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Competition Seater Dies

ashland

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Minuteman
Jan 7, 2009
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Anyone use the Redding competition seater die or the Foster Micrometer seater die? Are these worth the money? Trying to get the most consistant rounds I can.

Thank you
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I haven't used the Forster but I can assure you that you will not be disappointed with the Redding. It produces very consistent ammo and makes adjusting seating depths for different bullets a cinch.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

Thank you. I'm a Redding fan too but the other one is about $30 cheaper. I keep telling myself, buy cheap...buy twice.

Thanks guys.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

Frankly I'll diverge from the rest of the crew here. I started with strictly Redding competition bullet seater dies but over time ran into an issue with their design when pressing compressed loads. Due to the design, the seater stems are subject to splitting which in turn, galls out an inner portion of the seater sliding sleeve. This was with a 308 Win load, 46.5gr of Varget, and a Lapua 155gr Scenar seated to 2.810" OAL. Quickload shows it at ~108% compressed which is more than within reason from how most folks load compressed charges.

After damaging three 308 Win seaters this way, sending them back to Redding for repair, getting them back and having it happen again (and then buying a new die that then saw the same issue), I began a search for an alternative. After speaking with Redding's tech support line, they readily admitted that the die was not recommended for loading any sort of compressed charge. Even as little as 101% was not recommended.

I finally gave up and tried the Forster micrometer seaters after hearing from a couple of Benchrest shooters that they hold up much better than the Redding. Thousands of rounds later, I would have to concur with the Benchies recommendations.

So, if you don't work up a compressed load, Redding is a very well constructed die and accurate for seating depths. If you do believe you might compress a charge in the future, the Forster is every bit as much of a die, will load very accurately (some say even more refinement as the micrometer allows more definition between .001" tick marks), and seems to be a bit more robust for putting that little extra bit of powder in each case.

My $.02 for what its worth.

 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I bought the Forester Micrometer die for a 6.5 and it crapped out on me. Im buying strictly Redding dies from now on.

I have always have had problems with Forester Dies.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

"Anyone use the Redding competition seater die or the Foster Micrometer seater die? Are these worth the money?"

Both the Forster straight line seating die and Redding's copy of it generally load with less run-out than the average conventional seaters (or other so-called "competition dies"). If the small but consistant average improvement in bullet alighment is worth the extra cost is up to you. A lot of rifles and a WHOLE LOT of shooters will never see any difference, IMHO.

The micrometer heads are user aids, nothing more, and that's not vast. The first two I bought had mic heads. They work fine but I've quit buying them to save a few bucks. I don't have any problems setting my OAL as I wish with a caliper.

Longrange30, I was surprised to read your post. I would be interested in hearing exactly what kind of "problems" you've had with Forster dies and how one "crapped out" on you; I've never heard said that about any die.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I don't own either but have used a friends Redding a couple of times for .30-06. I liked the micrometer adjuster for setting OAL but can't comment on anything else like run out or base-to-ogive variation.

I did just recently picked up the Hornady bullet comparator basic set. However, the ammo I loaded with the Redding is mixed with rounds loaded on the RCBS die set I usually use. I did measure the last batch of rounds I loaded using my standard RCBS dies and was surprised to see only a total base-to-ogive variation of +/- 0.004" with the SD being half that. Sure Redding/Foresters' probably to even better, but you can still get good quality from standard dies.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I recently purchased one for 308 Win. Making adjustments on this die is simple and they are spot on in my experience. I have not ran into any problems, but I am not running compressed loads either. They are worth the money. It took me a while to bite on these, but I am happy with the decision. I have looked at the Forester a couple of times, and may eventually try one for the heck of it in another caliber, but no complaints about the Redding at all.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">"Anyone use the Redding competition seater die or the Foster Micrometer seater die? Are these worth the money?"

Both the Forster straight line seating die and Redding's copy of it generally load with less run-out than the average conventional seaters (or other so-called "competition dies"). If the small but consistant average improvement in bullet alighment is worth the extra cost is up to you. A lot of rifles and a WHOLE LOT of shooters will never see any difference, IMHO.

The micrometer heads are user aids, nothing more, and that's not vast. The first two I bought had mic heads. They work fine but I've quit buying them to save a few bucks. I don't have any problems setting my OAL as I wish with a caliper.

