When I saw the prototype for the Short Action Customs Infinity APS die at SHOT Show this year, I couldn’t wait to try one for myself. It’s finally here!
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About the SAC Infinity APS Die
From Short Action Customs:
THE INFINITY APS DIE (ARBOR PRESS SERIES) IS DESIGNED TO BE THE ONLY BULLET SEATING DIE YOU WILL EVER NEED WHEN RELOADING CARTRIDGES FROM 223 REMINGTON TO THE 338 LAPUA MAGNUM FROM AN ARBOR STYLE PRESS. THE INFINITY BULLET APS SEATING DIE COMES COMPLETE WITH 6 DIFFERENT BULLET SEATING STEMS AND 2 CARTRIDGE CENTERING SLEEVES TO HANDLE CONVENTIONAL AND SOLID TURNED BULLETS FROM 20 TO 338 CALIBER, SIMPLY SELECT THE APPROPRIATE CARTRIDGE BASE INSERT AND YOU’RE READY TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY AMMUNITION. OUTFITTED WITH .001″ TACTILE CLICKS TO PRECISELY ADJUST YOUR BULLET SEATING DEPTH.
Here is how The INFINITY APS Die is Made. The Cartridge Base Insert Taper and the Center Bore of the die body are the heart the Infinity Die’s ability to produce extremely concentric ammunition. The inside bore of the die body is drilled, then single point I.D. turned, for utmost concentricity. Next the inside bore is precision bored for a consistent, smooth surface finish. All parts are precision single point turned and bored to minimize part runout in the assembly.
Here is how The INFINITY APS Die Works. The Cartridge Shoulder Centering Sleeve and Precision Bullet Seating Stem move up and down concentrically inside the Infinity Die Body, properly guiding the cartridge shoulder and bullet to the center axis of the Infinity Die Body. Next the Cartridge Base Insert shoulders up with the matching angle in the bottom of the Infinity Die Body, squaring up and concentrically locating the cartridge body. Lastly, the arbor press ram comes down and pushes the Push Rod down until the Threaded Internal Stop precisely limits the travel, seating your bullet.
“The” Seating Die can properly seat 20 cal, 22 cal, 6mm, 25 cal, 6.5mm, .277 cal, 7mm, 30 cal, and 338 caliber jacketed and solid turned bullets!
BULLET SEATING STEMS
Small 1: Works best with 20 cal to 6mm bullets. This stem is made for the 223 Based cartridge centering stems
Small 2: Works best with 6.5mm to 30 cal bullets. This stem is made for the 223 Based cartridge centering stems
Model 1: Works best with 22 cal to 6mm bullets with the standard cartridge centering sleeve
Model 2: Works best with 6.5mm to7mm bullets with the standard cartridge centering sleeve
Model 3: Works best with .30 Cal bullets with the standard cartridge centering sleeve
Model 4: Works best with 338 Cal bullets with the standard cartridge centering sleeve
The INFINITY APS DIE will come with the following Items
- INFINITY APS DIE
- One Cartridge Base of Customers Choice
- Small 1-2 stems for 223 Centering sleeve
- Model 1-4 Seating stems for standard cartridge centering sleeve
- 223 Based cartridge centering sleeve
- Standard cartridge centering sleeve for everything for 224 Valkyrie up to 338 Lapua Mag cartridges
- Short / Medium / Long Pushers
HERE IS A LIST OF CARTRIDGES COMPATIBLE WITH EACH TYPE OF BASE INSERT
- Type 1 (Any 223 Rem Based Cartridges)
- 223 Remington
- 223 Remington Ackley Improved
- 222 Remington
- 204 Ruger
- 6x45mm Remington
- 300 Blackout
- Type 2 (Any Valkyrie Based Cartridges)
- .224 Valkyrie
- Type 3 (Any PPC Based Cartridges)
- 6 PPC
- 6 ARC
- 6.5 Grendel
- 6.8 SPC
- 7.62 x 39
- Type 4 (Any 308 Based Cartridges)
- 22 / 6 / 25 / 30 BR
- 22 / 6 / 25 BRA
- 22 / 6 / 25 BRX
- 22 / 6 / 25 Dasher
- 22 / 6 / 25 / 6.5 / 30 x 47 Lapua
- 22 / 6 / 25 / 30 GT
- 22 / 6 / 25 / 6.5 / 7 / 30 Creedmoor
- 22-243 / 243 / 260 / 7mm-08 / 308 Winchester
- Type 4 XL (Any 308 Based Long Action Cartridges)
- 30-06 Springfield
- 280 Remington
- 270 Winchester
- 280 Remington AI
- 6.5-06
- 25-06
Also works with longer Short Action Cartridges like 308 Win. and 6.5 Creedmoor
- Type 5 (Any .284 Winchester Based Cartridges)
- 6.5 – 284 Winchester
- 284 Winchester
- Type 6 (.535″ Based Cartridges)
- 6.5 PRC
- 6 / 6.5 PRC
- 25 / 6.5 PRC
- 7 / 6.5 PRC
- Type 6 XL (Belted Magnums / Long Action .535″ Based Cartridges)
- 300 Winchester Magnum
- 7 Remington Magnum
- 7 PRC
- 300 PRC
- 7 LRM
- 264 Winchester Magnum
