Arbor Press FL Sizing

[DVS1]

Hey fellas

Been looking at a few YouTube videos of the arbor presses etc etc and may look into obtaining one for my reloading.

Question for those that have more experience than me.

I currently use Redding Competition Dies for FL resizing bullet seating etc etc but can you do FL resizing with an arbor press type die?

At work at the moment so unable to do any major searching so thought I'd ask the pool of wisdom.

I've seen a neck sizing/bushing/tension die but if you want to add a shoulder bump of 2thou is there a specific type die with adjustment?

Cheers lads

 

[jcampbellsmith]

When I had an arbor press, I used it only for seating bullets with Wilson dies. One thought in getting the K&M Arbor press was to do a seating test when I was on the range but in practice I never did.
Regards
JCS

 

[DVS1]

Cheers for the info mate

 

[petlowe]

You can't run a sizing expander into / out of a arbour, it's in only with them.

 

[Bowland blades]

Hey fellas

Been looking at a few YouTube videos of the arbor presses etc etc and may look into obtaining one for my reloading.

Question for those that have more experience than me.

I currently use Redding Competition Dies for FL resizing bullet seating etc etc but can you do FL resizing with an arbor press type die?

At work at the moment so unable to do any major searching so thought I'd ask the pool of wisdom.

I've seen a neck sizing/bushing/tension die but if you want to add a shoulder bump of 2thou is there a specific type die with adjustment?

Cheers lads

The chamber type " hand dies" as we use in an an arbour press are generally neck sizing only used with a bushing to suit your brass ( or a few to plat around with neck tension ) They are very good at making a very concentric round of ammo. Can be used out on the range if you have a suitable bench .
You can also get dies designed for regular C and O frame presses ( these are not compatible with hand dies ). You can then get them in standard factory that will adjust shoulder bump but gives only a std " big squeeze to the neck" OR a bushing bump die thats easier to adjust shoulder bump and takes various neck sizing bushings to match your required squeeze .
I usually use a hand die if i am just looking to neck size and a full length bushing / bump die if i need to move the shoulder back .

 

[webley701]

DVS1

No you can’t (practically) use an arbour press for FL sizing.

These presses are used with loose dies (so called ‘hand dies’) which don’t screw into a press - for bullet seating or neck only sizing. A very typical hand die is the Wilson range.

Arbour presses don’t have any facility to accept threaded dies like your Reddings.

Although we often talk of ‘bumping the shoulder back’ in reality what’s also happening is a slight reduction in the body diameter as well (it’s unavoidable due to the shape of the case). This isn’t a problem in a standard press as there’s ample leverage to push the case in the die & then extract it but not so with an arbour press. The situation would be even more unworkable if trying to really FL size.

I’ve used arbour presses for years along with Wilson dies but mostly for bullet seating (plus neck sizing on occasion).

Arbour presses can be useful for reloading at the range & were popularised by ‘benchrest’ competitors but a Wamadet is an even better & more versatile press as although it takes standard threaded dies it can also be used as an arbour press if needed.

Frankly for virtually every need a good standard press with your Redding dies will make ammunition the equal of that produced by an arbour press.

 

[DVS1]

That's all great info lads and thanks very much!

At first glances I thought it's primary use was for seating, then found the neck sizing, so wondered.

Much appreciated and excellent advice from the SD again

 

[Neddle]

I fl size and deprime on single stage press,then internally neck size with expander mandrel before external neck sized using le wilson dies,bit of work but works for me

 

[Bowland blades]

I fl size and deprime on single stage press,then internally neck size with expander mandrel before external neck sized using le wilson dies,bit of work but works for me

There is one thing the wilson hand die wont do in all that and is the shoulder . why would you expand unless your converting caliber ? the Wilson hand die functions straight expander . I actually expend up 243 cases to form 260 in a wilson screw in die into c or o press
I only expand to neck up or if i wanted to neck turn ( which i dont anymore )
Just saying mind , have a reason for everything when you load it saves time and money .

 

[Neddle]

I don't use expander ball in FL die

 

[Bowland blades]

I don't use expander ball in FL die

the ball type can knock the neck out of true. Std FLS dies though are designed for the folks who dont want to be spending too much time knocking out as many finished rounds as they can in a single evening though ( at minimal cost) . To be fair done correctly the "nut behind the butt" will be the Ultimate deciding factor if a fox or deer is well shot - Is not the dies used

 

[NoIDeer]

I use a lee hand press for fls and an arbor press for seating. Works well for me, whole kit in a box.

