Recommend a good seater die

[Jumper]

It looks like I am having some run-out problems with my 25-06 loads. My cases are neck sized and I'm using a Lee die to seat the bullets. I don't have a concentricity guage yet,waiting on the Hornady tool to become available) but I can see a little wobble when I roll the loaded rounds on a flat surface. The Lee seater die doesn't seem to control the bullet very well when it seats. I've been looking at the Redding competition seater die or the Hornady new dimension die and need some opinions. Why is one better than the other? The price difference is substantial $80 vs $20. There is also a Wilson Chamber type seater die for use with a hammer or Arbor press. How well does that work?

 

[stiles]

The Redding comp die and the Forster seating dies,both with the mic head and without) have a cartridge specific chamber that is spring biased, this sleeve also supports a floating seating stem. When you raise a cartridge up into this sleeve by raising the ram the combination of spring force and the shape of the sleeve centers the case inline with the bullet and seating steam before seating begins. The Hornady seating die has an per caliber universal sleeve that also works as a crimper and is only biased by gravity. It doesn't have enough surface area to hold the case inline nor enough force IMO.

Hand dies work very well, the standard seating dies will tend to rust but the Wilson micrometer seater is stainless and expensive.

 

[treeman]

Jumper, I have hornady dies in at least a dozen calibers. they will seat bullets straight if the necks are already straight. unless you are shooting benchrest or 1000yrds they will be precise enough in my opinion. regards,treeman

 

[Winchester69]

Unless you need a micrometer,loading to magazine length doesn't require it), the Forster BenchRest seater is the bargain.
.

 

[Jumper]

I don't need a micrometer, does the Forster Bench rest seater have the same internal mechanism mentioned by Stiles in his post?

 

[stiles]

yep they are the same other than the micrometer head. Most of the parts are the same PN except the micrometer head replaces the die body and the seating stem is a different PN. There is no functional difference other than the micrometer.

 

[grizz]

Jumper,

Stiles and Winchester69 are giving you good advice. The Forster seating die with or without the micrometer dial is as good as it gets without going to the Wilson/arbor press setup.

Whenever I start a new caliber, I always get a Redding Type S sizer and a separate Forster seating die.

Grizz

 

[LHSmith]

my vote is for the Wilson in-line seater....approx $40 and they work....works best with an arbor press though ...or use a drill press.Especially handy when loading at the range...I can load previously sized cases with different powder charges on the spot as dictated by target results....while leaving my heavy press at home.......saves components.

 

[OldDoug]

Concentricity in fired cases has a lot to do with the quality of the chamber and its alignment. Check runout on cases that you have fired. I am using a CoAx press on new and fired brass with Redding full length sizer. I have found that this press will take a case that is .005+ out of concentricity and reduce the runnout dramatically. Also, if a case is down to about .003 RO, turn it 180 deg in the press and resize again. Often drops RO by 1/2. I Love my Redding Micrometer seater. Buddy swears by his Forster. Outside neck turning for my 22-250, 6mm Rem and 308 also increases quality of concentricity. Old Doug

 

[eggman]

I like to use a combination of two bullet seaters when reloading for competition. As has already been mentioned neck turning will reduce runout and I believe a Wilson In-line seater can't be beat for concentricity . However with Wilson type seaters you really have to watch your bullet seating depth or length. Just a grain of powder can mess you up . So I do it in two steps. Step 1: I do most of the seating with a Wilson seating die Step 2 : and finish off with a Forester seater,Does not have to be micrometer ). This is the best way to ensure you can reduce runout and seat each bullet to the same length. Or the best that I've come up with anyway.

Rodney

 

[Rem06]

It looks like I am having some run-out problems with my 25-06 loads. My cases are neck sized

jumper,are you sure the problem is not from just sizing the neck? if you're running a factory chamber,your problem may be there?

also,what bullet are you using? a VLD or ULD may be too long and the point may be hitting the top,if it is you can drill the seater tip out.

also,the forster co-ax press and ultra seaters are increadible.

 

[Jumper]

I'm not exactly sure where the run out is coming from. I don't have a concentricity guage, if I did I could determine if the problem was from the chamber or brass. The gun is a factory Browning A-bolt, nothing fancy. As far as bullets I've checked rounds loaded with 85gr Nosler SPBT's and Sierra 90gr HPBT's. Both tips have a slight wobble when I roll them on a flat surface. As suggested I have drilled the seater die plug deeper so it wouldn't contact the point when seating. I have heard good things about that Forster CoAx press. A guy at the range has one and he loves it.

I will have to get a Forster BR seater die and see if there is any improvement.