Seating Dies

[Jake Leibke]

Looking at getting a micrometer seating die for a 22 creed.
Kinda narrowed it down to an RCBS match master or a whidden.

Anyone have experience with either or both?


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[Wetwork]

I've spent a bunch on fancy seating dies...I should have just bought a arbor press and used a Wilson seater and called it good. At this point I de-prime with a Frankfort Armory hand deprimer in front of the TV. Then I hand prime with a RCBS watching TV. I then use a empty die with no ball expander to full length size, Then I use a expander mandrel to size the neck. I Chargemaster in a few grains shy of my goal powder charge, then I use a tricker to hit my goal for powder. Then stuff a bullet in with a arbor press, next a slight Lee Crimp and then go shoot. For me this seems the most effective accurate way to reload at this point. So far its pretty darn smooth and my groups are a lot tighter then when I was using a full size die to de-cap and expand the neck as well as size. I could never get my seating dies to consistently stuff in a bullet to the correct depth and tension. So I make another step with a Arbor and its night and day. I will say inside of 400 yards if probably doesn't matter that much but I practice out to 1000, and would take a shot on game to 800 given my 6.5PRC's max veloocity.-WW

 

[Jake Leibke]

I've spent a bunch on fancy seating dies...I should have just bought a arbor press and used a Wilson seater and called it good. At this point I de-prime with a Frankfort Armory hand deprimer in front of the TV. Then I hand prime with a RCBS watching TV. I then use a empty die with no ball expander to full length size, Then I use a expander mandrel to size the neck. I Chargemaster in a few grains shy of my goal powder charge, then I use a tricker to hit my goal for powder. Then stuff a bullet in with a arbor press, next a slight Lee Crimp and then go shoot. For me this seems the most effective accurate way to reload at this point. So far its pretty darn smooth and my groups are a lot tighter then when I was using a full size die to de-cap and expand the neck as well as size. I could never get my seating dies to consistently stuff in a bullet to the correct depth and tension. So I make another step with a Arbor and its night and day. I will say inside of 400 yards if probably doesn't matter that much but I practice out to 1000, and would take a shot on game to 800 given my 6.5PRC's max veloocity.-WW

I do a lot of the same. Tell me more about how the arbor press works.


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[EdP]

If you use Hornady dies they sell a universal micrometer seating adjuster that fits all of their dies.

 

[huntsman22]

Forster......

 

[Jake Leibke]

If you use Hornady dies they sell a universal micrometer seating adjuster that fits all of their dies.

I’ve got one of those already. I was hoping something else would be more consistent.


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[Lawnboi]

FYI

There is no current inline die for an arbor press for a 22 creed. I’m looking as well and it dosnt exist beyond having a smith cut you a blank.

I do all my seating on an arbor press and will need to figure something out for the 22 creed

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I've had good luck with forester and Redding micrometer seating dies in a normal press.

 

[Vern400]

I have the RCBS competition seating die set in 7.62x51 and 5.56. I like them, and repeatability is good. I like the micrometer, but the bullet locating collet is more important to maintain the bullet inline as it presses into the neck.

 

[Jake Leibke]

FYI

There is no current inline die for an arbor press for a 22 creed. I’m looking as well and it dosnt exist beyond having a smith cut you a blank.

I do all my seating on an arbor press and will need to figure something out for the 22 creed

I was looking into that last night. Might check with a local guy to see about cost of reaming a blank.


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[EdP]

If you use Hornady dies they sell a universal micrometer seating adjuster that fits all of their dies.

I’ve got one of those already. I was hoping something else would be more consistent.

I don't really understand your comment, or at least I don't understand why the Hornady die/micrometer would not be consistent. When reloading rifle cartridges I check each one after bullet seating using a bullet comparator and caliper. There is some variation but I always attributed it the tolerances in the press. Consistent technique on my part produces more consistent results. I have several Hornady dies sets I use with the Hornady micrometer and also a Redding die set with (non-interchangable) micrometer and see no difference in performance.

 

[Jake Leibke]

I don't really understand your comment, or at least I don't understand why the Hornady die/micrometer would not be consistent. When reloading rifle cartridges I check each one after bullet seating using a bullet comparator and caliper. There is some variation but I always attributed it the tolerances in the press. Consistent technique on my part produces more consistent results. I have several Hornady dies sets I use with the Hornady micrometer and also a Redding die set with (non-interchangable) micrometer and see no difference in performance.

With my Hornady micrometer on 3 different Hornady dies I’ve used it on, 300 PRC, 6.5 Creed and 223, I’ve had up to 8 thou difference between loaded rounds. Sometimes it will the spot on for 10 rounds then long for a few then back to spot on. It hasn’t been real consistent for me.


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[Brendan]

I like the Redding Competition for my T7, but have considered a K&M Arbor Press and LE Wilson Dies if I ever want to change things up. You can get a LE Wilson Blank, you'd just need a smith with a reamer.

Best Arbor Press Reloading | Arbor Press Right Hand

Best Arbor Press Reloading | Arbor Press Right Hand used with inline bullet seating & neck sizing dies. Used on your loading bench or at the range.

kmshooting.com

Stainless Steel Bullet Seater with Micrometer Adjustment-MBS

Bullet Seater Blank-CB-

 

[Harvey_NW]

With my Hornady micrometer on 3 different Hornady dies I’ve used it on, 300 PRC, 6.5 Creed and 223, I’ve had up to 8 thou difference between loaded rounds. Sometimes it will the spot on for 10 rounds then long for a few then back to spot on. It hasn’t been real consistent for me.

Are you switching out to the VLD stem for long nose bullets, or are you using the VLD stem on a shorter profile? I use Hornady dies on multiple calibers and I have no issue typically getting within .002" consistency.

 

[Jake Leibke]

Are you switching out to the VLD stem for long nose bullets, or are you using the VLD stem on a shorter profile? I use Hornady dies on multiple calibers and I have no issue typically getting within .002" consistency.

I did switch out stems. Tried both out even. Same results.


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[NevadaMike]

I did switch out stems. Tried both out even. Same results.


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I have the same problem with my Hornady Custom dies and microadjust stem. I load 143 ELD-X with the correct Hornady stem and the COAL is all over the place. That said I saw this thread because I am looking at new seating dies.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I have the same problem with my Hornady Custom dies and microadjust stem. I load 143 ELD-X with the correct Hornady stem and the COAL is all over the place. That said I saw this thread because I am looking at new seating dies.

Disregarding acronyms, overall length has a lot more variance than base to ogive when measured with a comparator. Base to ogive is the more more precise measurement.

 

[NevadaMike]

Disregarding acronyms, overall length has a lot more variance than base to ogive when measured with a comparator. Base to ogive is the more more precise measurement.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll give that a try.

 

[Mark at EXO]

I'm a big fan of the RCBS Matchmaster. I'd standardize all of my dies to them if I could. That said, I haven't tried Whidden and have heard great things.

 

[Jake Leibke]

Disregarding acronyms, overall length has a lot more variance than base to ogive when measured with a comparator. Base to ogive is the more more precise measurement.

I measure mine base to ogive and still get them all over the board.


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