Need some Herters window type seating die info

[Alvarez Kelly]

I recently bought a 38/357 steel die set for a great price. Included with the set was a seemingly random Herters window style seating die. It looks like it's new! I unscrewed the seating stem, and out slid a .243 "bullet guide." Ok... Not sure why that is in the box of 38/357 dies.

I really like the design of this window style seating die. Anyone know where I can get other bullet guides or seating stems? I could use 38/357 and/or 45 caliber parts.

Any help out there?

[r1kk1]

Would Ponsness Warren window seating dies interchange on the parts level?

take care

r1kk1

[runfiverun]

that's the one I was thinking of too.
they take a top punch and uses sliding sleeves.
I have one of the PW ones and a couple of the inserts.

[too many things]

herters never made most of there stuff .PW should work . have couple old rifle dies . but the idea was thought full but after a die is set what good was it .
as for AK question the body was made for all inserts. I have body and 7mm,300mag. 30,06 and 270win. all just change out
sizers were same way

[Alvarez Kelly]

Would Ponsness Warren window seating dies interchange on the parts level?

take care

r1kk1

I did some quick research on the PW window seating die. At first glance, the PW die body is much heavier with a greater wall thickness. I don't think the floating sleeves would interchange.

Anyone have both?

[Alvarez Kelly]

herters never made most of there stuff .PW should work . have couple old rifle dies . but the idea was thought full but after a die is set what good was it .
as for AK question the body was made for all inserts. I have body and 7mm,300mag. 30,06 and 270win. all just change out
sizers were same way

You have the PW or the Herters die body? I measured the OD of my 243 sliding sleeve. It's .685 inches.

[bdicki]

Picture of said die and insert?

[Pressman]

The Herter's dies were made by C-H. I don't have a Ponsness Warren.

Ken

[Alvarez Kelly]

The Herter's dies were made by C-H. I don't have a Ponsness Warren.

Ken

That makes sense. The shiny chrome finish of the Herters die looks just like the beautiful chrome finish on the CH 38/357 die set I just acquired.

Thanks Ken.

[Alvarez Kelly]

If anyone has one of the PW window type seating die handy, would you measure the sliding bullet die OD? I posted the Herters bullet guide OD above. It's .685 inches.

[Pressman]

This is the die Alvarez Kelly is talking about. C-H made them for Herter's MkIII die sets. I am not familer with any other brand inserts that will interchange. Does anyone have an RCBS sleeve die?

They also sold their own version though C-H window dies are not commonly found today. They also made a neck sizing insert for a similar die that Weatherby sold.

Ken

[runfiverun]

my calipers are showing me .624 but my die from P/W is for rifles.
I don't remember if they made one for pistols too.
if so I'm sure they would have used a larger insert.

[Alvarez Kelly]

Thank you everyone for the info and leads. I found some old CH literature... It seems these window seating dles were only offered in rifle calibers. I'll just have to get by with the seating dies I've been using for years. :-)

It was just a thought. I really like the idea of not pinching my fingers when I'm setting the boolit.

[r1kk1]

I bet Dave at CH4D has parts. Talk to him.

r1kk1

[MT Chambers]

Both RCBS and Vickerman make window type bullet seating dies and are very precise, not sure about Herters but I bet that they are the finest dies ever made.

[bdicki]

I have several RCBS competition dies but they only make them for bottle neck cartridges, I really like them. It would be handy to have one for the 380 acp finger pincher.

[Pavogrande]

I don't think the herters seater was made for pistol length cartridges -- the die is too long -
the window is way beyond the length of a short case -

[Freischütz]

I have two of these dies for 30 cal. On both the seating stem was designed for jacketed spitzers. They require some modification or they will deform a cast bullet's nose.

[bdicki]

RCBS has an extended shell holder for the shorter shells like the 308.
https://www.huntingtons.com/store/images/P/rcbs_comp-ext-shell_150.jpg

[Pavogrande]

I don't think an extended shellholder will help -- unless it can enter the die itself -

I have two die bodies -- one for 264 and the other for 308/7mm -

the distance from bottom of die to window is 1 3/4 and a 7/16 respectably --
the distance from top of die to bottom of window is the same -

the threaded boss on a press varies but is probably about 1" so any case shorter than
about 1 1/2" could not be seated --


each die has a methos of retaining the insert from dropping out the bottom of die -

[bdicki]

The extended shell holder does enter the die otherwise it would be of no use. I couldn't seat a bullet in 308 with a normal shell holder. I don't have it with me in Florida so I can't measure anything.