I got to thinking today, what's the difference between seating dies in the same bullet diameter? My understanding is that the exterior of the case isn't really touched by the die body and only the bullet itself is pushed down by the stem. In theory as long as the case isn't wider than the die body couldn't someone use a single die across multiple cartridges of the same bullet diameter?
A really, really stupid question about bullet seating dies
- Thread starter rkm456
- Start date
I believe Hornady seating dies are caliber specific and not cartridge specific, and for example there seating die for 7 Rem Mag is the same as for .280 etc etc. Because they have a floating section that guides the bullet.
I could be wrong, somebody on here will confirm.
I have seated bullets in 30-06 using a RCBS .308 seating die.
I could be wrong, somebody on here will confirm.
I have seated bullets in 30-06 using a RCBS .308 seating die.
Hornady dies are usable for rounds of the same length and caliber. 308 win can be used for 303 Savage. Many seating does can be used for same diameter bullets as long as case fits and die can be adjusted to properly seat and crimp. Lee 43 Mauser can be used to seat pointed 45-70 bullets. When you have over 60 die sets you usually find something to work. Usually what stops stuff like this from working is die length.
Hornady has standardized their die lengths so if cartridge length is close they will work,Lee has done the same.
Hornady has standardized their die lengths so if cartridge length is close they will work,Lee has done the same.
Forster br seating dies have a sleeve that is the same size as the case which slides in the die body and aligns the case with the bullets. The most accurate seating die I’ve used. The Hornady uses the same principal but only aligns the neck portion of the case and doesn’t work nearly as well.
windborne11
Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
I only use Wilson chamber style seaters for that reason. The case is held snuggly in the die, and the bullet is pressed in straight.
I had just ordered a Lee 3 die set for my 7.62 x 39, and the bullet seater die was so big that the case flopped around by 1/8 inch. There is no way the bullets would have been seated right.
I immediately ordered a Wilson die.
I have used both sizing and seating dies from a different cartridge to form wildcat cases, and to seat bullets to make a dummy cartridge. That being said, I prefer the Redding competition seating dies that uses a sliding sleeve to improve alignment while seating bullets.
For rifle hunting/plinking rounds the Hornady seating dies with the sliding sleeve will work fine. For max accuracy target shooting the Redding competition seating dies are the way to go (but they will cost you a LOT more money). For pistol the Hornady seating dies are all you need.
