Seating Die Question

[Legionnaire]

I have a couple of .260 Remingtons and am building a .260 Rem Ackley. I have already ordered a set of Redding dies for the new AI, which includes a new bullet seater.

Here's the question: I've been toying with the idea of a micrometer seating die. If I went that way, would I need to buy separate dies for the .260s and the .260 AI, or would the same seater die work for both? While the body taper and shoulder angle of the cases are different, the overall case lengths and neck diameters are the same, and I'll start by loading the same bullets in both cartridges.

Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Blue68f100]

The alignment sleeve used on the Redding seating dies will be different between the 2 shoulders. Redding uses this to align the body up so the bullet goes in straight. You may be able to purchase the guide sleeve. But you will be constantly changing parts. I would just buy a new seating die.

If your going to use the ELD's bullets you will also need the ELD seating stem. I confirmed this on my 6.5 CM and the Hornady 140gr ELD-M. The pointed tip will bottom out on seating stem, and did not contact the sides of the bullet. The ELD steating stem can be used with all bullets, just a little deeper so the bullet does not hit. Had a 0.007" difference in the micrometer setting.

You can move the micrometer head between either die, if you do not want to buy another micrometer head.

Call Redding and confirm...

 

[edwardware]

Having owned a Redding Comp Seater. . . I say you will not need a new die or parts. The sleeve in the seater rides the shoulder, and if it sits a tenth higher on the high-angle shoulder, you won't know or care. I used my .223 Redding Comp Seater for .223 and .222 without any issues. Whether this applies to Redding seaters other than the Comp, I cannot say.

If you'd like, you can buy the Hornady seater and Micro Stem; they work the same way, and are explicitly listed by bullet diameter.

Before I sold the Redding Seater, because it accomplished the same task as an RCBS die worth half as much, I asked if Redding would sell me parts. No dice.

 

[Varminterror]

Take a LONG HARD LOOK at LE Wilson seating dies. Ends up being same or lower cost, but faster and more precise than conventional press mounted dies. I have standard body + Micrometer heads as well as the micrometer body type. I still seat my "bulk" and "moderate volume" on a conventional press, but if I started all over again, I wouldn't ever buy anything but Wilson dies for seating.

If you stick with the press mount dies, then I wouldn't say you gain anything in owning micrometer heads, unless you do a LOT of changing among bullets. The Redding is more precise than the Hornady, but both work well enough. The bad news, you can do the same thing with the depth spindle on your vernier calipers, and once you build your dummy round, you never need the micrometer seating stem for that rifle and bullet ever again.

If you're going back and forth between two bullets in the same rifle, then the micrometer might be nice. I just buy a second die (or 12th, in the case of 223/5.56).

The same seating die should work for both. You're not crimping in the die anyway - it just has to have the neck in the right position relative to the bottom and a wide enough shoulder to let the die body fully swallow the case without contact.

But for what I believe you're wanting to get done with your 260, an inexpensive arbor press and a LE Wilson chamber type would be my only road...

 

[witchhunter]

For what it's worth, I fell in love with the first Redding micrometer seating die I used. I buy them for every new rifle caliber I get. They are great for setting up a new rifle, experimenting with different bullet styles and weights. Once you get a recipe that you like, any seater will work, but they are real nice for work-ups. Other brands work well also. I have a RCBS Competition seater too, but I like the Redding best. I am an old school guy that has been doing this for over 45 years and I have made lots of very accurate ammunition with standard RCBS dies, but micrometer dies are just real nice to use for working up a load if you are picky about making accurate ammo.

 

[Legionnaire]

Thanks for the feedback. I have never used an arbor press, but I've been thinking it might be a good possibility.

What got me thinking about the question is that, according to PTG, a set of .308 Ackley go/no-go gauges also works for the .243 AI, .260 AI, and the 7mm-08 AI because, while the neck diameter is different, the case length and length from head to shoulder are the same on all of them. That got me thinking about whether seating dies could be used similarly.

Anyway, really appreciate the feedback. Good stuff to think about. I like the idea of an arbor press for bullet seating. I could do that at my kitchen table when it's 95 degrees in the garage ...

 

[Varminterror]

I like the idea of an arbor press for bullet seating. I could do that at my kitchen table when it's 95 degrees in the garage

Yup - that’s a pretty glorious side effect.

 

[Walkalong]

Both the Wilson hand die and the Forster Competition die in .308 seat equally well for me.

If you like/prefer hand dies gives Niel Jones does a try.

The micrometer tops are great for dialing to a certain bullet instead of fidgeting with the seater every time.