What is this tool exactly? = Hornady MicroJust Seating Stem

[Bullseye]

I am not all that advanced in bullet seating or measuring OAL but my best guess is that that is what this is for.
It was included along with two number 5 shell holder type items in a 405 Win Hornady Die Set.

I have no idea what this is called, who made it and how or what the shellholders work with.

If anyone knows, I would like to know what these tools are called. I would look up more information if I knew where to start. Thanks

 

[Reloadron]

Looks like a powder throw micrometer at a glance.

No wait, Hornady MicroJust Seating Stem as I have one sitting here.

Ron

 

[Curator]

The two #5 shell holders are part of the Lee shell trimming set. The "micrometer" appears to be part of an micro-adjustable bullet seating die.

 

[Bullseye]

Thank you for the info.
Watched a couple vids and downloaded a PDF manual from Hornady now being more informed as to what it is.
I would imagine that this is specific for the .405 Win and Hornady seating dies. I hate to start taking my other seating dies apart to check if it would work for others. I has the idea that maybe it would be good for fussy 45 acp or 40 acp OAL if by chance it screwed down into the RCBS threads.
The 405 rifle I have isn't all that fussy. I just crimp mid cannelure on those. I have some .405 Barnes TSX long hollow points that this may have been previously useful for since they might have needed to be seated just so due to length and shape.
The only other Hornady dies I have are 45-70. It's possible they might be useful there as well depending on the projectile.
At this time I have no use for the shellholders. I use a Hornady case trimmer.

 

[RealGun]

I have the Redding version, and to me it is useful to load different bullet profiles in the same caliber, noting the relative number setting on the micrometer. Mine is dedicated to 41 Magnum, bought because it was the only thing I could find at the time. My guess is that someone replaced yours with a standard adjustment, opting to be more locked in.

 

[Poper]

I has the idea that maybe it would be good for fussy 45 acp or 40 acp OAL if by chance it screwed down into the RCBS threads.

According to the description in the link to the item on Midway's web site via Reloadron's post, it is proprietary for Hornady New Dimension dies and will not work in other mfr's dies.
Surprise!

 

[Reloadron]

Curiosity got the best of me. I only knew I had one because I remembered seeing it in a box with old junk from the gun shop, we sold the business 20 years ago. I also have a set of Pacific (Division of Hornady) old, very old, .357 Three Die Loading Set. Well I'll be...

Pictured below is the seater die with original seater plug and on the right the Hornady MicroJust Precision Bullet Seating Die Stem 044090. The 044090 being what I happen to have by part number.

I went ahead and gave it a try and it was a perfect fit with the same thread.

Now as to the mention of RCBS? Tried it with a 3 die RCBS #18212 and close but different thread. So it will not work with the RCBS seater die. That made for an entertaining few min this afternoon. Maybe I'll start using the old Pacific dies as they are a mint set. However, the RCBS set has seater plugs for FP and RN bullets. The micrometer would be best suited for FP bullets.

Ron

 

[alexcue]

The #5's like Curator set are from a Lee case gauge trimmer. They use the same shellholder numbering system that their shellholders use, but it's obviously missing the case gauges that go with them. My #5 is for a 300Wby

 

[Bullseye]

Well this is good news. It will work for any Hornady dies ( and Pacific ) regardless of bullet size to set depth. Won't work with my RCBS and I also checked my Lyman, Herters, and Lee dies and they won't work either ... but that's OK. I know now what it is and how it works.
The shellholders will end up in the PIF sometime soon.

 

[snuffy]

The shellholders will end up in the PIF sometime soon.

Those Lee shell holders look like they're made of aluminum, if so, chuck them in the trash! Way back when they first came out with their trimming system, they tried to make the trimmer shell holder out of soft aluminum. In order to get them tight enough to hold the case while spinning it, they had to be cranked down real tight. Those thin--soft lips just wouldn't take that, they bent making it impossible to grip the case. Currently they're made of steel, much better.

 

[aladdin]

I believe There is another part needed. You need the seating plug. Hornady seating dies have a sliding sleeve with the seating plug as separate part. This is why the stem of the micrometer is flat on the end. And why the Hornady micrometer will not work with other brand dies.

 

[2011redrider]

It goes on top of the seating plug and replaces the stock adjustment stem.

 

[Bullseye]

Snuffy:

Those Lee shell holders look like they're made of aluminum

These stick to a magnet pretty good. They just look aluminum cause of the picture flash I guess. Never used by the looks of em.