Thanks, Jon.I have one. I use it regularly. There are a few small quirks, but over all it is great and I would highly recommend it.
My main issue is with some bullets, specifically, ones that are not particularly pointy, using the feed window, do not feed well. However you can still set the bullet on the case and feed from the bottom without issue. Or with my progressive I start the bullets in my regular seater in 1 stage, and finish seating with the frankford as the final seating step.
My main concern was that is was my first time using a micrometer die and I was not sure if it would be accurate or not. After a fair bit of measuring, and double checking my work, I found the hash marks to be dead on with my calipers measurements.
I know run-out does have an effect on loads, but I also always understood that the effect is minimal in the grand scheme of things. I don't have any tools to measure run-out. I have a hard time justifying buying the expensive tools so I can buy more expensive dies in the hopes that they provide reduced run out to gain a fraction of a moa of difference. I have been able to get sub moa groups and have never measured. But I am always trying to learn as well.I suggest reading this article about some seating die tests.
I have been following hornady's podcasts of late. Have learned some really interesting stuff. I actually sent the OP the most recent one in dispersion as I thought he might find it interesting.Well, actually, I was aiming that at USAF Ret, since he raised the question about a seating die, and I wanted to provide some food for thought.
There is no blanket truth about the effect. If you have followed any of the stuff from Hornady or others on jacket symmetry and out-of-balance bullets, the effect of bullet tilt is exactly the same. It depends on the bullet design and how far forward of the geometric center of the bearing surface the particular design's center of gravity is. Opening of groups by up to 1.25 moa has been documented with long, short bearing surface bullets (the old National Match M1 Type, as demonstrated by A. A. Abbatiello in TAR) and as little as about a fifth of that for a short ogive flat base bullet in 6 PPC (Harold Vaughn's demo).
Whether you measure concentricity or not doesn't affect what it does on paper, so measurement isn't required, but it is probably desirable to mitigate what you can by whatever loading methods you use. I have more than one concentricity measuring device, and thus far, have not been able to get the Lee to perform up to the Redding–that sort of thing depends on the bullet and brass and other details–but I can get extremely close if I add in the step of using a Lyman M-die to put the little step in the mouth that gets the bullet to start straight into the die. Indeed, I've gotten my old RCBS standard seater to do just as well that way.
There is always more than one way to skin a cat.
A flat piece of glass or counter top can be used to see some degree of run out. Unless your brass is really mauled. Get your eyes down to surface level and roll a loaded round by. If you see some wobble, you may be able to improve the concentricity of your loaded rounds.I know run-out does have an effect on loads, but I also always understood that the effect is minimal in the grand scheme of things. I don't have any tools to measure run-out. I have a hard time justifying buying the expensive tools so I can buy more expensive dies in the hopes that they provide reduced run out to gain a fraction of a moa of difference. I have been able to get sub moa groups and have never measured. But I am always trying to learn as well.
Johnnies reloading bench did a test on dies in relation to concentricity. Surprisingly the lee performed best if I remember correctly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIK5wq5vuSU
F-class John just did a video on run out. Found some interesting stuff doing some crazy run out between 0.003 to 0.045https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m8Y6ZmSBiU
I did read the article. interesting stuff. However based on Hornady's podcast here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yZyXwy40JM to be statistically significant you need to shoot about 20rnds. in this case only 10rnds were fired. And I personally feel testing with a bagged gun with an optic would have removed some variables compared to prone with iron sights.
Just wish my testing was better. But, you know that.Glad you like it. Its a great value with all the different sizes being included in one set.
All good things in timeJust wish my testing was better. But, you know that.