wilson seating die

[cjmac]

Is it worth it to get just a Wilson seating die if i am using standard dies to resize my cases? The Wilson seating die seems like it would help prevent run out. Especially when loading flat base bullets. I can get a seating die and bald eagle arbor press for around 150$ .... i currently use lee collet neck sizing dies ..just a idea

 

[/VH]

cj,

First, let me state that I am not an expert at eliminating run out. I do know that many short range BR group shooters use Wilson seaters as do I, in several calibers. I believe that Wilson seaters are generally very good but there may exist custom dies that are better. Also, a seater die is just one element that may serve to contribute to or reduce run out. Neck wall concentricity being one other possible large factor, among several others, in my opinion.

One capability that the Wilson and arbor press would give you, due to their portability, if you are interested; is the ability to load sized, primed brass at the range or at least adjust seating depth to a shorter COAL at the range, which can be useful during load development.

You also stated that you are using a neck die. Another consideration is that by not FL sizing, depending on your chamber dimensions, there is a higher likelihood that you will have to have the Wilson die polished out to accept your cases as is sometimes required, even with FL sized brass.

I hope this helps with your decision, Wilsons work well for me and don't seem to induce additional run out in the cartridges that I load.

 

[cjmac]

Well iv always wanted to be able to load at the range ,just was never sure how to go about that. Like u said primed brass, press,die and a good measure. I would like to have a scale to double check my charge tho .

 

[/VH]

I have loaded at a few short range group matches, where I learned what was needed and at our county's public range, among other places, quite a bit while testing loads. For my PPC and 6.5 x 47, I have custom FL bushing dies mounted in presses that I clamp to the bench. For .223, 22-250 and .270, I have Redding FL bushing dies mounted in Lee hand presses which were about $30.00, last I knew. I have a separate press for each sizing die so that I don't have to switch out dies and re-adjust for shoulder bump. I use a powder measure clamped to the bench and set up a balance beam scale and sometimes a trickler, on a board that is shimmed reasonably level on the console of my pickup to keep it out of the wind. I leave a window cracked on each side to keep the heat down and weigh from the passenger side and even when the wind is fairly stiff, I feel like I can weigh within a tenth of a grain most of the time. It's a little slow but you can load 2 or 3 and if you don't like the way they shoot, change something. It beats driving all the way to the range with several loads that don't shoot well and all the way home to load something else to drive back out and try. Saves barrel wear and vehicle mileage enough to offset the cost of the extra presses. If you chose not to size and prime at the range and just had the Wilson seater, arbor press, powder measure and scale, you can make it work with sized, primed cases and especially if you don't have a lot of neck tension you can even get by without the arbor press although it is much more convenient. Also, where you said you are only neck sizing, you could use a Wilson neck/decap die with that arbor press.

 

[normmatzen]

As far as I'm concerned, a Lee Collet sizing die plus an in-line seating die is the combination for little or no run out.

 

[FeMan]

Sizing dies are fairly simple. As long as they are concentric any should work as well as others. I have Lyman, RCBS, Redding, and Whidden and while results vary based on caliber, I have actually found that my RCBS sizing dies generally produce the most concentric brass. (Note: I FL size all my loads and use an expander mandrell and not the factory sizing button). For seating, I use Redding Competition and Wilson. So to answer your question, I don't think the Wilson is a miss match with standard sizing dies.

 

[artbosco]

Is it worth it to get just a Wilson seating die if i am using standard dies to resize my cases? The Wilson seating die seems like it would help prevent run out. Especially when loading flat base bullets. I can get a seating die and bald eagle arbor press for around 150$ .... i currently use lee collet neck sizing dies ..just a idea

What percentage [%] of the entire case is being sized by the neck sizing die? 20%? 25%? Obtain a Bushing F/L sizing die [size 100%] and a Wilson Seater and you'll serve yourself well.

 

[Tzed250]

Is it worth it to get just a Wilson seating die if i am using standard dies to resize my cases? The Wilson seating die seems like it would help prevent run out. Especially when loading flat base bullets. I can get a seating die and bald eagle arbor press for around 150$ .... i currently use lee collet neck sizing dies ..just a idea

What percentage [%] of the entire case is being sized by the neck sizing die? 20%? 25%? Obtain a Bushing F/L sizing die [size 100%] and a Wilson Seater and you'll serve yourself well.

My Redding Type S FL sizing die in .223 does not size 100% of the neck, more like 75-80%. The leade on the bushing causes this. My Wilson neck die gets 65-70% of the neck.

 

[cjmac]

What are the chances i will have to get the die polished to fit the brass i use , i use a lot of lake city match and federal. Im resizing with a lee collet neck sizing die not sure i mentioned that.

 

[/VH]

cjmac,

I don't know the odds on that, I think it just depends on your chamber. I don't know where you might be thinking about buying the seater from but if it's LE Wilson, you could probably send them a few pieces of brass that have been fired a few times and have it opened up, if needed, before they ship it.

http://www.lewilson.com/faqs.html

 

[bow shot]

FWIW, the Wilson seater does the job best for me. I do get darn close with other seaters, (Lee, RCBS, Forster) but best with the Wilson (0.001" TIR.).

But step 1 must be: make sure that the wall thickness of your brass is uniform. if not, all other measures intended to improve concentricity may be in vain. Its all a matter of degrees, too, IMHO... ie., how centric do we want to get.