Seating Gas Checks

[Brad]

Ok Ben, I had to make this better. The hammer was driving me nuts. (Pun intended)

Why not make the tool so the bullet will always be the same length after searing the check to ensure they are seated the same?



I decided to use my loading press instead of a hammer. This is the check searing die like you have and my base. Notice my base is made to use the shell holder slot in the press?


Bullet with a check in die. The die is cut to the exact same length as a checked bullet. No way to deform the bullet excessively as the die prevents the bullet from becoming shorter than a sized and checked bullet. Makes it pretty fool proof.


Base in press, bullet in die, die on base.



Check being seated. Ram is raised very little. At this point in stroke the press develops little force compared to at full strength. Plenty of force to seat the check.



Base, anvil die from flair tool, and check seating die. Notice the base unit is bored to fit the seating die.



Bullet with seated check. This bullet requires a flaired check to ensure seating is full and square. This tool does the same job.

The downside is that a separate seating die is required for each diameter and bullet design. Bore in seating die was bored to fit the diameter I use for this bullet in my 300 BO. The bullet determines the required length of the seating die.


Sure was good to run the lathe again. Been 4 long weeks. Everything went well, it all came together nicely. Can't think of a better way to spend an hour or two.

 

[S Mac]

Very nice Brad. So does the die hold the bullet by it's profile or is the nose up against something solid

 

[Brad]

The bullet more presses against the base of what I can an anvil die. Think of a die that threads into your press but has no hole thru it and a flat bottom. This allows you to push stuff flat against the die.

Basically the bullet is inside a die on top of a check. The die is then squeezed between a base in the ram and an anvil in the top of the press. Because the die is cut to the length of a checked and sized bullet the newly checked bullet will be that length.

The check seating die has a straight, non tapered hole thru it. I bored it such that a sized, unchecked bullet slides in but can remain in place against gravity. A simple push with the finger and the checked bullet is removed.

 

[S Mac]

Make sense, I thought it must something like that.

 

[Brad]

I find that if I think of things enough I can picture it in my mind. That allows me to know what I'm looking for in the end. Once I have that mental picture the rest is just makng it.

 

[Ben]

Wow ! !

I thought that I had a nice tool, but now I do think you have the " New and Vastly Improved Version."

That looks like a great tool.

Ben

 

[Pistolero]

Well done, Brad. Looks great.
Should give you excellent feel seating checks uniformly.

Bill

 

[Brad]

Even if I never use this thing I enjoyed making it. Sometimes the challenge of making something is more important than having something to use.

 

[Brad]

Just spent 30 minutes whipping up a seater die for the NOE 165 RD mould I have. Great thing is it only takes a seater die for each bullet. The other two parts are universal.
Would be even faster if I have some .750 stock to start with instead of turning .875 stock down.

 

[Ian]

Good to see you back at the wheel again, Brad. Fantastic idea on the dead-length check seater.

 

[S Mac]

I of course have little concept of what would be easier but I was thinking that if your seater was long enough to do the longest bullet with different anvils with a button to accommodate the proper length? Would that be easier?

 

[Brad]

Probably not. The seater die is simple to make. Turn to .750. Cut off long. Reverse in chuck and center. Face off til correct length. Spot drill, drill to largest possible undersize. Use boring bar to cut to final size and cut recess for check. Light polish to remove sharp edges and done.

Each anvil would be far more time consuming. Threading alone takes longer. Add in a need to make the button the right length and it gets even more time consuming.

Each seater die can also be made for the size the bullets drop. Snug fit ensures all is square. These are such that a bullet can be pushed thru by finger but won't fall thru of their own weight.

Good question. One thing I am learning is how to keep things simple as possible and reduce steps required.