropping the bullet in doesn't help anything either, so I just use the die as intended.

 

[muleystalker]

Only been reloading since maybe November of last year. So although I'm still a nube, I've reloaded around 1,500 rounds since then. So I've learned trial and error method what works and what what I need improvement on, pretty much the hard way.

I started with a Forster Co-Ax press, and all Forster full length ultra micrometer bushing dies and seaters for 300WM, 7PRC, 6.5PRC, 308Win & 6.5CM. I've upgraded equipment, calipers, micrometers, tumblers, comparators, annealer, powder measurers, etc. to the point it's getting difficult to sneak the delivery boxes past the wife any more. But... I'm wanting to upgrade my current bullet seating method to an Arbor Press.

I've been looking at both Short Action Customs and L.E. Wilson bullet seating dies, and the K&M Arbor Press. Mainly because these are what I'm generally finding the most widely available. The L.E. Wilson dies seem pretty straight forward in what you're getting. The SAC dies leave a lot to be desired as far as product descriptions go.

My question is, what would you recommend as far as both a press and seating dies? And where the heck can you find them?

Both are good, SAC has videos on their inline seating die, Press seating die and their sizing dies, explaining it very well. The videos are on their website.

 

[L.Sherm]

In theory? Additional, unnecessary wear on the fit between the stem and the hole it goes through.

Dropping the bullet in doesn't help anything either, so I just use the die as intended.

I dont know how you would put wear on the hole copper vrs steel.
If you have trouble with bullets especially small ones like 20 cal its an easy solution

 

[Hal]

L.Sherm

I thought about trying to load from the top on the Wilson seater die, but haven’t yet.
I wonder if putting a slight bevel on the hole ,on the top of the die, would help funnel the seater stem.
Making it easier,and fast to start the seater stem.

Hal

 

[memilanuk]

I dont know how you would put wear on the hole copper vrs steel.

Read what I wrote again.

 

[TxBowHunter409]

I always buy my Wilson dies from Bruno’s because the have good prices and good service.

Wilson Stainless Steel Micrometer Top Inline Seater Die 30 BR | Bruno Shooters Supply

Includes: One Wilson Micrometer Bullet Seater Seater base to elevate primer above arbor press plate Complete instructions Features: Stainless parts for long life- machined from 416 and 303 stainless steel Micrometer head adjustment for easy seating depth changes with an easy-to-read scale in...

www.brunoshooters.com

Awesome.. thank you

 

[TxBowHunter409]

Get your 7mm seating stem from FCP as they are better from my testing, but dont take my word for it
please test them for yourself and come to your own conclusions.
I use them in my Wilson seaters for my 180 Hyb bullet.

My 7PRC seemed to like the 175 Berger Elite Hunters the first time I ever tried them. Haven't really shot anything else in the gun ever since.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I dont know how you would put wear on the hole copper vrs steel.

I think it has to do with dust/grit that gets trapped between the steel wall and the copper jackets over time with thousands going through the hole. . .¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[TxBowHunter409]

If your set on an arbor press, may i suggest the 21st century arbor press. IMO its better than the K&M for seating feel. https://21stcenturyinnovation.com/buy-online/ols/products/new-generation-arbor-press

I'm not necessarily set on an Arbor Press, I'm just slowly trying to upgrade my game and give myself at least additional options.

 

[TxBowHunter409]

Both are good, SAC has videos on their inline seating die, Press seating die and their sizing dies, explaining it very well. The videos are on their website.

Thanks.. I'll check them out

 

[jpjulian]

You have got really good equipment now. IMO you have little to gain, if any at all, by an arbor press and inline seater. If you want to change to an arbor press simply because you want to, that's another matter, but I doubt you would gain anything you could actually measure on target.

 

[hoz53]

I'm not necessarily set on an Arbor Press, I'm just slowly trying to upgrade my game and give myself at least additional options.

for my 6br i use a coax and forster ultra seater. that combo produces as accurate ammo as i can shoot i think. i do have a wilson strait line seater i havent used im thinking of trying. i was thinking of rigging up my drill press to try it. coarse its not exactly portable but my range doesnt allow loading.

 

[memilanuk]

Just a little spoiler... I heard Wilson is close to coming out with their own arbor press. Not sure exactly how soon, or what it'll cost, but it might be worth waiting a bit.

For what it's worth... while I do enjoy using my inline Wilson seaters and value the extra 'feel' I get when seating bullets using them... The ammo I load using a 7/8-14 threaded seater like a Redding Comp, Whidden or Forster Ultra BR in a Co-Ax - or a 550 - shoots very, very well. I can't measure the difference between the loaded rounds in any meaningful way, so there's that.

 

[L.Sherm]

Read what I wrote again.

I dont need to, you do you and I will and we will both be happy

 

[L.Sherm]

I think it has to do with dust/grit that gets trapped between the steel wall and the copper jackets over time with thousands going through the hole. . .¯\_(ツ)_/¯

All I know is ive found no ill affects, if that's a concern then flush the stem hole out once in awhile.
Do we as reloaders follow all the instructions to a tee, for instance screw the die down untill it touches the shell holder then back out a 1/4 turn.
Right, wrong or indifferent we all do things a little different

 

[Varminterror]

Tell me what does it hurt? I've found nothing so far.

In principle, removing and replacing ensures the tip of the seater will contact the mouth of the anvil repeatedly, thousands and thousands of times, unduly. Equally, the opportunity for human error, dropping the seating cap and damaging the mouth of the stem is really only possible if the seating cap is removed.

A lot of folks have done run out tests which show a slight advantage for dropping bullets through the die rather than feeding into the bottom. I’m truly agnostic, and typically bottom load for ergonomic pattern, but I get it.