My new bullet seating die

M

MartyK2500

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
278   0   0
Location
Quebec
Hello, let's start off with a pic of this fine die.



i'll start off by apologizing if this is common knowlegde in the reloading world, since i'm still quite new at it (reloaded 12k 9mm rounds in the past 6 months)
The idea of searching for this came thru the frustration of adjusting the OAL on my dillon die. My bullet seating die was always overtightened to be consistent. With different brass and chrony checks and barrels, i am always messing around my OAL to play with my PF. And this was getting quite tedious with my dillon die.
Then i found this guy, contacted redding directly at first, and then they pointed me towards sinclair international. Shipping was fair and all, but product is on the expensive side.
Dies was 80$, +10$ shipping, +20$ customs. 110$ total for a bullet seating die.

Notice i have a zero setting, you can zero it at your favorite setting by adjusting with an allen key at the top. Then turn the dial for micro adjustments.
I have set my zero @ 1.150''. This is 9mil ammo. I have tested this and it works, each microadjustment you see, raises or lowers (depending on which side you dial in) your OAL by EXACTLY 0.001''. This is the fun part for sure.
Once the lock ring is locked in place for your first zero setting, it even has a set screw so the thing won't come loose several thousand rounds later.

Just tought i'd share, in case other shooters like me struggle to dial in perfect OAL'S, and like to thinker alot with this setting.
 
not trying to offend you, but it seems like a waste of money for use on pistol calibre's.

sure does look purdy though!
 
Spawn-Inc said:
not trying to offend you, but it seems like a waste of money for use on pistol calibre's.

sure does look purdy though!
Click to expand...

I am not offended, and beleive you when you say OAL doesn't matter "all" that much. I will self admit this, i am OCD when it comes time to reloading, i kind of spend too much time on details. So this will satify my OCD lenght needs, while saving time!
 
MartyK2500 said:
I am not offended, and beleive you when you say OAL doesn't matter "all" that much. I will self admit this, i am OCD when it comes time to reloading, i kind of spend too much time on details. So this will satify my OCD lenght needs, while saving time!
Click to expand...

how are zero projectiles for being consistent in size and shape, i suspect that would have more of an effect on the ammo then your older seating die? i guess as long as you have the right shape on your seating stem it shouldn't be an issue.
 
I'm with the OP on this, once you've used a quality seater like the Redding or Forster micrometer seating die you're spoiled for life. These things are great. I personally am using the Dillon seater for 45 ACP and no problems but for long range 308 223 and 6mm 250 ammo nothing but Forster and Redding.
 
Spawn, when i talked about zero i was talking about resetting to zero your setting lol. I'm french so not always understandable.
If you do know me, yeah i do use zero's, love 'em. 147gr. FMJ in front of 3.6gr of VVN320. I wouldnt say the bullet seating die adds consistence to my OAL, sorting brass does that. When i had WIN one shot nickel plated, i would get a very sweet consistent OAL, but brass must be sorted.
So thg reason why i went with redding, more of an easy adjust thing than a consistence issue, as my dillon was consistent, but a real pain in the butt to tweak OALs

Heddok, i do not reload rifle, but i assume that this die would be an absolute must for match loads
 
I love that die, but would be frustrated if it didn't work on pistol bullets with tips that didn't sit in the seating stem nicely. A reason that I like lyman pistol dies, they seem to provide many different bullet tip configurations, unless your redding one did as well. I guess you can say merry Christmas to yourself!!
 
Yep i do have a bad habit of spending quite a bit in this hobby, every month is merry christmas to myself!
I also bought a LEE crimp die at the same time as the redding, as you can adjust the amount of crimp with an adjustment similar (not as sophisticated) as the bullet seating die.
To be honest the LEE crimp was to attempt to take out the buldge i my ammo, to my deception it did not do the job. So i still see the shape of the bullet thru the brass casing.
 
Ah i tell ya, i have over 2000+ already reloaded 9mil ammo, and since this redding die came in i can't stop myself from making more. Just having fun to finally tweak OAL as i wish. Making 1.450'' and 1.550'' small tester batches. See how they chrony compared to my 1.500''. Probably won't make all that difference, but i'll have fun checking.
Having a lump in your brass, is that settle by first station? Decapping-resizing die? If so i might look into more redding stuff. For last station i bought the LEE since guys around me at the club praise this crimping die very much.
 
To be honest i am not looking for groups in my ammo. With the help of certain people around here, they have got me lined up on getting the closest to 130PF with the less recoil possible.
I have reloaded these batches freshly tonight, unfortunatly i do not have a range in my backyard to test them now ;)
But i will get some group testing for ####s and giggles, not like the firearm they are going in was the most accurate (CZ shadow), when i wish to do a bit of bullseye i usually take the 6'' 686 out.
I will be more interested in the FPS variances between OALs, and i will probably leave my recipe be @ 1.150''
It will be convenient, if i switch between HP and FMJ boxes i can instantly readjust.
 
i get the hour glass shape in my 9mm as well and to my knowledge some lee dies are sized a bit to small and oversize the 9mm brass which makes the bullet show through the case. it's not an issue other then looks and people with OCD :)
 
I'm thinking of picking up the Redding competition seating die for my 308Win. Not sure if it'll make a big diff in my pistol ammo to warrant the cost of that puppy. Let us know how it works out. They are awesome dies... the Redding stuff.
 
The cost is not waranted for 95% of people in my opinion. It's niche is for OCD guys like me lol
Review wise i have seen great reviews from people reloading precision rifle.
 
MartyK2500 said:
Ah i tell ya, i have over 2000+ already reloaded 9mil ammo, and since this redding die came in i can't stop myself from making more. Just having fun to finally tweak OAL as i wish. Making 1.450'' and 1.550'' small tester batches. See how they chrony compared to my 1.500''. Probably won't make all that difference, but i'll have fun checking.
Having a lump in your brass, is that settle by first station? Decapping-resizing die? If so i might look into more redding stuff. For last station i bought the LEE since guys around me at the club praise this crimping die very much.
Click to expand...
If the bulge is caused by the bullet expanding the case, you can back the sizing die out a little bit.
The brass doesn't get sized down quite as far, and the bullet doesn't have to expand it back out again.
So long as the case is sized down far enough to fit in the chamber, and have sufficient tension to hold the bullet, it is sized enough.
 
Thanks Rory, will try this evening, thing is that i set my dillon die as told in instructions, that'S why i was thinking it was die issue, and not die adjustment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom