In-line dies vs screw-in dies

T

Travelor

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I am shooting F-Class out to 1000 yards with custom guns with no-turn chambers in Krieger barrels. I currently am using a Forster Co-Ax press with Redding Competition bushing dies and getting quite good results.

A good friend swears that if I get and use some Wilson dies and arbor press, my load quality will improve and my scores should go up.

Anyone done a empirical test and have thoughts on the two methods of reloading? Do you feel it was worth the cost?

Thanks,

George
 
George,

Loading at the range is much more convenient if you don't have to schlup a Co-Ax press around so that is one reason that in-line dies are popular for short range BR where loading most often occurs between relays. I pre-load for long range BR, F-open and Palma. Like you I use a Co-Ax and get results with Redding, gunsmith built dies from Newlon blanks and Lee collet neck dies that are indistinguishable from in-line dies with an arbor press.

Greg
 
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Add me to the club with Greg and German. On my most recent build I had my Smith build me both the Redding and Wilson seaters using my reamer. I didn't keep a good record like German but the results were clear that I could not tell the difference in the two measuring runout.

I put the Wilson in the box on the shelf and stayed with the Redding since it is much faster and less work for me! :)

As a side note I am FL sizing with a custom sizing die cut with my resize reamer. Don't know if this matters as it pertains to my own test but thought I would throw it out there.
 
I find that with regular loads, my Redding competition gives equal results to my Wilsons, but I use the latter when I load compressed loads with long projectiles. Redding acknowledges that their precision dies aren't made for that sort of rough work.
 
One thing that may have escaped typical comparisons of types of seating dies is round to round ogive to head variance. Also, for unturned necks, if you don't mind an extra step, I have seen reports of very good results using a body die in combination with a Collet Die. Another thing that can cause accuracy problems is shoulder to head variance in sized cases. If you happen to set up using one of the softer cases in a set, you could get a tighter bolt on one that did not bump as much with the same die setting. Tight and easy, don't group together. A friend ran into this problem with a well built WSM. An automatic annealing machine solved the problem, uniforming bump, and seating force.
 
In-line vs. screw-in dies

I have and use both, have also tested loaded rounds comparing the 2 types of seaters, (Wilson vs. Forster micrometer benchrest), and can find no significant difference. Can and do get some occasional runouts with both methods, but I attribute that to an odd defective brass case. As mentioned, it also seems to take longer to seat a batch of bullets using the Wilson. And, since you still will need a screw-in press to full length resize, reform brass, (220 Russian to 6ppc, 6BR to 22BR, etc.), that is what I use the most. I've also used the Wilson neck sizing die with the bushing, and pounding the lubed case into the die, with a 16 oz. plastic headed hammer, then knocking the case out with a punch just does not seem to fit my definition of "precision reloading", so Redding FL type S neck bushing dies are used, with the arbor press & Wilson die(s) used for bullet seating only. Just what works for me/ my experience/not trying to criticize whatever other methods others are using.
 
Thanks for the answers

I use a Redding body die every 3rd reloading and set the shoulders back .002" and anneal after the body die.

Think I will save the money for bullets and powder and keep using what I have unitl I can get some dies built from the chambering reamers.

German, I jsut read your article. Thanks for the work with actual numbers.

:)
George
 
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Back about 1970 a few of us found the Co Ax press to make ammo just as good as the Wilson in line dies. We were using Bonanza (Forester) dies at that time.
 
I've used arbor presses with inline (Wilson) dies, Forster Co-Ax with Redding & Forster dies with nearly equal success. I've even started to move some of my 'volume' loading over to a 550 equipped with a Whidden tool head and Redding/Forster dies - after I've thoroughly 'debugged' the load on a single stage or arbor press. So far, the final rounds are nearly indistinguishable in dimension and performance on target in my experience.

The arbor press with inline dies are more 'sensitive'; you'll be able to feel things that you can't with the Forster and dang sure can't with the 550. Once the process is all set up and debugged, that becomes somewhat of a moot point IMO.
 
Ask Youself

What are a set of dies required to do??.

Three things. Produce ammunition that is truely straight, size the case so that is compatible with your chamber, and seat bullets that are consistant in seating depth.

If your dies do this, then they are "good enough" for the task at hand, regardless of the brand.............jackie
 
flat based bullets??

From what I have seen all the testing done is with Boatails. I have tried seating flatbased bullets through a standard press into a tight neck and it was tuff.
 
seating flatbase

captbill: I probably use more flatbase than boatail, since the majority of my shooting is at a 300 yd. max: longer distances just not available within my limitations on driving distance. Seating them has never been a problem, even those that may have a pressure ring at the base. I always use the K&M inside taper neck reamer, and all flatbase bullets start and fully seat smoothly without any undue pressure, and certainly no damage/shaving of jacket mat'l. It's such a smooth start that I'm able to sit, not push a flatbase bullet onto the case mouth, then rotate the case so the bullet is pointing down, and it does not fall out of the case. Try that after de-burring with the "rocket-ship" de-burring only. The recently re-designed K&M tool with the centering rod, in addition to the 3 "fingers, adjustable for length of cut ( the recommended 1/32") give a perfect cut every time. Works for me.
 
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