Converting a 22BR Wilson seater die to 22x47L

[VaniB]

You know, I haven't been in precision reloading real long............but long enough to know I prefer Wilson inline bullet seaters to standard 7/8" screw-in dies. Buuuutt........I already checked, and those busy guys at Wilson will NOT hear of custom orders!

Sooooo.....
SO, TO YOU GUYS WITH SOME EXPERIENCE WITH THE 22BR .....do you suppose I can fairly easilly modify the Wilson 22BR in-line seating die into a 22x47L in-line die?....... Hmmmm?...ya think maybe so? Thought I'd run this idea by you to see if you thought it's feasible;

I don't have a 22BR wilson seater to check for myself, but wouldn't a 22x47 Lapua case fit right into it no different then a 22BR case fits into it? Then, wouldn't I only have to fit a stack of washers over the bottom of the 22x47 case that is protruding out of the bottom of the Wilson die, to encase the longer brass case? Basically, I'd just be extending the length of the Wilson die to the same length of the 22x47 Lapua case. If I wanted, I could even solder that stack of metal washers to the bottom of the Wilson die. Do you think that it's worth me investing in a $40 Wilson 22BR seater and trying it?? Let me know if I'm overlooking something about this, as I don't have a 22BR wilson die to examine or slide a 22x47L case into, to do a simple eye balling of the concept. It almost seems too easy.

Another solution would be to use my 22x47L chamber reamer to ream out a 204Ruger Wilson die. (the case length of the Lapua case and the .204 Ruger case are identical) But, that would inlvolve my gunsmith, and I don't know if he has the time and/or patience to try it.

 

[Riflemeister]

The 204 seater won't work, because the seater stems are caliber specific. The 22BR might work as you describe with the stacked washers, but I would get real tired of playing with all those loose parts while trying to seat bullets. I think the best fit would be to use your finishing reamer on a 222 Rem Mag seater. The 222 Rem Mag used to be expanded out to the 6X47 benchrest round before the 6 PPC came along.

 

[VaniB]

Thanks for bringing it to my attention about the 204 and .22 having different diameter seater shafts.

Think I'll try the washers trick added to a 22BR die. I should be able to solder them on there. If it doesn't work then I'll go for reaming the 222Magnum die as you suggest. Just not sure my smith wants to bother or that he would get it right.