- 264 Weatherby Magnum
- 270 Weatherby Magnum
- 7 Weatherby Magnum
- 300 Weatherby Magnum
- Type 7 ( .551″SAUM Based Cartridges)
- 6 / 6.5 / 7 / 300 SAUM (Short Action Ultra Magnum)
- 6.8 Western
- Type 7 XL (.551″ Based Long Action Cartridges)
- 26 / 28 / 30 Nosler
- 7 / 300 / 338 RUM ( Remington Ultra Magnums)
- Type 8 (WSM Based Cartridges)
- 7-300 / 300 WSM (Winchester Short Magnum)
- Type 8 XL (.558″ WSM Based Cartridges)
- 7 WSM
- Type 9 (Lapua Magnum Based Cartridges)
- 338 Lapua Magnum
- 338 Lapua Magnum Ackley Improved
- 300 / 338 Norma Magnum
What’s In the Box
This fully modular micrometer seating die comes in a very nice, hard, protective case.
It includes a number of pieces that allow it to work for a variety of cartridges. Short Action Customs also sells additional parts to enhance the cartridge compatibility list.
The die body comes with:
- One Cartridge Base of Customers Choice
- 3 pushers – short/medium/long
- Small 1-2 stems for .223 Centering sleeve
- Model 1-4 Seating stems for standard cartridge centering sleeve
- .223 Based cartridge centering sleeve
- Standard cartridge centering sleeve for everything for .224 Valkyrie up to .338 Lapua Mag cartridges
The system allows you to swap out cartridge base inserts, centering sleeves, bullet seating stems and top pushers to accommodate calibers from .223 to .338 Lapua Mag.
It comes with six seating stems.
The small stems are used for .223-based cartridges. Model 1-4 stems work with the standard centering sleeve.
The kit comes with one cartridge base insert of your choice.
How it Works
The cartridge base insert holds the powder-filled case. (The cartridge base insert accounts for case length and case rim diameter/belt diameter.) For this exercise, we have a 6 GT (#4) cartridge base insert.
Set the bullet on top and place the die body over top of it. As you do this, the centering sleeve hits the shoulder. The combination of the centering sleeve and base insert keeps the case perfectly collinear. For the 6 GT, use the standard sleeve. To swap out the centering sleeve, loosen the micrometer head until it stops loosening. From there, there is a tightening motion on the threaded internal stop. When it comes free, pull it out and tap the body upside down to remove the centering sleeve. Drop the correct sleeve in and reverse the earlier process.
The appropriate bullet seating stem and top pusher goes in the top of the die body. For the standard centering sleeve and 6mm bullets, we used the Model 1 seating stem. Set it on top and wiggle it until it falls into place.
With a bullet inserted, start with the short pusher and progress until you find the pusher that does not contact the internal threads. In this case, the long pusher does not contact, meaning it is too long. This indicates the medium top pusher is appropriate.
Next comes a rough dial on bullet seating depth. Turn the micrometer clockwise to increase seating depth (shorter cartridge OAL) while pushing on the top pusher until you see the cartridge base insert start to move away from the die body. This indicates you are at the effective bullet seating depth of the dummy cartridge. From this point, back off a bit with the micrometer so you have room to work.
The bullet is slightly elevated and so elevates the bullet seating stem. When the arbor press pushes down, it does so on the top pusher, which hits the bullet seating stem, which hits the ogive of the bullet and seats it the depth specified with the micrometer.
I first zeroed the Short Action Customs bullet comparator on Mituoyo calipers with a factory cartridge. After seating, my dummy cartridge measured 0.0265” long. I adjusted the micrometer appropriately and reseated the bullet until it measured 0.0005” — within a thousandth.
With bullet seating depth set, I then made five more dummy cartridges to demonstrate the full process.
It takes a moment to get into a rhythm, but once you do, it goes quickly.
Conclusion
This die is incredibly versatile and allows us to seat every cartridge we can load for in the shop with the exception of 50 BMG!
Get the Gear
Short Action Customs Infinity APS die
Short Action Customs Modular Comparator
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Thanks,
Gavin Gear