Longrange30, I was surprised to read your post. I would be interested in hearing exactly what kind of "problems" you've had with Forster dies and how one "crapped out" on you; I've never heard said that about any die. </div></div>


As for the Forester competition (micrometer) I had, it has a plunger type tube that hangs from the bottom and retracts back inside the die as you seat the bullet and then retracts when you drop the ram. Well, <span style="font-weight: bold">first</span>; The plunger kept getting stuck up inside the die everytime I were to seat a bullet. So every 50th round or so I would have to take the die apart and lube that shaft so it doesnt get stuck up in the die.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Second:</span> I had one (forester micrometer/competition die) for my 6.5 Grendel. I was seating 108gr. Lapua Scenars and all of a sudden it would pinch the the bullet (BAD!) about half way down. The bullet looked like a hourglass! I had loaded at least a hundred of those bullets with no problems and never moved the die pos. and then this happened. I tried a different bullet (120gr. Nosler BT) and it did it even worse. I wish i would have saved the bullets to show you.

Third: I had one for a .223 and that plunger type thing (same as the 6.5 Grendel die) kept getting stuck up in the die with this die also. I was pissed. Also it would leave severe rings around the tips of the bullets. i know this sometimes happens and I heard it just a break-in process for the die but...these die are not for me. They are a pain in the ass.

Also the 6.5 Grendel die just barely has enough clearence to run the seating stem down far enough on the micrometer die. I was all the way down just about bottomed out on that die (seating 2 mag length 2.260") The micrometer part of the die was worthless to me.


I went and bought the .223Rem and 6.5 Grendel dies from <span style="text-decoration: underline">Redding</span> and couldnt be more happier.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

Thank you for the response. I do have a few thoughts for your consideration tho.

"Forester competition (micrometer) I had, it has a plunger type tube that hangs from the bottom and retracts back inside the die as you seat the bullet and then retracts when you drop the ram."

Correct. That is the full body (chamber) sleeve that makes them duplicate the effect of a Wilson type hand die. It's the key to the precision of both the Forster and Redding seaters.


"The plunger kept getting stuck up inside the die everytime I were to seat a bullet."

Okay. That sleeve HAS to be a really snug fit to obtain the best possible performance. Typically it will "wear in" pretty quickly but it's also possible to remove it and lightly polish both inside the die body and the outside of the sleeve, just enough to remove perhaps a half thousants of metal, total, and proper sliding will be assured.


Second: I had one (forester micrometer/competition die) .. I was seating 108gr. Lapua Scenars and all of a sudden it would pinch the the bullet (BAD!) about half way down."

Any seater will ring the ogive IF the case neck inside diameter is too small to allow easy bullet entry. That's from a combination of varing case neck thickness and a slightly too small expander button, not the seater.


"Third: I had one for a .223 and that plunger type thing (same as the 6.5 Grendel die) kept getting stuck up in the die with this die also. I was pissed. Also it would leave severe rings around the tips of the bullets."

As above, both problems. The only way to insure the sleeves are certain to slide freely is to deliberately make them undersized. Forster doesn't do that and that's part of why I prefer them.


If you try bushing type neck sizers OR the Lee Collet Neck Dies you can obtain the proper sized neck ID. That will allow your bullets to enter without such intense seating pressure that they get deformed and will also reduce bullet runout for improved accuracy.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I progressed form an RCBS seater to a Forster micrometer seater.

Both give me less than .002 runout (with the RCBS I used the "seat half-way, rotate 180*, finish seating" method, so not sure how they fared with just running them home).

Because I load mag-length for SMK's and just off the lands for Amax's, the micrometer is priceless. Log my numbers and move from setting to setting and they're spot on every time.

Have had zero reliability problems to date.

John
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thank you for the response. I do have a few thoughts for your consideration tho.

"Forester competition (micrometer) I had, it has a plunger type tube that hangs from the bottom and retracts back inside the die as you seat the bullet and then retracts when you drop the ram."

Correct. That is the full body (chamber) sleeve that makes them duplicate the effect of a Wilson type hand die. It's the key to the precision of both the Forster and Redding seaters.


"The plunger kept getting stuck up inside the die everytime I were to seat a bullet."

Okay. That sleeve HAS to be a really snug fit to obtain the best possible performance. Typically it will "wear in" pretty quickly but it's also possible to remove it and lightly polish both inside the die body and the outside of the sleeve, just enough to remove perhaps a half thousants of metal, total, and proper sliding will be assured.


