Seating pressure gauge idea?

[jccinohio]

So, I'm cheap... Trying to figure out a cheaper way to monitor seating force than buying the 21st Century hydro press or similar.

I was thinking of taking a 3/8 socket and welding it on a bracket that I could screw on to the handle of my rock chucker. Then stick one of those beam type torque wrenches in the socket in line with the pull direction of the handle. So when a bullet is seated I can read the pointer on the beam scale. Have to experiment on what torque wrench range, maybe 0-80 in lbs. Of course the reading value would be irrelevant. Would just be looking for consistent readings.

Think it would work?

Beam torque wrench

 

[BoydAllen]

IMO our Rock Chuckers have too much leverage to make fine distinctions in seating force with something that coarse. Also, the reading will be affected by how fast you move the handle (which is also true of the Hydro press). An ordinary arbor press has much less mechanical advantage allowing the user to easily feel differences. What is lacking is any kind of numerical value.

 

[Rocketvapor]

Calibrate the force with a load cell between ram and die.
A torque wrench could quantify the 'Feel" of the lever alone. Linkage position would need to be standardized.

 

[jccinohio]

IMO our Rock Chuckers have too much leverage to make fine distinctions in seating force with something that coarse. Also, the reading will be affected by how fast you move the handle (which is also true of the Hydro press). An ordinary arbor press has much less mechanical advantage allowing the user to easily feel differences. What is lacking is any kind of numerical value.

So would have to bolt as close to the 'bottom' of the pull arm as possible to reduce leverage/mech advantage. Or make a smaller pull bar. Seems like a load cell is more expensive than the hydro press

 

[BoydAllen]

So would have to bolt as close to the 'bottom' of the pull arm as possible to reduce leverage/mech advantage. Or make a smaller pull bar. Seems like a load cell is more expensive than the hydro press

Choking up (down?) on your press handle will reduce the mechanical advantage. Why not give it a try by feel using cases that have had their necks sized differently, to see what the difference feels like.

 

[mikecr]

I think it could be cleaner to outright replace the press handle with the torque wrench.

 

[Webster]

So, I'm cheap... Trying to figure out a cheaper way to monitor seating force than buying the 21st Century hydro press or similar.

I was thinking of taking a 3/8 socket and welding it on a bracket that I could screw on to the handle of my rock chucker. Then stick one of those beam type torque wrenches in the socket in line with the pull direction of the handle. So when a bullet is seated I can read the pointer on the beam scale. Have to experiment on what torque wrench range, maybe 0-80 in lbs. Of course the reading value would be irrelevant. Would just be looking for consistent readings.

Think it would work?

Beam torque wrench

Anneal every time. FL size very time. Forget about seating pressure the targets will tell you what works the best.

 

[JMayo]

K&m ...

 

[mikecr]

Forget about seating pressure the targets will tell you what works the best.

The object is to get ahead of the target, rather than lagging behind it.

 

[Fclassfool]

You can find used K&M with force pack cheap in the classifieds. I've had both I like the 21st best but I'm using the K&M now and I'm happy with it. Precision ain't cheap and you are waisting your time trying to cobble some crap together spend the money or don't worry about it.

 

[mikecr]

Speaking of getting ahead of things, the OP could set this up on a small dedicated press, and measure mandrel pre-seating forces.

 

[Webster]

So, I'm cheap... Trying to figure out a cheaper way to monitor seating force than buying the 21st Century hydro press or similar.

I was thinking of taking a 3/8 socket and welding it on a bracket that I could screw on to the handle of my rock chucker. Then stick one of those beam type torque wrenches in the socket in line with the pull direction of the handle. So when a bullet is seated I can read the pointer on the beam scale. Have to experiment on what torque wrench range, maybe 0-80 in lbs. Of course the reading value would be irrelevant. Would just be looking for consistent readings.

Think it would work?

Beam torque wrench

How many reloads are you willing to scrap based on bullet seating pressure? I think the Erik Cortina video shows variation with measured seating pressure due to annealing. I don't know if it states what he rejects. I think you will see seating pressure variation with carefully prepped cases from the same lot. I keep everything simple with my varmint rifles. They both shoot small groups with Kreiger barrels. I would spend a lot of time with case prep and good brand cases. I read an article that said long narrow cases like the 223 don't typically get low ES. If you are not shooting serious competition, I wouldn't worry about seating pressure. If you measure seating pressure you now have the dilemma of decided what to do with the info. If your rifle shoots small groups your good to go. ES doesn't matter unless your shooting long distance.

 

[Silo1616]

So, I'm cheap... Trying to figure out a cheaper way to monitor seating force than buying the 21st Century hydro press or similar.

I was thinking of taking a 3/8 socket and welding it on a bracket that I could screw on to the handle of my rock chucker. Then stick one of those beam type torque wrenches in the socket in line with the pull direction of the handle. So when a bullet is seated I can read the pointer on the beam scale. Have to experiment on what torque wrench range, maybe 0-80 in lbs. Of course the reading value would be irrelevant. Would just be looking for consistent readings.

Think it would work?

Beam torque wrench

Do you have one of these cheep fish scales? You could try pulling the press handle with it at different locations on the shaft. Might give some insight into the range/sensativity needed.

 

[Webster]

The object is to get ahead of the target, rather than lagging behind it.

He never said what the rifle was used for.

 

[jccinohio]

He never said what the rifle was used for.

.308 & .243

 

[Richard Jones]

So somewhere I've seen a picture of a press with a torque wrench attached. Not sure what the reason was, but just something stuck in my brain. The torque wrench application isn't new, although it may be for seating.

 

[OMW57]

So, I'm cheap... Trying to figure out a cheaper way to monitor seating force than buying the 21st Century hydro press or similar.

I was thinking of taking a 3/8 socket and welding it on a bracket that I could screw on to the handle of my rock chucker. Then stick one of those beam type torque wrenches in the socket in line with the pull direction of the handle. So when a bullet is seated I can read the pointer on the beam scale. Have to experiment on what torque wrench range, maybe 0-80 in lbs. Of course the reading value would be irrelevant. Would just be looking for consistent readings.

Think it would work?

Beam torque wrench

I did that exact thing some years ago & tried it on my co-ax press, that press had too much leverage advantage & didnt work very well, BUT, it looked cool as heck!

 

[JFrank]

I once placed an Arbor press on a bathroom scale to test seating pressure, it worked fine, I was at a somewhat consistent 12 pounds iirc.
It didn’t make any difference on the target and now I just seat by feel and my targets show improvements, maybe because I’m paying more attention to prep-idk
If anyone has side by side 1000 yard targets of before and after using a hydro press I’d love to see a example of improvements or declines.
Jim

 

[dcali]

Put an arbor press on a postage scale. Big presses have too much leverage for such small forces.

 

[jccinohio]

I did that exact thing some years ago & tried it on my co-ax press, that press had too much leverage advantage & didnt work very well, BUT, it looked cool as heck!

what torque range did you try? I can't see it in the pic