Issue With Redding Comp. Seating Die

[Bill Norris]

Seating 180 gr. Nosler BT at 2.881 on top of 97% load density and die lightly sticking after ram is raised to seat the bullet and once the ram starts to move downward die sticks and has an audible click at that point of release. Anybody else have this issue ? ( I understand Redding has a note in the paperwork that says to avoid seating a compressed load with these dies which in this case is not )

 

[Pheasanthunter]

Seating 180 gr. Nosler BT at 2.881 on top of 97% load density and die lightly sticking after ram is raised to seat the bullet and once the ram starts to move downward die sticks and has an audible click at that point of release. Anybody else have this issue ? ( I understand Redding has a note in the paperwork that says to avoid seating a compressed load with these dies which in this case is not )

I had a older one that clicked and it was the little c clip inside that had bent somehow a call to Redding had a half dozen in the mail couple days later .

 

[Bill Norris]

I took it apart and examined the c-clip. Looks straight and is not binding in the grove at all.

 

[Pheasanthunter]

I took it apart and examined the c-clip. Looks straight and is not binding in the grove at all.

Dang thought that would be the culprit

 

[Bill Norris]

Dang thought that would be the culprit

Yep. I had read about that before and went immediately to look at it. I sent an email to Redding asking for help.

 

[J F Johannes]

Don’t worry about a small click, this is normal. You basically have two sliding sleeves, the cartridge sleeve and the seater sleeve, they just release at different points. How is the die working otherwise? I love this die, best I have ever owned. Be careful not to overlube the sleeves. If it’s more than a slight click, check the fit on the seating plug, could be grabbing the bullet. Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[Bill Norris]

Don’t worry about a small click, this is normal. You basically have two sliding sleeves, the cartridge sleeve and the seater sleeve, they just release at different points. How is the die working otherwise? I love this die, best I have ever owned. Be careful not to overlube the sleeves. If it’s more than a slight click, check the fit on the seating plug, could be grabbing the bullet. Hope this helps.

Jim

Die is working great as far as I can tell. Seating accurately and smooth except at that one point. Die is clean and free of any residue inside. Placed a bullet in the seating plug hole and bullet seems to be releasing freely as well.

 

[jepp2]

I sent an email to Redding asking for help.

Just asking some questions:
- if it was a new die, did you disassemble and remove all the rust preservative?
- after that, I coat all the moving surfaces with CLP, just a light coat
- make sure the tip isn't bottoming out in the seating plug (just threw that in)
- you did set your die up according to the directions, ram in the up position, screw the die down until it contacts the shell holder and keep turning until it gets tight, un-screw it until you can see the reference marks

The rust preventative gets very stiff. And if it hasn't been totally removed, it can keep the sleeve from following the spring pressure when you start to lower the ram. And once you have dropped the ram enough, the spring pressure will cause the sleeve to release suddenly with a click.

Almost all the used Redding dies I have purchased, have never had the original rust preservative removed and if the die is older, it is very thick and stiff.

 

[Bill Norris]

Yes Sir jepp2. Always follow the instructions cleaning and setting up a new die and I have several other of these dies with absolutely no issues. The Comp. VLD seating plug does fit the bullet much better than the original one so I don't see an issue with the bullet sticking inside. Appreciate all the help guys. Sounds like I really don't have an issue except the stick & click and it's not that much of a bother. Just wanted to make sure I had not missed something with installing the VLD stem.

 

[bozo699]

Yes Sir jepp2. Always follow the instructions cleaning and setting up a new die and I have several other of these dies with absolutely no issues. The Comp. VLD seating plug does fit the bullet much better than the original one so I don't see an issue with the bullet sticking inside. Appreciate all the help guys. Sounds like I really don't have an issue except the stick & click and it's not that much of a bother. Just wanted to make sure I had not missed something with installing the VLD stem.

Bill,
I had this issue a few years ago seating 210 vlds in my .300 win mag it was the bullets in the seating stem. I polished it out with some 0000 steel wool and it virtually went away could still feel it slightly but I didn’t want to do anymore to it and loaded rounds were very concentric .
Wayne

 

[Bill Norris]

Hey thanks for that info Bro.

 

[rocketron]

could the seater stem be cracked from compressed loads?

 

[Bill Norris]

could the seater stem be cracked from compressed loads?

Nope. It's brand new and looks great. Never did any compressed loads with it.

 

[Bill Norris]

RESPONSE FROM REDDING THIS MORNING


Jay Davis <csjd@redding-reloading.com>

Sounds like the bullet sticking in the seat stem make certain that you are not compressing the powder charge as that can cause some of this, I have found that using the imperial sizing die wax on a q tip and rubbing it inside the seat stem helps to allow bullets to release easier from the stem if you continue to have an issue send me the seating die and a couple of sized cases and sample bullets, sometimes just polishing the seat stem where it contacts the bullet will solve any problems we can do that here at no charge for you.
Jay
Jay Davis
csjd@redding-reloading.com

 

[bozo699]

RESPONSE FROM REDDING THIS MORNING


Jay Davis <csjd@redding-reloading.com>

Sounds like the bullet sticking in the seat stem make certain that you are not compressing the powder charge as that can cause some of this, I have found that using the imperial sizing die wax on a q tip and rubbing it inside the seat stem helps to allow bullets to release easier from the stem if you continue to have an issue send me the seating die and a couple of sized cases and sample bullets, sometimes just polishing the seat stem where it contacts the bullet will solve any problems we can do that here at no charge for you.
Jay
Jay Davis
csjd@redding-reloading.com

Bill,
This is what I was telling ya. Just try polishing it up yourself it will work fine.
Wayne

 

[Bill Norris]

Yes Sir. I did polish it up a bit and put the Imperial Sizing wax inside of the seater plug hole as well.

 

[bozo699]

Yes Sir. I did polish it up a bit and put the Imperial Sizing wax inside of the seater plug hole as well.

hows it working?
Wayne

 

[Bill Norris]

hows it working?
Wayne

Not tried it yet. Will post results once I get back to loading for sure.