Bullet Sticking in Whidden Bullet Pointing Die

[walker2713]

A couple of years ago....or so....I got out of the habit of using my Whidden bullet pointing die.

Now that I'm trying to begin using it again....even after lubing the bullets, they stick in the die.

I must be doing something wrong?

Thanks,

George

 

[JohnKielly]

Where is it sticking - the tip or the parallel body? Cleaned the die lately? It could be dust, rust or other gunk & that could grab it on the forming plug or the guiding "throat".

Without raising dust in my gun room, I recall that there were cleaning instructions to avoid issues like that.

Presumably you have reset the die for the batch of bullets you're using now.

 

[ClassCat]

A couple of years ago....or so....I got out of the habit of using my Whidden bullet pointing die.

Now that I'm trying to begin using it again....even after lubing the bullets, they stick in the die.

I must be doing something wrong?

Thanks,

George

#1 Clean the die and the push out pin. The Jackets can be Over lubed or the push out pin is grabbing the nose of the bullet, or both
I'll go with the push out pin

 

[walker2713]

Thanks for the feedback.....

I'll double check the cleanliness of the die.

ClassCat: not sure what you mean by the "push out" pin? The Whidden has a "die insert" that tips the bullets....are you perhaps thinking of the Hoover die? The Hoover has a "tipping punch."

George

 

[ClassCat]

I just Googled Whidden Bullet Pointing System. I've never seen a Point die in that configuration with dial adjustments and no push out pin . Sorry to compromise your time

 

[Sheldon N]

I've got a Whidden pointing die and don't get many stuck bullets, maybe 1 in 50 will stick and just a quick brush of the finger underneath the die will cause it to fall out. I haven't seen a correlation between lubing and not lubing and stuck bullets, have sized both ways.

My initial reaction is perhaps you are over pointing? A good tip I received was to measure the bullets before pointing for base to ogive, then measure them again after pointing to see if there's any difference. If you are altering the shape of the bullet enough to affect base to ogive, you may be over pointing the bullets. That would also increase the likelihood of the bullet sticking in the die.

 

[308BAR]

Check the pointing insert some times the hole at the "point" on the inside get copper fouled or plugged and creates a "suction" for a lack of a better term that doesn't allow the release from the insert.

 

[walker2713]

Thanks for all the responses.....

I've made sure that the bullet insert is properly located and cleaned the die/insert thoroughly....

Still no satisfaction....

Hoping to hear more from Whidden.

George

 

[Scott Harris]

reduce the amount of pointing you are doing. ive had your problem with both whidden and hoover. far better to point less than to overpoint and damage the bullet. I suggest pointing no more than .015" from touch

ps. by the time you start getting stuck bullets, you are measurably deforming the jacket in front of the ogive. you can definitely screw up your bullets with pointing. hopefully you wont mess up several thousand like i did.

 

[walker2713]

Scott: thanks.....no, just a few so far. I sent Whidden an email setting forth the problem, a photo of the installed die, and my phone # requesting some customer support. Will advise. George