Bullet seating depth- keeping it consistant

[cncmill]

What is everyone using to check seating depth of their bullets to keep it consistant? I have multiple cases (no primers, no powder) with different types of bullets seated to touch the lands. I use them as a gage to adjust my seating die for whatever bullet I am loading. I am noticing that the seating die is not keeping the bullets seated the same ( distance from base of cartridge to where it meets the lands not COAL) due to variations in the bullets. Is there something I can buy to check this? I am thinking of building a gage from a cutoff piece of the barrel from when I chambered the rifle. Any other suggestions? Are some seating dies better than others?

6.5-284
RCBS Comp. die
Full length sizing

Thanks,

Erick Crouthamel

 

[bozo699]

Are you sorting your bullets? they can vary a lot! are you brushing your necks prior to seating bullets? What neck tension are you running? and does your brass all have the exact same number of firings on them?
Wayne.

 

[357Mag]

CNC -

Howdy !

For years now, what I've used is the Sinclair " Bullet Comparator ".
THis is a simple, low-cost, robust device... that looks like a 6-sided nut.

Different diameter holes are featured in every " flat " of the comparator.

Using the comparator + a vernier calipre, allows one to check seated bullet consitency; using the dimension from face of the cartridge rim, to a fixed point on the bullet' ogive. This is much prefered to checking c.o.a.l. from face of the rim to tip of the bullet..... a method rife w/ inconsistency.

For me, my ammo, my shooting needs; the comparator has worked fine.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[lrgoodger]

If you just want to make sure they are all seated the same and don't care about actual COAL (it is a relative measurement, not an absolute measurent.), it is simple. I took a little cube of aluminum and cut a slot in one side of it so it fits on the jaw of my caliper, then I drilled a hole opposite the slot to put the bullet into. The hole is just a little smaller than a .223 bullet. It works with all my bullets.

Just slip it on your caliper jaw and measure the distance from base to where the bullet seats in the hole and make sure they are all the same. Be careful the hole is deep enough so you don't bottom out bullets on the tip and you're good to go! I've been making killer ammo for a couple of years with this now. Just ask the guys where I shoot.

You can buy something similar, but it was so easy to make I just DID it.

 

[40X Guy]

Erick, I sort all my match bullets on the Buhay Bearing surface tool as pictured, you can have some bullets in a lot that are way off up to .008 especially some Sierra and Hornady bullets. This definately helps to eliminate fliers ensuring that each bullet that goes down the pipe has the same "bearing" surface riding on the rifling. Then after sorting by bearing surface I check the COAL in relationship to the lands and adjust accordingly making sure I check using a bullet of same bearing surface that I would shoot in a match. All my loaded rounds are the same length as shown in 2nd pic within .0005. I don't know where as some seating dies may be better than others, but for seating I use strictly Wilson hand dies with an arbor press.

Frank

 

[cncmill]

Thanks guys. Exactly what I was looking for.

Bozo699

Sorting bullets only by weight. Wasn't sure how to check them anyway else. Brushing the necks. .003 neck tension. Same number of firings on brass.

 

[bozo699]

Erick, I sort all my match bullets on the Buhay Bearing surface tool as pictured, you can have some bullets in a lot that are way off up to .008 especially some Sierra bullet and Hornady bullets. This definately helps to eliminate fliers ensuring that each bullet that goes down the pipe has the same "bearing" surface riding on the rifling. Then after sorting by bearing surface I check the COAL in relationship to the lands and adjust accordingly making sure I check using a bullet of same bearing surface that I would shoot in a match. All my loaded rounds are the same length as shown in 2nd pic within .0005. I don't where as some seating dies may be better than others, but for seating I use strictly Wilson hand dies with an arbor press.

Frank

Same setup as me Frank,.....Oh wait you knew that because you turned me onto the Buhay LOL
Wayne.

P.S The Buhay is the best single move I have made in precision reloading, along side my GD 503

 

[savageshooter86]

How easy is that Buhay tool a far as using and getting consistent readings?

