As I’ve stated a few times in previous blogs, I’m new to reloading and bought my entire kit at Frankford Arsenal (FA) after a demonstration.
The brand manager at FA has taught us a lot about how to reload. One of the coolest things for me was to see how all the tools worked and how easy it was to reload with FA tools.
This past weekend, I was visiting my brother-in-law and he wanted to do some reloading for his .308 and AR-15 rifles. He just recently bought a couple of dies from RCBS to do his bullet seating.
Feed The Beast! With a few quality tools, a drive to learn, and some practical exercise, you can become a self-sufficient reloader able to tune your ammunition to fit your needs.
Let’s just say after reloading using the RCBS dies and using my Frankford Universal Bullet Seating Die kit, I was inspired to write about my FA die kit. This blog today is based on my personal experience with my Frankford Arsenal Die kit.
Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die Kit
Before I get too far into the comparison of the two brands, let’s first explain what a bullet seating die is and why it matters to reloading. A bullet seating die goes into your press (Frankford Coaxial M-Press or the Hornady Press) to properly seat your bullet into the casing. This is one of the final steps to reloading your own brass and one that makes the biggest difference for accuracy.
Bullets ready to be pressed into casings by the FA M-Press
For example, the difference between 0.001" in seating depth can mean the difference between a hit and a miss at 400 yards. Commercial ammo does it all for you, but you also can’t change the seating depth. Most commercial ammo is made to be universal to work for as many rifle brands and types of barrels as possible.
Is Every Rifle the Same if Chambered in the Same Caliber?
I think everyone understands that no humans are the same and if we’re all different, surely the rifles made by us will all be different in some way as well. It’s similar to how some brand of clothing fits some of us really well and others not so well. Every barrel is made with different metals, processes, and thicknesses, which makes them unique.
My Bergara Premier 7mm Rem Mag barrel is renowned worldwide for its precision and craftsmanship. The Winchester Model 70 (30-06) I inherited from my Grandfather still works great, but it doesn’t shoot the same as a Bergara barrel. That’s not a dig at Winchester or a boast about Bergara, but they’re made differently, so ammo needs to be catered to each gun.
The fact is that the only way to fully optimize your rifle is to reload your ammo. You’ll need a tool that can provide the most minute changes in order to dial in your gun’s perfect bullet depth.
Understanding the importance of reloading and how much bullet depth came into play for bullet accuracy was eye-opening. Make sure no matter what tool you use to seat your bullets into the casing, make sure it’s precise and consistent.
Reloaded Berger Bullets Using Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools
The Universal Bullet Seating Die gives me the confidence to know I can reload any rifle caliber that I’ve ever shot. I know no matter what commercial ammo I buy, nothing compares to the reloaded brass. Using your own primers, powder, Cases, and bullets will also help create consistency and accuracy.
What’s Included in The Universal Bullet Seating Die Kit?
Micrometer Cap
VLD Stem (3x)
Spring
Spacer
Alignment Sleeves (9 different rifle calibers)
Die Body
Lock Ring
Molded Storage Case W/Foam insert to keep your die kit safe from abrasion
Which Calibers Fit the Universal Seating Die?
.224 Cal
The .224 Valkyrie uses the same bullet diameter as the 5.56x45mm NATO bullet.
The .224 Valkyrie is a 5.56x41mm is a shortened case based on the 6.8SPC.
The heavier bullets allow more powder to be loaded into a cartridge meant for an AR-15 style rifle.
The added juice gives you a higher muzzle velocity and better accuracy at range with your AR-15.
.243 Cal
A .243 Winchester is basically a .308 case with a bullet diameter of 6.2mm instead of 7.8mm.
The .243 Winchester has a longer case than the .308, but it’s meant for only half the weight of a .308 Winchester.
Since the .243 is a lighter bullet, it can go faster and it won’t obliterate small game or varmints in the same way a .308 would.
A .243 Winchester was a popular round with my father and grandfather’s generation.
It’s known to be the smallest cartridge able to safely bring down a deer
.257 Cal
The .257 Weatherby Magnum is a cartridge meant for Weatherby rifles.
The .257 Weatherby is another variant of the 6.5mm bullet diameter, which means this sleeve will properly seat almost any 6.5mm magnum bullet.
The .257 Weatherby Magnum is known as one of the flattest shooting cartridges ever made, which is why it’s such an accurate bullet caliber.
