Frankford Arsenal Universal Seating Die Recurring Issue

[bwood1]

Both times I've used the Frankford Arsenal Universal Seating Die for my loading my 22-250, the .224 alignment sleeve has stock itself to the seating stem. It's gets lodged and becomes darn near impossible to dislodge. I got it off the first time by hammering a dowel pine into the seating steam through the bottom of the alignment sleeve. I've broken multiple dowels this time and it's still stuck. I'll try heating with a blow dryer this evening to loosen it up.

I'm curious if this is a problem with the sleeve I received or how I'm setting up the die. The instructions mention threading the die just 3 turns into the press, and then turning the micrometer down to 5. The instructions suggest that, that should lightly seat the bullet then I can fine tune by progressing the micrometer down from there. I would run out of adjustment range on the micrometer before I even get the bullet to lightly seat when following those instructions. So, I'm threading the die way further down into the press. The bottom of the window was level with the top of the press threads, and the micrometer was turned down to about 2 to get my 22-250 COAL to 2.4 inches in my last session. After seating 3 bullets the alignment sleeve again wedged into the stem, and I had to switch back to my old Hornady seating die.

Has anyone had this issue or have suggestions around setting up the die or how best to remove the sleeve?

Thanks!

 

[Mike D Texas]

You definitely have to be careful not to run it too far down in the press or that will happen. I normally set the micrometer at zero and screw it down until it touches the bullet. Remove the cartridge and screw down 1-2 turns, then make final adjustments with the micrometer.

 

[bwood1]

You definitely have to be careful not to run it too far down in the press or that will happen. I normally set the micrometer at zero and screw it down until it touches the bullet. Remove the cartridge and screw down 1-2 turns, then make final adjustments with the micrometer.

Thanks! I'll try that out.

Now I get to work this dang thing off. So, I can start loading again. Gonna be fun!

 

[Walker6]

To set it up I raise the ram with just the shell holder installed and then thread the die body in until it just bumps the shell holder. Then I back the die body out a turn or so until the window is where I want it and lock it down.

Then drop a bullet in the window and raise a case all the way up and start threading the micrometer down until I feel it touch the bullet then go from there.

 

[Walker6]

…and for longer cases you may have to thread the die body out a few turns.

 

[5MilesBack]

Anybody else have to straighten the bullets with your finger after dropping them into the window every time you raise the ram? If I don't, the seating stem misses the tip of the bullet.

 

[bpitcher]

Anybody else have to straighten the bullets with your finger after dropping them into the window every time you raise the ram? If I don't, the seating stem misses the tip of the bullet.

Yes! Kind of annoying, I just give it a couple taps with my finger from underneath. That usually centers the bullet up.

 

[bwood1]

Haven't paid enough attention previously