 

[bozo699]

very easy

 

[savageshooter86]

Is there any video that you know of online showing this tool?

Looks like you put the bullet in the insert and the top part with dial indicator is spring loaded and it forces the bullet to be straight on the insert? I'm just curious what metros the bullet straight in the insert

 

[bozo699]

Andrew,
I have posted a video before on face book but it pretty much did it for you I doubt I could figure it out on here but I could try, I don't know I don't have anyone to help me right now. Anyway the method I use is this, I take a sample of maybe 20 or 25 random from the box and I measure all of them, document each one, usually there is a middle of the road, I will take that bullet and mark it and I zero the Buhay with that bullet, because I don't really care about exact measurement I just want them all the same, so I put the next bullet in holder and rotate it as I let the dial indicator on the base of the bullet, I do it the same everytime, it is amazingly repeatable, every once in a while I rezero the tool with the bullet I have saved for zeroing, I keep that bullet for the entire lot, 100 or 10000 don't matter, I have found it helps to lightly oil the marble, but it has to be done the same and kept up on as it will effect your readings, I use a digital starrett indicator that reads to .0005 and that is how anal I sort, my zero batch reads +or- .0005 next batch will read +.0010-.0020 and -0010 to -.0020, I usually find about 5 or 6 cups of bullets with another with some really whacky readings, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE WHY I SORT!!!!!!! there the ones that will cause the flyers, I could probably mix all the others back together and might not notice a difference on target but there sorted already and it makes me feel better so I keep them sorted, I hope this helps and I might try to make a video later.
Wayne.

P.S Frank.......40X guy might already have one.

 

[mikecr]

You Buhay huggers are basically hijacking a seating thread..

cncmill,
What tool/method are you using to measure OgvOAL?
What seating die/system?
Does your seating force seem high?

3thou under cal can produce excess seating forces in overly clean necks. This leads to inconsistent seating, but may not be an issue for you.

 

[pmarauder]

Wayne, You sort your bullets??

 

[bozo699]

Wayne, You sort your bullets??

So do you Derek! No one shoots like you do without sorting, you and Tom are the only guy's I know that are more anal about your reloading methods than I am. Sorry for the rant but Mike used to come on here all the time and try to make all of us low life's feel unworthy of even owning a fire arm, I am not in the mood to put up with it! He is very knowledgeable and plenty smart but were not all stupid either!!
Wayne.

 

[pmarauder]

Ha!!.... you sort bullets and have a new scale. Now were really in trouble.

 

[mikecr]

The Buhay compares:
Bearing length
Bearing length + base length
Bullet length - Bearing length + base length to get Nose length
Could be used to compare OgvOAL(or Berger's 'CBTO' if you like), but not really measure it, without zeroing off an assembled standard round.

There are many tools for measuring seating, and we couldn't suggest any would fix OP's SEATING issue until sure it's his tool that's contributing. Right?
I have & am familiar with the Buhay and pretty much all like in kind variants. And since I have offended I'll try to amend.
If OP thinks this is the problem, that he just needs a bearing comparator to fix a seating/seating measurement issue, I'll supply him with a Buhay for free.
But I'm not covering shipping cost for the thing,, and I'm not confident YET that another tool will resolve his problem.
I think we, as a team, should identify THE PROBLEM first.

 

[40X Guy]

P.S The Buhay is the best single move I have made in precision reloading, along side my GD 503

Wayne, agreed 110% on this statement, alongside my Benchsource annealing machine...

Frank

 

[cncmill]

Thanks again everyone. My problem is that I am not sorting my bullets before seating. I believe that Bozo699 and 40X Guy hit the nail on the head and described exactly what I need. I will see in a few weeks.

Thanks,

Erick

 

[savageshooter86]

milke if you ever want to extend that offer, I would be interested to try the sorting tool ;D

 

[mikecr]

Shoot me a PM Andrew