.264 Cal
The .264 Magnum cartridge includes the class for all 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 Grendel bullets.
The .264 sleeve gives you the opportunity to reload your long-range rifle loads.
Fits all 257 Weatherby Magnum, .270 Weatherby Magnum, and 7mm Weatherby Magnum cartridges.
This is the die I use for my 30-06 rifle, as well.
.277 Cal
6.8x39mm- This bullet is designed to fit most AR-15 rifles and replace the 5.56x45mm NATO round.
Unfortunately, you’ll most definitely have to get the specific barrel to replace your 5.56×45 NATO barrel.
The good news is that it still fits with any standard AR-15 lower receiver, stock, and bolt carrier group.
.284 Cal
The .284 Winchester is a 7.2×8.1mm cartridge with the same length as the .308, but with a wider case.
For those shooters wanting to shoot a 7mm cartridge, whether it’s from a 7mm Rem Mag to a 30 Short.
.308 Cal
A .308 is the most popular hunting cartridge in America due to its accuracy and knock-down power.
It’s meant to take down large game animals, such as Moose, Bison, Buffalo, Boar, and Bear.
Any 8mm cartridge will fit with this sleeve.
.338 Cal
The .338 Lapua is one of the most popular long-range bullet calibers
It features an 8.61mm bullet diameter
This is the bullet of choice for most shooters hitting targets above 1,000 yards.
What is My Favorite Feature of the Universal Bullet Seating Die?
We will review other bullet seating dies in the future to emphasize the importance of a built-in micrometer. The micrometer allows you to work on seating your bullet to the smallest of margins. As you can see from the picture below, the micrometer has clear numbering to allow you to adjust your depth and document your depth.
Being able to document each bullet depth for the different cartridges you use will give you more range time and less time spent dialing in your ammo. This kit comes with 9 different sleeves for the die.
This versatility will ensure you that you’ll have the proper die for any rifle you could ever want to shoot. The FA Universal Bullet Die even comes with 3 separate Very Low Drag (VLD) Stems.
Each commercial gunsmithing company produces its own variation of a VLD Stem, but the cohesiveness between your gunsmithing equipment is important for consistency and compatibility.
A VLD Stem is a tool that helps seat your bullet into your case from the tip of the bullet. As you can see in the picture below, the 3 VLD Stems are different sizes to fit both standard and Magnum loads with short cases, such as the 30 Short or .325 Winchester Short Magnum (WSM).
The VLD Stem is designed to safely seat your bullet in the case without marring or scratching on the bullet. Use the shortest VLD Stem for the longer cases, such as the .338 Lapua or 6.5 Creedmoor.
Correct Sizing For Each Stem
Correct Caliber
Shortest Stem
.277-.338
Medium Stem
.243-.284
Longest Stem
.224-.257
This might not sound like an important factor, but if you’re trying to fire a VLD bullet in a distance marksmanship event, the friction caused by the seating stem will ensure you miss your shot. Worse yet, what if it’s a 6×6 Elk on a once-in-a-lifetime hunt in Idaho?
The bullet tip should sit into the stem and be fully supported in an upright position. The picture below should give you an idea of how it should fit once a bullet is inserted for a correct fit.
It’s also incredibly important to read the load data of every component before you load a bullet into a case. Just remember once it’s inside the press machine, the stem will come down to the bullet.
How Do I Put Together the Frankford Arsenal Universal Bullet Seating Die?
1. Know which caliber you’re trying to reload and use the corresponding sleeve for the die (E.G. .308 Caliber bullet uses .308 sleeve).
2. Make sure you’re VLD Stem matches the correct caliber (E.G. A .308 bullet should go in the shortest stem based on its length).
3. Insert the bullet alignment sleeve into the die body with the O-Ring facing the bottom (just like in the picture below)
4. Unscrew the micrometer cap and remove the internal parts of the die.
5. Slide the spring and spacer into the VLD Stem.
NOTE: Make sure the flat side of the spacer is down, it should be easy to identify.
6. Insert the assembly back into the die.
7. Tighten the micrometer back onto the top and you’re ready to install into the Bullet Seating Press.
8. Reinstall the micrometer cap back down to the number 5 (shown below)
Where Can I Buy the Universal Bullet Seating Die from Frankford Arsenal?
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