Just getting into reloading and want to do it right.
Any experienced reloaders recommend this?
Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater Die 308 Winchester
Any experienced reloaders recommend this?
Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater Die 308 Winchester
- Thread starter Moby
- Start date
I have an assortment of dies and I just bought a Forster Micrometer for 338 Lapua and used it for the first time this past weekend. I was experimenting with seating bullets at different depths and this die was wonderful to work with. Once I got it set up with the course adjustment, it was a very simple process to change my seating depths with excellent precision. I am impressed and glad that I made the purchase.
If you load the same bullet at the same depth every time, then don't waste your money on a microtop seating die. I have a wilson micro top and have not changed it since I got it set the first time. I like the concept, but I would rather have a separate seating die for each rifle than to have just one and have to change it every time.
I agree that if you are going to use the same bullet, seated at the same depth all the time, then you will not need this die. I bought it because I wanted to experiment with different seating depths and I intend to experiment with different bullets, so being able to accurately adjust my seating depth with ease is really nice.
I prefer the Redding Competition Seating Die over the Forster unit. Easier to read and the intervals are a spot-on .001" per mark.
Use the same seating depth forever? Not if you're interested in your relationship to the ogive and the lands....
The Redding unit will seat all bullet types for a particular caliber.
Use the same seating depth forever? Not if you're interested in your relationship to the ogive and the lands....
The Redding unit will seat all bullet types for a particular caliber.
I like the micrometer types better than regular. If you're going to be changing bullets and seating depths they're worth the extra money. I prefer Forster over Redding because they're resettable to zero unlike Redding. Not to be contrary but I personally find Forster's dial to be easier to read, but neither is difficult. Forster's indications have been spot on for me with my 308, 260 and 243 with many different types of bullets. When I've dialed 0.003" or whatever that's exactly what I got, measured at the ogive with a comparator.
Redding may have changed their seaters since I sold all mine and replaced them with Forster but when I was using Redding's micrometer seater for my 308 it left marks on the nose of VLD's and I got inconsistent seat depths with them. SMK's were fine. Redding told me I needed to buy a VLD seater stem from them. That die set was bought in 2008, so this may not apply today. If considering Redding as well it may be worth a short call to ask them about the seater stem if you'll be shooting VLD's. Both made great ammo and either would serve you well.
Redding may have changed their seaters since I sold all mine and replaced them with Forster but when I was using Redding's micrometer seater for my 308 it left marks on the nose of VLD's and I got inconsistent seat depths with them. SMK's were fine. Redding told me I needed to buy a VLD seater stem from them. That die set was bought in 2008, so this may not apply today. If considering Redding as well it may be worth a short call to ask them about the seater stem if you'll be shooting VLD's. Both made great ammo and either would serve you well.
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I was thinking about a microtop die when I got into handloading. I erred on the side of economical though, and got a standard seating die.
I load for one caliber but shoot 5 different bullets which all get seated differently. Adjustments are fast by dialing out the die and dialing it back in on a labeled (berdan primer -- no wasted good brass) dummy round I seated to the depth I wanted for a particular bullet.
I can switch depths in < 10 seconds, which is probably about as fast as with a microtop die, and I got to use the extra $$ to buy more bullets.
I load for one caliber but shoot 5 different bullets which all get seated differently. Adjustments are fast by dialing out the die and dialing it back in on a labeled (berdan primer -- no wasted good brass) dummy round I seated to the depth I wanted for a particular bullet.
I can switch depths in < 10 seconds, which is probably about as fast as with a microtop die, and I got to use the extra $$ to buy more bullets.
That's pretty slick.
I have the same redding die that killshot is talking and is info is spot on.
Btw.... Seat by ogive and not coal... Get the hornady overall length guage and bullet comparitor set.... Figure out the ogive max seating depth to the lands for your particular rifle and the bullet being reloaded... Then figure how much bullet jump you want from there. You will get more consistent readings seating by ogive rather than using COAL (Cartridge over all length)
Btw.... Seat by ogive and not coal... Get the hornady overall length guage and bullet comparitor set.... Figure out the ogive max seating depth to the lands for your particular rifle and the bullet being reloaded... Then figure how much bullet jump you want from there. You will get more consistent readings seating by ogive rather than using COAL (Cartridge over all length)
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The micrometer head is nice for all the above reasons. The main reason they trump standard seaters is the sliding alignment chamber, gets bullets lined up with case before seating happens. I have forsters ultras for the most part, one Redding. It is a 6.5 creedmoor. While Redding offers many more calibers, they get pricey when u get the cat C or D bracket. Forster ultra sets run 92.00 , for some reason their fl sizer leaves .002" nk tension on my brass. Perfect for my applications.
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