Second: I had one (forester micrometer/competition die) .. I was seating 108gr. Lapua Scenars and all of a sudden it would pinch the the bullet (BAD!) about half way down."

Any seater will ring the ogive IF the case neck inside diameter is too small to allow easy bullet entry. That's from a combination of varing case neck thickness and a slightly too small expander button, not the seater.


"Third: I had one for a .223 and that plunger type thing (same as the 6.5 Grendel die) kept getting stuck up in the die with this die also. I was pissed. Also it would leave severe rings around the tips of the bullets."

As above, both problems. The only way to insure the sleeves are certain to slide freely is to deliberately make them undersized. Forster doesn't do that and that's part of why I prefer them.


If you try bushing type neck sizers OR the Lee Collet Neck Dies you can obtain the proper sized neck ID. That will allow your bullets to enter without such intense seating pressure that they get deformed and will also reduce bullet runout for improved accuracy. </div></div>

You said it would leave a ring but this was a pinch not a ring.

also you said it could be from variying neck wall thickness and a small exapnder button. The funny thing is this was happenenig with brand new Lapua brass that I took right from the box and starting throwing powder. I did not run them thru my Forester Seater.

Maybe i will give the sleeve a polish and check the exapnder button and neck wall thickness.

Thanks for the info
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I started out with Dillon Dies which are pretty good dies on my Dillon RL 550. When I load for 308 I use the Dillon as a single stage press. I bought the Redding Comp dies and have been very impressed with them. I have not had any issues with the dies thus far as they are very accuracte and consistent. That is about all I need from a die. They are not that complicated but what I do need is good customer service for when I do run into issues and I have heard that Redding is pretty good. I already know Dillon is as I have used them quite a few times.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

"Maybe i will give the sleeve a polish and check the exapnder button and neck wall thickness."

Please let us know how it works out.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I found that the Redding numbers are easier to see, and the Forster is chepaer, both do exactly the samething, I now only use Wilson inline seaters with Sinclair micrometer heads.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I have both the Redding and Forster Competition Seater dies on my bench. I like them both. And find very little, if no difference between the two in performance. I now only buy the Forster because of the lower price. I really can not tell any real difference between the two. I like the sleeve that aligns the case with the bullet for less runout. Or at least it is my opinion that I get less runout because of the dies.

The Micrometer is nice. But not necessary. I have the extra money to buy them, so I do. The micrometer works nice when developing a load. But once a load is developed, and the die is set, then it really is of no use. The Micrometer is also nice if you use the same die to load for two different rifles, if you have different seating depths for your bullets. But you can load ammo every bit as well without the Micrometer. So it is just a personal preference.

I now only buy Forster for two reasons. One is the price. And the other reason Is that I prefer the Forster sizing die. So for me that seals the deal on Forster. Tom.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

If all you want is micrometer adjustment, get a Hornady plus the optional micrometer head for less $.

If all you want is low runout, the Forster Benchrest has the same full-length sliding sleeve that the Redding comp rifle seater has, but without the costly micrometer adjustment.

If you want both micrometer and low runout, get either the Forster Ultra-Benchrest or the Redding Competition rifle seater. I like the lock rings on the Forster better. I've never had a problem with Forster dies. I have not tried the Redding Competition dies.

Andy
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I have redding and forster plus wilson with micrometer top, and like them all. Good when you got more than one rifle ,or shooting more than one bullet.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I have RCBS, Redding and Forster Micrometer seaters. They're all good.

These days I prefer the RCBS with the window to place the bullet while loading. No balancing act on the bullet while working the ram until it engages the die. Never any more run out than with the others.

All my dies get the Forster or Hornady lock rings before they're setup.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

Because of the recomendation of those on this board (thanks again) I bought the Forster micrometer seater die and it is very accurate. I find the 22 cal and 30 cal SMK's I am using can vary by +/- 0.005 and when measuring the COAL whatever the variation in bullet length is that will be the diff in COAL. Sorting bulletts for same length the COAL only varies but 0.001.
 
Re: Competition Seater Dies

I prefer the Forester seating die. It has a harder seating stem in it. I've had 2 Redding dies ruined due to the softer seating stem in it.

Either one works great as far as run-out goes though.