 

[Neddle]

the ball type can knock the neck out of true. Std FLS dies though are designed for the folks who dont want to be spending too much time knocking out as many finished rounds as they can in a single evening though ( at minimal cost) . To be fair done correctly the "nut behind the butt" will be the Ultimate deciding factor if a fox or deer is well shot - Is not the dies used

Each to their own

 

[Bowland blades]

Each to their own

I still use pretty much all kinds of dies and presses , even a chamber type hand die and a smallish mallet. I think what we should think is " what's most appropriate " for given circumstances . ? "
Cowboy action shooting , 1000 yard BR , clearing a mass of rabbits , stalking deer , Long range crows etc etc . There is never going to be a best way only an appropriate way perhaps ?

 

[Neddle]

As I stated previously each to their own,I've made some great rnds with Lee dies,better with Forster, le wilson better again

 

[Bowland blades]

As I stated previously each to their own,I've made some great rnds with Lee dies,better with Forster, le wilson better again

Sorry my point was about defining "better " As in something can only be "better" against another in a set circumstance . Regards tolerances and ultimate accuracy LE . Wilson Chamber dies are certainly going to be top of my list But if i dont need that " ultimate accuracy " I am going to go with something " Better "
Shaving 0.25 MOA off a round for shooting stags at longer range and that's a big ask is 1" at 400 yards and i cant even aim 1" at 400 on a flank . I dont think we are really debating just defining here? Just wanted to make that clear though i do " Get your view " regards ultimate accuracy " potential " in choice of dies

 

[Neddle]

Think this conversation run its course, if your happy as you are fine,you do your thing and I'll do mine

 

[User00040]

That's all great info lads and thanks very much!

At first glances I thought it's primary use was for seating, then found the neck sizing, so wondered.

Much appreciated and excellent advice from the SD again

Not strictly true, there are dies called 'vice/vise dies' which allow you to full length size/push the shoulder back. However, these are non-adjustable and quite agressive on the sizing. You'd need a proper arbour press rated in several tons of force. Not these nimby 'reloading' ones that sell for a fortune.

See here: Vise Dies (Old school Full Length Resizing)

There is also a South African make of press that has both arbour seater and regular leverage press:

Precision Double Press, Precision Locator Pin For Dillon 308 Fam, Precision Magnum Double Press, Precision Single Magnum Press, Precision Single Range Press

Discontinued, made by order only Sudami X-Ring Precision Double Press 1st For South Africa From the biggest manufacturer of reloading equipment in RSA. This press was designed for high precision accuracy, strength, and mobility and easy to use in mind. Dual purpose for threaded and Wilson...

sudamix-ring.co.za

 

[enfieldspares]

Hey fellas

Been looking at a few YouTube videos of the arbor presses etc etc and may look into obtaining one for my reloading.

Question for those that have more experience than me.

I currently use Redding Competition Dies for FL resizing bullet seating etc etc but can you do FL resizing with an arbor press type die?

At work at the moment so unable to do any major searching so thought I'd ask the pool of wisdom.

I've seen a neck sizing/bushing/tension die but if you want to add a shoulder bump of 2thou is there a specific type die with adjustment?

Cheers lads

In my opinion no, not on a press such as a K & M there isn't enough strength in the thing, nor enough leverage to do so. Especially with, say, .30/06 length cases. But I have full length sized with Wilson dies on a garage sized arbour press of the sort used for pressing gudgeon pins into pistons or replacing a bearing when changing clutch, plate and bearing.

And for case forming where the case is swaged...say making cases into .240 H & H Apex or swaging I have one of these for sale - see SD Classifieds - which is a beast of a thing and specifically advised as suitable for case forming or swaging using suitable 7/8" x 14 tpi dies.

Cast Boolits

This is the dedicated cast bullet forum!

castboolits.gunloads.com

Champion Press

 

[Neddle]

the ball type can knock the neck out of true. Std FLS dies though are designed for the folks who dont want to be spending too much time knocking out as many finished rounds as they can in a single evening though ( at minimal cost) . To be fair done correctly the "nut behind the butt" will be the Ultimate deciding factor if a fox or deer is well shot - Is not the dies used

You're missing the point here,normal dies expand the inside of the neck under extraction and stretch the brass,using a mandrel expands the inside of the neck under compression.
A worthwhile consideration when using premium brass