• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Comp seating die worth $$???

Chad44

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jun 28, 2012
110
2
44
Castle rock, CO
I'm buying dies for a new build. Do the redding competition seating dies produce less run out then the standard seaters? Or are you simply paying for the micro adjust?
 
I'm buying dies for a new build. Do the redding competition seating dies produce less run out then the standard seaters? Or are you simply paying for the micro adjust?

Worth it is a relative term and a personal decision. You can load sub moa ammo with conventional dies if you know what you’re doing and the rest of the system is up to it.

The micrometer adjust is the third and least important feature of that die. The first is the sliding sleeves that locate the case and bullet concentrically before the seating even starts. The second is the micrometer mechanism is intrinsically better centered than an adjusting screw with a thumb nut.

If you want to stomp your bullet run out into the mud so you can go on to worrying about the next thing that affects your accuracy, this is one of the tools to do it.

Redding builds some of the better ones.
 
Worth it is a relative term and a personal decision. You can load sub moa ammo with conventional dies if you know what you’re doing and the rest of the system is up to it.

The micrometer adjust is the third and least important feature of that die. The first is the sliding sleeves that locate the case and bullet concentrically before the seating even starts. The second is the micrometer mechanism is intrinsically better centered than an adjusting screw with a thumb nut.

If you want to stomp your bullet run out into the mud so you can go on to worrying about the next thing that affects your accuracy, this is one of the tools to do it.

Redding builds some of the better ones.

This guy said it about as well as one possibly could. It's a matter of convenience, I'll pay the coin for them, I like simple and easy. And they look cool!
 
Answer to the title of this thread: Yes!
Don't believe me...spend your coin buying the lower-end, less expensive, less convenient, less precise dies and regret it that you just didn't buy the damn competition seater in the first place. Oh, wait...I'm talking about myself and my own personal experience. ;)

On a serious note - if you're looking to compete and squeeze out every bit of performance while maintaining tight tolerance...this is a no brainer. If you just want to mass produce ammo...maybe you don't need the comp dies....but they sure are nice.
 
If you have the spare cash, buy it and be done with it. More convenient, definitely. More accurate? Not really, if you know what you're doing. It will be your technique that makes all the difference.
 
I prefer the rcbs comp seater as it has the bullet window so no more having to balance a flat base bullet on the case just raise the case til it hits the sliding sleeve and drop the bullet in then bottom out the arm. Ive only got it for 223 as I dont shoot flatbase in anything else but when funds allow I'll be picking up one for 308 as well. Definitely worth the money.
 
I was recently in your situation. Building a new rifle chambered for a cartridge DESIGNED with accuracy in mind. WHAT dies to buy?

Lets see.... Action; Defiance...$1200. Mc Millan A-5 with adjustable comb, etc... $850. Barrel....$350. OPTICS....$2300. Gunsmith fee to assemble..... Etc, Etc.

And I'm going to HANDICAP myself by NOT buying the best dies available?? Trying to save myself what? A hundred dollars?

Not me. In the grand scheme of the build and the life of the rifle.... the extra bucks for the better dies is almost nothing.

FN in MT
 
My "crap" dies get me half MoA in everything I've ever reloaded for accuracy (.223 .308 6.5CM) . I'd say try the cheap dies before you pay for high dollar dies.
 
Yes.Yes and Yes I really like mine, they give me a nice easy way to make adjustments to my OAL for fine tuning different
bullets during work up loads..
 
I was recently in your situation. Building a new rifle chambered for a cartridge DESIGNED with accuracy in mind. WHAT dies to buy?

Lets see.... Action; Defiance...$1200. Mc Millan A-5 with adjustable comb, etc... $850. Barrel....$350. OPTICS....$2300. Gunsmith fee to assemble..... Etc, Etc.

And I'm going to HANDICAP myself by NOT buying the best dies available?? Trying to save myself what? A hundred dollars?

Not me. In the grand scheme of the build and the life of the rifle.... the extra bucks for the better dies is almost nothing.

FN in MT

You said it all right here. Thanks. I'll go with the comp dies
 
I bought the standard Redding dies because I was low on money and just couldn't see spending the $. I don't *regret* that decision because they get the job done, but if I had to do it again I would wait and get the competition dies.
 
What's the difference between Competition dies and Match dies that Redding sells beyond the cost?
 
What's the difference between Competition dies and Match dies that Redding sells beyond the cost?


You should download their catalog and go through it. Kinda simple version- Match die sets come with a competition seater, and a type s bushing die. A Competition set come with comp seater, and comp bushing neck sizer die, and body die. Oh, and the match neck size kit comes with comp seater, type s bushing neck die and body die.

Is your head spinning? Buying the comp die set means you have more money than brains!
I hope I helped.
 
Bought a 6XC seater die from Tubb, it was no better than my regular Hornady seater. "We don't need no stinking microadjust seater" Yeah, of course I sent it back.
 
Agree about the adjustment on the Whidden. When I move the Whidden micrometer .001", it actually changes the depth .001". The micrometer is pretty much spot on.
 
I just ordered two more seater dies the other day from sinclairintl $99 a piece. These work great a long with a Lee collet die.
 
A straight line seating die can make a little difference. I use them on my customs. I doubt that you will see much, if any difference between the various brands. I just ordered another Redding, after careful consideration. I even considered a custom die like Whitten or Neil Jones. I even started a thread on this subject, about a week ago. I choose a Redding over the others, just because I already have several, and they work fine. Just hard to leave a winner, I guess! Lightman
 
I was recently in your situation. Building a new rifle chambered for a cartridge DESIGNED with accuracy in mind. WHAT dies to buy?

Lets see.... Action; Defiance...$1200. Mc Millan A-5 with adjustable comb, etc... $850. Barrel....$350. OPTICS....$2300. Gunsmith fee to assemble..... Etc, Etc.

And I'm going to HANDICAP myself by NOT buying the best dies available?? Trying to save myself what? A hundred dollars?

The dies you choose become part of the rifle. I agree with the above statement wholeheartedly.

Not me. In the grand scheme of the build and the life of the rifle.... the extra bucks for the better dies is almost nothing.

FN in MT

I agree with the above wholeheartedly, the dies you choose become part of the rifle.
 
Redding series D die set plus vld stem with micrometer = BADASS set of dies and the seater die is JUST AS GOOD as my other redding comp seater dies