A GMR spin value structure with improved performance and a method for making the same is disclosed. A key feature is the incorporation of a thin ferromagnetic insertion layer such as a 5 Angstrom thick CoFe layer between a NiCr seed layer and an IrMn AFM layer. Lowering the Ar flow rate to 10 sccm for the NiCr sputter deposition and raising the Ar flow rate to 100 sccm for the IrMn deposition enables the seed layer to be thinned to 25 Angstroms and the AFM layer to about 40 Angstroms. As a result, H.sub.EX between the AFM and pinned layers increases by up to 200 Oe while the Tb is maintained at or above 250.degree. C. When the seed/CoFe/AFM configuration is used in a read head sensor, a higher GMR ratio is observed in addition to smaller free layer coercivity (H.sub.CF), interlayer coupling (H.sub.E), and H.sub.K values.