Creedmoor Sports’ new InfoZone website features a series “how-to” video tutorials. In the latest video from InfoZone, Bill Gravatt demonstrates how to seat bullets with L.E. Wilson Hand Dies, Arbor Press. The basic process is easy, especially with a micrometer top seating die. This makes it simple to adjust and set the seating depth. You want to adjust the arbor height so that the stroke is appropriate for the height of your die before you start seating bullets. Bill Gravatt Shows You How To Use Hand Seating Die — Creedmoor InfoZoneARBOR-PRESS TECHNIQUE When using an arbor-press, smooth is best. You don’t need to slam down the handle quickly. Repeat the same motion every time. You can also try seating the bullet partially, rotating the cartridge (into the die), and then doing the final seating in a second stroke. If your arbor press is equipped with a force gauge note the maximum value of the needle as well as how it moves when you seat the bullet. If the needle spikes or bounces backwards and forwards in an irregular manner, you should set aside that cartridge and/or mark. This case could be faulty or have a neck tension problem. You could even have a bad cartridge. It’s not common, but it can happen. It is important to move the press arm smoothly and maintain the same downward pressure with each cartridge. Bill Gravatt offers a simple tip for adjusting Wilson seating dies
One of our Forum members asked: “How can I order a custom inline seater for my rifle?” We would first suggest that, if your Wildcat is not an unusual model, you check to see if L.E. Wilson makes a stainless Micrometer Die for your rifle. These dies are easy to use and fit well with many calibers. Wilson stainless micrometer top seaters, which are typically priced between $95 and $115, are available for dozens cartridge types, including:.204 Ruger; 20 BR;.222 Rem;.223 Rem; 22 PPC; 22 BR.22-250.223WSSM 6 PPC 6mmBR 6XC.243 Win.243 WSSM 25 WSSM 6.5×47 Lapua 6.5 Creedmoor 6.5-284 26 Nosler.270 The process of creating a custom die is fairly simple. You can purchase a blank die from Wilson, and then have your gunsmith insert the chambering reamer. Gunamonth, a forum member, explains: “I begin with a Wilson seat die blank. You can get them from Sinclair or other vendors. Simply run the reamer into the chamber. For some of my guns, I wanted a stainless die with micrometer adjustment. I bought a smaller one and had the smith ream with the chamber reamer. This is how I had the 6mm AI and 6mm Dasher seaters made. The 6mmBR Micrometer was my starting point for the Dasher. This can be done by manually spinning a bullet in the stem with a little lapping material. You’ll be able to achieve a smooth bullet/stem contact without much effort. Micrometer Top Add on
We like the micrometer tops of a seating die. What if Wilson does not make a micrometer-top seater for your chamberings? Brownells offers a $39.99 Sinclair Micrometer top that can be added to Wilson seaters or a custom die made from Wilson blanks.
