I shoot lots of wildcat rifles so have used Vickerman dies for years with 30 caliber being the largest.  I load my 30/40 Ackley Improved with cast bullets as well as my 7mm Ackley Krag.  I use Wilson dies for many rifles but the Vickerman is used more as it is easier and loads a good straight cartridge.  Tom

I have a few of these, couple are Vickerman's the rest are similar design by others, Meacham if I recall?  One I use for the 38-55 and it seems to work well, another for the 458 calibers and it didn't function quite the same.  After studying the differences, my expander for the 38 had a gradual taper and it didn't bell the case mouth.  My 458 expander didn't have the gradual taper, it made more of just a bell at the mouth of the case.  There was a hint of lead being shaved and distorting the bullet.  I made a tapered expander and it works a little better.  If and when I check concentricity of my reloads, the runout is considerably less with these seaters.   
This function is one of 1-2% details of reloading - from my experiences.- I have a list of what I call the one percenter's - if time permits I'll work through them - the items that have more effect on accuracy, like casting good bullets, fooling with components, etc. I'll direct my time and effort - these give more noticeable results.
Just my 2¢
Greg

yamoon wrote on Mar 27^th, 2023 at 11:43pm:


Me too and then I read the post and wondered why it's in the rifle picture section. Perty sure it should be in the reloading section.  It seems new and old members alike have problems posting items in the correct sections.  

Vickerman dies. I've never seen one.  Here's a link to them.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Vickerman dies have been around for a long time. That being said, benchrest shooters, long ago, showed that Wilson dies, that fully support the cartridge case while seating the bullet, which is also fully seated and in perfect allignment creates the ideal system. I have, and have used Vickerman dies for cartridges that are not available from Wison, but they are not as good as Wilson, Forester or Redding. Since acquiring a lathe long ago, I can now make my own if a reamer is available. I have not used the current "Vickerman" seating dies, which may now fully support both the case and bullet? If so, that would be a major improvement.

I bought three, .35, .38 and a 40-65 several years ago.   The latter has the micrometer on it.   Never used any of them, can’t say why.    Another receipt I need to dig up so I know a fair price to ask when I list them.      At least they’ll be help with an MVA order:-)

I have a very old Vickerman in .22. It works great.

I have 38-55 and 40-65 micrometer seaters and I love them. I would not use anything else unless I had not access to these. Fortunately when I needed them BA had them in stock.