Seater Dies Question

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I know we discussed benchrest / accurate type seater dies recently: I was wonerering is anyone makes a Seater die body that takes individual caliber sleeves
So you only need one Die body and just swap out the caliber specific sleeves as needed ?
Also Just a general question on the Benchrest seater dies: Can the seater body handle the large diameter bullets of cast bullet shooting as opposed to standard Jacketed dimensions?
Thanks
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Some of the BR seaters can handle larger bullets but many get a bit dicey. Having snug tolerances means assuming a common bullet size. A seater designed to be snug with a .308 bullet isn’t going to be very happy with a .312 bullet.
I don’t know if you can get cartridge specific sleeves for a Forster BR seater or not. Would be a simple email to Forster?

I don’t know how hard the sleeves on a Forster die are but if not too hard it would be easy to open them up a bit to allow a fatter bullet. Problem is that we now have opened up tight tolerances when using a smaller bullet.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Also Just a general question on the Benchrest seater dies: Can the seater body handle the large diameter bullets of cast bullet shooting as opposed to standard Jacketed dimensions? Thanks

Not the Redding dies, bullets stick in the die and pull when removing from the die. I use the Redding BR seater for my 357 but the throats of the revolver are .357" and bullets sized any larger won't chamber so the BR die works well.
 

waco

Springfield, Oregon
I use a Forster Ultra Micrometer seat die with .311” cast for my .308 with no issues.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
MettCalDie__40372.1406843997.640.640_large.jpg
Mett_Sleeves__24224.1407362609.640.640_large.jpg


something like this?
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Lyman PA (precision alignment) seaters, not made for 25 years, Old Vickerman dies, not made for 40 years would work. Vickerman dies have been reintroduced, but I don't know if they would make sleeves for you or not.

Jacketed bullet dies normally will not work with bullets .002" oversize very well. IMHO
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
how did I go from 2 different pics to one of the same thing.
this is one of those places where a small lathe would be handy.
you could make the top punch and the sliding sleeve for the open type from Ponsess easy enough.
the sleeves are just that little collars with holes in the center that ride up and down in the die.
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
fiver, yes they are easy to make in the Vickerman or even the newer RCBS benchrest target seaters with cut out. Both just use a cone on the bottom for the case shoulder to register against and a correct sized hole for the bullet to align into. Nose plug just has to be close.
 

Ian

Notorious member
Forster may still sell individual sleeves and nose punches, you used to be able to call them up and ask to buy direct, they don't advertise the option because it costs them money in a way. I don't remember if there are more than one die body size or not. In some instances you will have to hone out the neck portion of the die to accommodate cast bullets, the problem being the die wanting to close the bellmouth up too much so the bullet gets shaved or deformed when seating. .30-caliber dies will work without modification for .310" bullets and normal neck thicknesses, but usually not for .311" bullets.
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
Ok I guess the "new" Vickerman may be the way to go Pricy but looks like a good tool Just not sure if it can handle .002" over size cast bullets
 

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
If it will not, you can disassemble it and hone out the bullet guide section. A .22 cleaning rod, 400 grit wet and dry and care worked for me on the old models.
 
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JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I was hoping someone would say that!
Done that with many bullet sizers and and a few full length dies
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
the one I showed had a 30 and a 31 cal sleeve.
30 does 310 the 31 will of course go higher
 

JWFilips

Well-Known Member
I definitely would need a 30 and 31 then. I'm not sure if I will need one of their shell holder extensions for my rock chucker press
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
shouldn't unless your loading shorter cases, or using one of the shorter seater dies I have seen.