Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Seating die....any ideas ?

I bought this 30 caliber seating die back in the 1970s used....no markings on it what so ever I've always wondered what company made it. Any ideas ?

Looks like early RCBS Competition Seater.

Wouldn't one of those have a "micrometer" head?

Looks kind of like a homebrew version of a Vickerman seater.

Did RCBS have a micrometer head in the 60’s-70’s?
Going by the bullet window, sliding sleeve guide it mirrors a comp die without mic head. For all I know RCBS could have offered both ways for different prices.

The knurling looks kinda gnarly. I can't imagine RCBS ever shipping something like that. Looks like a homebrew copy of a comp seater.

First thing I noticed!

Knurling probably got torn up by pliers over the years. Locknut appears to be a current Hornady.

Maybe an old C&H or Pacific? But those should have all been marked as such. Seems like RCBS would have marked theirs as well.

Reminds me of a Lyman die set I have here.

I put a new Hornady Lock ring on it today.

I'd be more concerned with its ability to load straight ammo

Exactly.

Years back I shot a 1" 10 shot 100 yard group with ammo seated with the die.

It’s a Hollywood die. They use to make die’s for Weatherby

That's what I'm thinking it could be....but every thing I've had by Hollywood Gunshop.was clearly marked.

At one time I had two Hollywood Gunshop presses a single stage and a turret press it likely came with one of them. I wish I still had them they're selling for a small fortune now.

If it's a Hollywood Gunshop seater I believe that is going to date it from the 1950s to early 1960s.

Probably where RCBS got the idea for their Matchmaster seater.

I have come up with 2 of that type of seater over the years.

I have made the centering part for several calibers and it does the job.

The guy I got one of the Hollywood presses from had a lot of Herters loading tools.

Since the die is unmarked I'm betting its a Herters seater.

Did some digging. Herters, RCBS, and Vickerman had window cutout seaters in that era. Doesn't look at all like a Vickerman. Herters should have a label of some sort.

Here is a post on another forum that came up in my search:

"A reloader with a catalog would not have to convert anything because Herter called the seating die 'universal'. The same company that made Herter dies made Weatherby dies and a few others.

In the old days a reloader could purchase a die body and a box full of seating plugs and bullet guides."

Vickerman and RCBS in the 1960s ?

That was according to someone on another forum. The old Vickerman seater dies sell for a premium now.