How many folks use competition seating dies? Which brand do you prefer. For very long VLD bullets like the berger 80's and 90's in .223 does anybody get a custom seating stem made for their RCBS dies. Do the competition dies make much differance in runout consistency?
Competition bullet seating dies
- Thread starter fatboyz
- Start date
I use the Forster Bushing/Bump Die for sizing, and the Forster Ultra Micrometer die for seating. The seater is made to accommodate the VLD bullet profiles.
The bushing/bump die gives you a lot of flexibility in how you size. I have mine set up to bump the shoulder back 0.001" and at the same time size only 2/3 of the neck. The Ultra Seater is great to use with different bullets as once you have the seating depth for a bullet, you record the setting and go back to it at any time. Also if you want to seat 10 thou deeper or 7 thou further out there is no measuring, just dial up the change on the micrometer.
There seem to be fewer issues with the Forster than the Redding, but that is just my opinion. You can find a good discussion about the relative merits at the link below. I don't think RCBS is in the same class.
Forster vs Redding
The bushing/bump die gives you a lot of flexibility in how you size. I have mine set up to bump the shoulder back 0.001" and at the same time size only 2/3 of the neck. The Ultra Seater is great to use with different bullets as once you have the seating depth for a bullet, you record the setting and go back to it at any time. Also if you want to seat 10 thou deeper or 7 thou further out there is no measuring, just dial up the change on the micrometer.
There seem to be fewer issues with the Forster than the Redding, but that is just my opinion. You can find a good discussion about the relative merits at the link below. I don't think RCBS is in the same class.
Forster vs Redding
I use Redding, Rcbs, and Vickermann, preferring the Vickermann which seems more precise.
I don't know about VLD or otherwise, I use these seaters for seating cast bullets with minimal runout(along with my Co-ax), they allow seating cast bullets without the need to bell cases.
I don't know about VLD or otherwise, I use these seaters for seating cast bullets with minimal runout(along with my Co-ax), they allow seating cast bullets without the need to bell cases.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
Both Redding and Forster inline seaters work.
I use the Forster seater and they work great with the 90gr Berger VLD
Others use the Redding and report positive results.
My runout is in the 1 to 2 thou range.
Jerry
I use the Forster seater and they work great with the 90gr Berger VLD
Others use the Redding and report positive results.
My runout is in the 1 to 2 thou range.
Jerry
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Where did you buy your Forster dies? I have a couple of BR sets and sure like them.
I guess you could call any die a competition die if the rounds loaded on it were shot in competition 
I've used most of the major brands over the years and have found all make capable dies,but for creating extremely accurate rounds ,I tend to fall back on "in line" dies
of Wilson or Davidsons with micrometer tops.This requires the use of an arbor press and does not permit full length resizing.Also a little more time consuming per round.
For higher volumes of loading I use Redding "Competition" series dies as the cases are supported in a moving sleeve and the seating die now has seating stems for normal,long and ultra long VLD bullets.Properly set up in your press and squared to the ram,these dies can achieve the "0" runout objective.
Are they worth the cost? IMHO yes. The "competition" dies are generally machined to tighter tolerances and this reflects greatly on a produced round. Having a micrometer top on your seating die is a definite asset.
Lastly you can get "custom" made dies specifically made to "fit" your loaded round.Cost is a wee bit higher but perfectly matches your chamber.
Good dies will last a lifetime of use if taken care of.
I've used most of the major brands over the years and have found all make capable dies,but for creating extremely accurate rounds ,I tend to fall back on "in line" dies
of Wilson or Davidsons with micrometer tops.This requires the use of an arbor press and does not permit full length resizing.Also a little more time consuming per round.
For higher volumes of loading I use Redding "Competition" series dies as the cases are supported in a moving sleeve and the seating die now has seating stems for normal,long and ultra long VLD bullets.Properly set up in your press and squared to the ram,these dies can achieve the "0" runout objective.
Are they worth the cost? IMHO yes. The "competition" dies are generally machined to tighter tolerances and this reflects greatly on a produced round. Having a micrometer top on your seating die is a definite asset.
Lastly you can get "custom" made dies specifically made to "fit" your loaded round.Cost is a wee bit higher but perfectly matches your chamber.
Good dies will last a lifetime of use if taken care of.
I've really come to like Forster Ultra Seaters w/ the micrometer top. Very smooth, repeatable, and great ammo. Every manufacturer turns out a dud once and a while. I havn't found one from Forster yet. Can't say that about Redding.
