Favorite Precision Seating Die?

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Which precision seating die do y'all like to use? I'm upgrading my bullet seating dies to the micrometer type. Is it true the precision mic dies have trouble with the VLD type bullets?
 
I have both Redding, and Forster precision seating dies. Of the two, I would recommend the Forster over the Redding as the Forster is 50% less money and is able to seat against a compressed load of powder where Redding says don't do it.

I use them all on my Dillon 550b and they all work as expected. I have the Forster in the 5.56mm and 300 BLK and I am very impressed with how consistent the bullet seating is and my rounds come out like I was cloning them.

I've not used any other brands of precision dies but those Whidden Gun Works dies are Forster dies i'm pretty sure with a little bit of custom parts and double the price. I can't say if their worth it or not but I suspect the latter.

If you just want Micrometer bullet seating but don't need the "Match" quality, check out the Redding Micrometer die sets. I have the Premium Dies sets for all my hunting calibers and I am very happy with them, they make very accurate ammo as well.
 
Redding here, works great, but that is the only "precision" seating die that I have used, so nothing else to compare it to other than the "standard" Lee type seating dies, and it is *much* better than those.
 
Redding for me too.

I am actually selling a set but still have others that I like a lot.

I know that Hornady has a seating stem in the VLD profile, not sure about others but I would bet everyone will have them soon.
 
The vld thing is important. Redding had a stem for them...Not sure about Foster's. RCBS has suggested using the 7mm stem for .30 cal vlds.

The fosters does appear to be the best value, but Redding makes good equipment.
 
Why are you going this route ?

I have micrometers on my 223 and 308 dies and although they are both Redding they are not the high end comp dies .

This is what I use and how I got there

First I had this from a standard 3 die set
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/408690/redding-seater-die-308-winchester-307-Winchester

I then bought the micrometer seating stem
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/76...30-06-springfield-300-winchester-short-magnum

They also make it for VLD bullets
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/23...30-06-springfield-300-winchester-short-magnum

So in my case it was only $35 at the time more unlike the $110 comp seating die .

How ever You now can get the comp seating die $110 and the VLD insert $19 for about the same price as piecing it together . Note : piecing it together like I did is NOT the same as having the Comp seating die . The comp die is designed to reduce/eliminate run out . So IMHO if you are starting from scratch . You should just get the comp seating die and VLD insert .

308 model
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/200390/redding-competition-seater-die-308-winchester
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/37...on-seating-die-vld-stem-55750-30-caliber-long
 
You should just get the comp seating die and VLD insert .
Click to expand...

Thanks, that seems to be the best route to go. I'm making this ammo for my competition.300wm. I am going to use it for FPR and F-CLASS open matches. The stock I put on has a 2.5 inch wide flat portion to sit on a rest, then for FPR I have an anchutz rail for my bipod.

Anyway, the Berger 215 hybrids or the Hornady ELD's are the bullets I intend to try pushed by H1000 (maybe imr7828 but H1000 is hard to beat in .300 wm). And I have heard reports, and confirmed from RCBS that some of the really long and sleek secant bullets won't work well in some seating dies.

FIFW I am going to use just a plain ol RCBS FL sizing and Redding competition shell holders to control setback.
 
The RCBS die works great. Easy to dial in and very consistent. You can buy the 223 die for about $65.00

From RCBS: The Competition Seater Die features a micrometer for super accurate bullet seating depths in increments of .001". The bullet inserts through a side window instead of the bottom of the die and a special seating guide ensures correct alignment before and after seating.

2zpi6ok.jpg
 
disseminator said:
I have both Redding, and Forster precision seating dies. Of the two, I would recommend the Forster over the Redding as the Forster is 50% less money and is able to seat against a compressed load of powder where Redding says don't do it.
Click to expand...

Yep, the Forster Ultra handles both standard and VLD style bullets.
I have Redding Competitions for .223 and .308 (they're fine dies) but the compressed load limitation makes the Forster's more versatile.
 
I don't loads 90s, but my .223 "window" die works perfectly with 80 grain Berger VLDs. I still use the standard stem and it does not seem to hurt the bullets or the downrange results.
 
That's interesting about the compressed loads issue . Is that for any compressed load or just heavily compressed ?

Does the Forester reduce run out like the Redding does ? If so cost wise it would seem like a good choice . Add the compression issue and it would seem like the perfect die for me in 223 . I have a few compressed loads in 223 that you can clearly hear the crunch when seating the bullet .
 
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Redding says plainly that compressed loads will DAMAGE the competition seating die:

Heavily compressed loads can create problems when seating bullets. Our Competition Seating Die is not a powder compression die. The excessive force required to seat a bullet on a compressed load can damage the die and may cause seating depth variations. Switching to a faster burning or ball powder may eliminate the need to excessively compress the powder charge.
Click to expand...

No problem with compressed loads with the Forster.

Here is some more info: https://www.google.com/search?q=redding+competition+seating+dies+compressed+loads&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
 
It sounds like the forster is the way to go then in my case.... But I do wonder about them and VLDS. The 215 Berger, the 225 Hornady ELD, and even the Hornady ELD 208 are long bullets. I'm not 100% sure those are the bullets I will go with, may use the good ol' smk or Nosler custom comps.

Then again, now that I think about it, I do not and will not ever shoot .300 wm compressed loads....And if I did I could just use my standard RCBS seating die. The reason I don't shoot "heavily" compressed loads is that with a standard seating die, I couldn't get consistent COAL (back when I used COAL to measure seating depth).

Btw I don't consider light crunching a compressed load, especially if you only hear it on a few cartridges.

I read some other threads though where some folks had to buy new stems from Forster due to compressed loads
 
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It seems as though people get a way with seating against compressed loads for a while but over time it causes wear on the seating sleeve. If you are SURE you won't have compressed loads then just get the one you prefer and load away.

Most of my dies are Redding and that's the brand I prefer but I didn't see the need to pay $50 more per die for mass producing 5.56/300bo on my progressive press.

I will repeat that I am VERY happy with the consistency of the Forster comp dies.
 
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