Rifle Bullet Seating

[AutoBolt308]

Search performed however no answers to my question of a Lyman Pro Seating Die review, what have you assembled with and what results have you attained?

My reloading entry level seating die is a Lee Ultimate kit which does good 80% of the time however I can easily pull to lengthen and adjust to desired CBTO.

 

[straightshooter1]

When I first started I went with the Lee kit as well and quickly found that I wasn't happy with it, then got a Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater Die, which is much like the Lyman Pro, and it worked very well. Then, I wanted something that was a little more compact and portable to use at the range with a small arbor press, so I got an L.E. Wilson chamber type seating die. I like both the Forster and the Wilson die, but only use the L.E. Wilson die exclusively since it does such a great job providing very consistent results and would highly recommend it.

Search performed however no answers to my question of a Lyman Pro Seating Die review, what have you assembled with and what results have you attained?

The Laymen Pro Seating Die seems to be a very good seating die, especially if you're using a progressive press, since that's what they're apparently designed for. If you haven't already seen it, there's a review for the one for pistol cartridges only, but maybe you can get a sense of their quality:

My reloading entry level seating die is a Lee Ultimate kit which does good 80% of the time however I can easily pull to lengthen and adjust to desired CBTO.

You didn't mention just what level of shooting or reloading you aspire to, which can often be a factor as to what my be suitable to you. If you're interested in a very high level of seating consistency, then I'd recommend the L.E. Wilson die that can be used with a simple little arbor press, then you can more easily make seating depth adjustment at the firing range.






I hope all this give you some ideas.

 

[redbullitt]

The lee collet neck die works very well and is worth a look for the price. Their seating dies do okay too. For the price tough to beat. Mine have loaded A LOT of nice 223 ammo.

Some of the hornady stuff is notable since you can convert to a micrometer seating die affordably, and even better they make it easy to get off shelf VLD and other style seaters for their dies.

Otherwise Redding, whidden, wilson, and forster is good stuff and i have really come to like using a dedicated decapper with a hardened pin as opposed to decapping in the sizer.

Hope thats helpful op!

 

[AutoBolt308]

When I first started I went with the Lee kit as well and quickly found that I wasn't happy with it, then got a Forster Ultra Micrometer Seater Die, which is much like the Lyman Pro, and it worked very well. Then, I wanted something that was a little more compact and portable to use at the range with a small arbor press, so I got an L.E. Wilson chamber type seating die. I like both the Forster and the Wilson die, but only use the L.E. Wilson die exclusively since it does such a great job providing very consistent results and would highly recommend it.


The Laymen Pro Seating Die seems to be a very good seating die, especially if you're using a progressive press, since that's what they're apparently designed for. If you haven't already seen it, there's a review for the one for pistol cartridges only, but maybe you can get a sense of their quality:




You didn't mention just what level of shooting or reloading you aspire to, which can often be a factor as to what my be suitable to you. If you're interested in a very high level of seating consistency, then I'd recommend the L.E. Wilson die that can be used with a simple little arbor press, then you can more easily make seating depth adjustment at the firing range.






I hope all this give you some ideas.

I just attained a Frankfort Arsenal M-Press with their case trimmer and spare die holders and need to source a good work bench to mount however I have been using the basic Lee hand press with decent results. Also keep in mind that I am adjusting factory ammunition as of now until I amount some brass and primers have been extremely hard to source and waiting to order. Currently have 100 pieces of 308 Winchester Hornady brass, 80 pieces of Remington brass, 60 Starlite, and some Norma that I have started to de-cap and neck size cause have just 1 firing so far. Oh I did purchase a Hornady seating insert that was made for A-Max for tipped bullets and it does work in the Lee seater die and every so often I get 1 seated .015" shallow which I find odd.
I will also be reloading 300AAC in the future for plinking and some deer hunting and for my sons to build up their confidence with.

Thank you for your reply and yes I have viewed those seaters with thoughts of future purchases.

1 more thing, I have some powders in mind for 308, IMR 3031 and Accurate 4350 to start and CFE BLK for 300AAC. Open to comments on those as well.

 

[AutoBolt308]

The lee collet neck die works very well and is worth a look for the price. Their seating dies do okay too. For the price tough to beat. Mine have loaded A LOT of nice 223 ammo.

Some of the hornady stuff is notable since you can convert to a micrometer seating die affordably, and even better they make it easy to get off shelf VLD and other style seaters for their dies.

Otherwise Redding, whidden, wilson, and forster is good stuff and i have really come to like using a dedicated decapper with a hardened pin as opposed to decapping in the sizer.

Hope thats helpful op!

I have tried to de-cap, shoulder bump, and full length size a couple pieces of brass just to set the Lee die and haven't been too successful. How many firings do you cycle before noticing any changes in chambering?

I currently do de-cap and neck size then trim length -.002" then clean by hand as I start to amount some brass for later reloading.

 

[AutoBolt308]

Quick update, was finally able to locate some Federal large magnum primer 215's and get ordered along with some 155gr HPBT bullets.

 

[RegionRat]

I have tried to de-cap, shoulder bump, and full length size a couple pieces of brass just to set the Lee die and haven't been too successful. How many firings do you cycle before noticing any changes in chambering?

I currently do de-cap and neck size then trim length -.002" then clean by hand as I start to amount some brass for later reloading.

With the Lee Collet Die, many of us will use a Redding Body die in a separate operation to maintain body size, and then let the Lee Collet Die gently set the neck tension.

It is really just another form of mandrel sizing with less cold working since it only closes down onto the mandrel rather than under size then over size with a regular set up.

Allowing a session where you don't bump the shoulder till you feel a little with the bolt will tell you when the brass has fully grown to the shoulder datum. Then you reference from that cycle and bump the length with the body die.

This is why loading at the range is best on that day. You can cycle a handful of brass while you learn the sizing recipe.