Straightline bullet seating

[ottsm]

I mainly cast my own bullets. One problem that always happens is getting the bullet seated straight. I've measured concentricity of my loads and its really hard to be consistent. I was just loading some 25-20 SS rounds and I can visually see some are way off just by rolling them. I've been looking at the following;
Vickerman, Meacham Easy Seater Straight Line, and the RCBS competition seater.
In the past I've tried to contact Vickerman and Meacham and basically got no reply. At first I tried email and then I called and left a message but didn't go beyond that point. The RCBS dies are special order and more expensive but I'm not sure they work the same way.

I am already familiar with Redding competition dies, they are OK for jacketed but will not work with cast bullets. They also only work with a particular case and don't cover more types in the same caliber. RCBS does list a 25 caliber that seems to cover over a range? Others in the RCBS line are for a specific case.

Anyone have any thoughts?
Is the RCBS just as good as the Vickerman?

 

[Reloadron]

Give RCBS a call or for that matter Redding, Lee or Lyman. Just about any die manufacturer will make you a custom seating die if you send them one of your bullets.

I use the RCBS Competitioon die set in 30-06, .308 Win and .223 Rem but for what you have I would look to get a custom seater made and all things considered the cost is not that bad.

Ron

 

[Drail]

The Lyman M-step dies will solve your problem but I don't think they are made in .25 cal.

 

[Drail]

OK, I went to their website and they DO offer an M step die in .25/20 cal. Check it out. I have been using the M step dies for many years and they work as advertised and allow your cases to last much longer.

 

[ottsm]

I already have a neck expending die in 25 cal, this does eliminate the lead shavings and allows the bullet to be started easy enough but doesn't necessary guarantee alignment. If you look at meachamrifles web page and look at the bullet seating die, they give a good picture of how the bullet is held in alignment. The Vickerman die works on the same concept, I'm not sure about the RCBS competition top loader die.

 

[FROGO207]

I bet that is Win 25-20 NOT 25-20 Single Shot like the OP asks about. They are different. One thing you could try for little more than extra time expended is to seat part way, lower the round some and rotate 180* and seat the rest of the way. Or try rotating it in thirds using three depths. Might work out OK for you.

Oh and chamfering the inside of the neck will help the bullet start in squarely as well.