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Reloading - bullet seatin question

2K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  raz-0 
#1 ·
I've been messing around with my seating die trying to get the exact setting I want but it never seems to get there. There always seems to be a variation of about +/- 0.002" from where I want it to be.

Basically, I tried to set up so that I got 1.128" ..... but with that setting I end up with rounds between 1.126"-1.130". I mean it's not bad considering I was just wondering if a vaiation like this is normal.



Dillion 550, .40, berrys plated, 1x fired brass
 
#2 ·
It's really normal, there are slight variations in the shape of the bullet that causes this, there's really no way to get around it.
 
#3 ·
That's what I though but wanted to be sure. I had at one point tried getting 1.130" but had plenty of rounds coming out at 1.134". So far to date my one and only FTF was with that setting, but that round measured out at 1.136" somehow.



So now I'm trying to stay at 1.130" max and tried setting it to 1.128" to account for the variation I was getting. At least I know it's not me :roll:
 
#4 ·
For what it's worth I have found I get much more consistent rounds if I don't let the bullet seater do the crimping. I only have it seat the bullet then use a Lee factory crimp die to do the crimp (which is really not so much of a crimp as it is taking out the bell.



Just because this thread peaked my intrest I went a calipered 10 rounds ramdom round from my last loading session where I was going for quantity not quality (I needed 1500 rounds for a class) any way they were all +/- 0.001 of each other. This was with my normal load with lead bullets on my Dillon XL650



I am just rambling, but anyhow something to consider if you are looking for a little more consistency.
 
#6 ·
G56 said:
That's the best way to do it, seat the bullets and then taper crimp as a separate operation.


John & Dan - You have me a bit confused......the seating die on my 550 seats the bullet and removes a good portion of the bell. The taper crimp die provides the finished product.

Both are Dillon dies. Am I missing something? :?:



My desired OAL is 1.125 with a few in the 1.127 range using 1X mixed headstamp brass. Finished crimp around bullet is consistent at .420 regardless of headstamp.
 
#7 ·
Throwin Lead said:
Am I missing something?
Yeah, a Lee Factory Crimp Die in the fourth station.
Set your seating die to just seat the bullet to your desired length, and let the Lee FCD do the dirty work. Actually, I've never used Dillon dies in my 550, but I assume that the Dillon pieces will allow you to do that, like the Lee ones do.
 
#8 ·
I don't use dillon dies either. I have a pretty good ******* mix going, EGW/Lee under size sizing die, dillon powder/expander, Hornady custom bullet seater, then the Lee FCD.



The bullet seater is set so it doens't remove hardly any (if any at all) of the bell the Lee FCD dies does all the work.



With this set-up I am not sure why I chamber check my ammo, as I have had one round this year fail to drop right in but it did function fine during a practice session. And as I said above it measures with 0.001. So it is very consistant even when I am trying to crank it out.



I also love my hornady bullet seater it has this sliding sleeve that guides the bullet in so if you don't get your finger out of the way quick enough it doesn't bite you. So no more smiley faces on my left index finger or thumb.
 
#9 ·
Ok, recipie to get the most consistent seating depth.



1) Sort your brass by headstamp and number of firings.

2) Make sure your shell plate is fully tightened down.

3) Use a seating die with absolutley no crip set in it.

4) use a separate crimping stage with minimal crimp to it.



Personally, I use an EGW undersize die, a redding competition seating die, and a lee factory crimp die.



I don't bother to sort by headstamp or number of firings, becuase I don't find that it makes enough difference in accuracy for the ammount of work involved. I just note which are the trouble makers for longest seating and shortest seating, and use those headstamps when making initial adjustments.



If I buy a batch of once fired form a police range with the same headstamp, my ammo comes out more like Dan's. If I'm using the mixed up stuff, it can actually vary from 1.124-1.131 going for a 1.130 nominal load.
 
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