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advantage is that they have a fi xed stop, rather
than a lock ring, when they screw into the die
body. Th is means that as long as the major die
body lock ring has not been moved on the seating
die, changing the bullet seating micrometers from
one die set to another is very simple. Once the die
is screwed into the press one only need reset the
micrometer to the same index mark as the last time
it was used for that die set and set up is complete.
On a side note Redding premium die sets come
with the bullet seating micrometers and your
customers can easily cross reference what other
sets they may own which can use the micrometer
as well. A selling point which can enhance their
experience with multiple cartridges.
As we move from the realm of standard seating
dies, we move into very specialized dies, in many
cases designed for competitive shooting disciplines.
Again, we have the two initial categories of straight
wall (handgun) types a bottleneck (rifl e) cases as
the areas of diff erentiation.
Competition type seating dies are available
from many manufacturers. Th ey generally off er a
micrometer seating depth adjustment, and some
like the Redding competition seating die for
bottleneck case also enhance concentricity through
a patented process. Th ese dies provide a higher
level of precision and accuracy to loadings.
In the case of the Redding competition-seating
die it uses a sliding sleeve in concert with a free
fl oating seater to actually hold the case and bullet
in alignment, as well as, to axially locate the bullet
within the sliding sleeve that approximates the rifl e
chamber for the cartridge. Th e free fl oating, seater
itself is bullet diameter and the through hole is
just a few tenths over bullet diameter. Th e land
bearing point of the bullet and the centering of the
meplat in the seater actually act as bearing points
with the bullet body held like an axel between.
Th is guarantees alignment and all move in concert
within the sliding sleeve until the top of the seater
comes into contact with the micrometer base,
pushing the seater and therefore the bullet into the
case in a manner both concentric to the case and
axial to the rifl e’s bore.
Other makers have competition searing dies that
have an opening in their side to place the bullet
into at a position to better align it with the seater.
In general most styles use a micrometer to regulate
seating depth. I am not addressing dies for arbor
style presses as they fall outside the realm of most
shooters, but a number of smaller fi rms compete in
this area as well.
Th ere are competition-seating dies for straight
wall cases as well. Redding produces them for
both handgun and specifi c straight wall rifl e
cases. Th ese work in much the same way as the
bottleneck versions to control the components and
hold them in axial alignment as the seating process
occurs, but they do not need the sliding sleeve
components due to the straight wall case design.
Instead the die body itself is very tightly machined
like the appropriate chamber of the case being
used. Th is allows the case and bullet to be aligned
axially and concentrically while they enter the die
in a manner controlled by the free-fl oating seat
plug. Seating depth is controlled by a micrometer,
which impinges upon the seat plug at the top of
the progression into the die seating the bullet to
the proper depth as set on the micrometer.
Seating dies are the fi nal critical function in
the reloading process and the variety and scope
of the market’s off erings refl ect the desires of the
consumer. From simple seating dies containing a
roll crimp for the production of everyday hunting
and plinking ammo, to highly sophisticated
competition dies which improve concentricity and
accuracy for long range competitors. Matching
the proper seating die for the application is
important to ultimate customer satisfaction. Many
manufacturers off er tech tips on their websites,
which can assist your staff in helping to provide the
best seating die for the customer’s application.
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