If you were sorting by seating pressure do you go by initial break over pressure or final seating pressure?
Arbor Press with gauge question
- Thread starter LC 6.5 Shooter
- Start date
If your registering two distinct readings it would be advantages to reassess your neck procedure.
It should be a fluid gain as the bullet moves deeper into the neck towards the final seating depth.
If you press and you see an OBVIOUS release at say 25#'s then continue to press and get the final release at 55#'s
something in the process could be made better.
I strive for a fluid and continues gain in pressure until it levels off.
That would be the number I use as a reference.
Also don't get things mixed with the term neck tension.
You can easily have .004" tension press lighter than .0015".
It's all in the preparation.
Everyone will have varied opinions as to their procedures; this is mine.
It should be a fluid gain as the bullet moves deeper into the neck towards the final seating depth.
If you press and you see an OBVIOUS release at say 25#'s then continue to press and get the final release at 55#'s
something in the process could be made better.
I strive for a fluid and continues gain in pressure until it levels off.
That would be the number I use as a reference.
Also don't get things mixed with the term neck tension.
You can easily have .004" tension press lighter than .0015".
It's all in the preparation.
Everyone will have varied opinions as to their procedures; this is mine.
This information is incorrect.
You can absolutely have two or more distinct numbers and still have ammo that shoots fine.
Here’s examples of different kinds of seating force curves. They all shoot well.
There is thus far zero evidence or data that suggests a fluid gain is better then a gain with a release, or a gain/release/gain.
Much of it depends on bushing/type of bushing or non bushing die. As well as the finish on the inside of the neck. However 90% or more of it is just white noise.
I promise you will not be able to find or post long term data with any amount of statistical confidence that suggests otherwise.
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As to the OP, force gauges and such are literally comparators, just like your calipers with inserts for headspace and seating.
For the most part, they don’t help you make better ammo, they allow you to make consistent ammo.
You will need to do the testing yourself, find what works for you and then use the gauge to keep ammo consistent.
For example you may find that your best performing ammo has a high of 55psi towards the middle of the seating. That’s what you pay attention to. Or you find that it’s best when it’s close to 25 psi throughout the entire seating distance. Then you look for that.
You will almost never find “when it does X it’s going to be a bad round.”
For the most part, they don’t help you make better ammo, they allow you to make consistent ammo.
You will need to do the testing yourself, find what works for you and then use the gauge to keep ammo consistent.
For example you may find that your best performing ammo has a high of 55psi towards the middle of the seating. That’s what you pay attention to. Or you find that it’s best when it’s close to 25 psi throughout the entire seating distance. Then you look for that.
You will almost never find “when it does X it’s going to be a bad round.”
This is one of those subjects you can beat to death with a stick and never have the same answer twice, however in this case I'm saying the exact same thing as Dthomas3523 does in his followup posts with the intent on getting you to think about what in your process is causing the numbers you see.
Vic
Vic
