I am using several different bullets in my .243 Win, and have been thinking about getting one of the micrometer topped bullet seaters. I have identified three on the market. What is your opinion (or experience) with any of these three (Forster, RCBS or Redding). As always, thank you. Odessa

My cousin has reddings and I have forsters. There is no difference in runout or consistancy. The only diff I can find is the price which is considerable. I connot comment on the RCBS because I only have one of their standard seaters. 1 vote for Forster.

Hey Odessa, I've no argument at all with ssleefl, Foster does make fine equipment, but I've not handled their Mic Seating Die.

Have handled both the RCBS and Redding models and both seem fine to me. The Redding is a bit more polished, but that is a visual thing. I doubt you can go wrong with any of them.

When I was looking at them, I was reluctant to buy one, cause I was concerned they would "spoil" me and then I'd have to buy a bunch of them. It eventually dawned on me that I could achieve the exact same result by adjusting the Seating Die for a specific bullet, removing the Seating Die from the press and measuring across the full length of the Seating Die with a set of 0.001" capable 6" Calipers. I just record that "Overall Die Length" on that box of bullets. Then I can "Pre-Set" the Seating Die for a specific bullet before I ever screw it into the press. And adjusting it to be 0.010", 0.015", etc. off the Lands is just as simple.

That works well for me and I didn't have to buy a dozen new Seating Dies. But, having them with a built in Mic sure would be nice.

Good luck to you.

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

Thanks for the replies. HotCore, you always seem to have an "out of the box" solution that makes perfectly good sense. Gotta run to Charlotte - take care. Odessa

Hey Odessa, Your welcome! Any other time I'd have been at home and we could have met for lunch. But, it looks like we will be passing on the road. I'm off to Raleigh today.

If you get a chance, stop by the HUGE Bass Pro Shop at Exit 49 on I-85. Some things are a pretty god deal, but just like other places, some are not.

If you do get one of the Mic Seaters, let us know how you like it.

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Good hunting and clean 1-shot kills, Hot Core

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Originally posted by Odessa:
I am using several different bullets in my .243 Win, and have been thinking about getting one of the micrometer topped bullet seaters. I have identified three on the market. What is your opinion (or experience) with any of these three (Forster, RCBS or Redding). As always, thank you. Odessa

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Odessa, Note that Forster makes TWO different seaters STANDARD Micrometer and ULTRA Micrometer with a spring loaded sliding sleeve that encloses the case I found the Ultra to be a little more consistant in runout, I also have several RCBS Competition micrometer seaters and they are more like the standard Forster and work well you just have to be more careful in seating in stages while rotating the case and I get good runout readings with them also...warning next you will want a concentricity gauge,if you don't already have one....you'll just have to know how straight they are???????lol,,,good luck and good shooting..with nice straight precicely seated bullets!

BigDaddy,

The only difference between the standard forster seater and the ultra is the micrometer top.

I don't have an Forresters but do have a couple Reddings, they are nice and very smooth. Don't think you will go wrong with either but then you probably will end up get gauges to measure even more stuff and then need even more stuff, man is this stuff great, love it, have a ball.....