Forster .308 competition seating die

[300 RUM]

Does any one ever see that when you turn the head a couple of thou or a bit more there is no change in the seating depth? Or even seem to gruow the seating depth?

 

[Rtheurer]

The only time I have had that happen is when I was using thinner jacket match bullets ( JLK) and virgin brass that was well undersized in the neck ( .006) giving alot of neck tension. It was creating a goove in the bullet and not pushing it into the case.

that was back when I would just load up Virgin brass and go. Now I know better to run the virgin brass over the expander mandrel and then the sizing die to get the right neck tension on the first firing. Live and learn...
Thats the only time I had seen what you have described. (I think very highly of Forster products.)

RT

 

[6BRinNZ]

I have only had this in a 6BR and I was seating into the donut in the neck shoulder junction. If the donut was formed slightly lower then the base of the bullet would end up right on the curve and so the bullet would get pushed back up slightly. I could detect higher hand pressure needed at the bottom of the stroke when it hit this condition.

If neck tension isn't too tight as suggested by RT, then maybe a donut is causing the extra tension if your seating a longer bullet past the neck/shoulder junction.

 

[fdshuster]

I've been using ( and prefer) the Forster Micrometer Benchrest Seater dies for many years now, & have never had any problem with them, in any form.

My only complaint is that they don't make them in more cartridges, like the 30 BR.

 

[jlow]

They work as advertised. Make sure that the locking nut on the top of the seating die is tight! If it is not, you know what would happen….. Yes, the donuts can get you and as always approach a seating depth dialing down at it and not dialing up.

 

[jbpmidas]

I loaded some test ammo with one of mine this morning. They were 168 and 208 A-Max's. When starting, I always dial out and seat one. Measure it then come down. The adjustments are EXTREMELY accurate on all 4 sets of mine!

 

[300 RUM]

OK let me ask what kind of press is every one using, I have it in a light duty Lee.

 

[jbpmidas]

Redding, I think it's the Big Boss.

 

[300 RUM]

Is it possible that when the ram moves up if more then an avg pressure from round to round is used the depth could change, it is kind of a cheep press? I'm going to set a dial indicator on it and check this out

 

[NoahbodyImportant]

I had the same exact problem until I raised or lowered the stem (sorry forgot which way I went), but after I made that adjustment and locked the nut... it started to make the adjustments when turning the micrometer.

 

[300 RUM]

I had the same exact problem until I raised or lowered the stem (sorry forgot which way I went), but after I made that adjustment and locked the nut... it started to make the adjustments when turning the micrometer.
[/quote


Can you measure from the top of your stem to the top of the dial (below the nut)

 

[300 RUM]

OK I measured the travel, it looks like I am getting about .002 -.004 of some kind of springing action?

Here is a link to a video of what is going on. not the best video but you should be able to see what I'm talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZjHV41kCq4&feature=g-upl&context=G20a396bAUAAAAAAAAAA

 

[300 RUM]

Is the Forster bullet profile set up for tangent, (I would almost bet it is)? I think the problem is I'm trying to seat Burger hybirds and they are a lot longer, I would bet i'm smashing the tips a .001 or so. It still doesn't explain the "no movement" protion

 

[fm1947]

fdshuster
you can use a forster compitition seater 308 die on your 30br, I do, just screw die all the way down into press and screw the little sdjuster screw down until it hits top of bullet on a allready seated one for a starting point.

 

[6BRinNZ]

Is it possible that when the ram moves up if more then an avg pressure from round to round is used the depth could change, it is kind of a cheep press? I'm going to set a dial indicator on it and check this out

Yes - this will happen. Neck tension IMO is the most significant factor in producing evenly seated bullets. Factors such as the rate that the handle is moved will also have an impact - and yes it is important the seater doesn't push on the nose. I will find and post the link to another thread where nra-for-life had similar issues.

I will say that I have only ever found one circumstance to make the seating depth longer immediately after seating and that was the donut issue described earlier.

Edit - here is the link to the thread that covers areas that you need to consider, and in this case directly solved the mystery. I think on the 2nd page the OP confirms the cause.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3783184.0

I'm not out of hand discarding that it could be the dies or press but knowing what I now know - I don't go there too quickly.

 

[fdshuster]

fm1947: I'll give it a try. Just compared the sliding collet for the 308 with the 30BR case & there is about .935" length that does not make contact with the much shorter 30 BR case.

All of the neck, shoulder & front 1/3 of the 30 BR case is unsupported by the collet, so have to wonder how that would effect runout after seating the short 115/ 117 bullets.

A few sample seatings followed by a spin under the Sinclair Concentricity gauge should shed some light on my suspicions. Will check it out with my next box of 20 that need reloaded now.

Thanks for the suggestion, I never thought to try it.

 

[fm1947]

runout zip, I use 118 Cheeks bullet, I am seating .010 out and it just does seat it not much adjustment left, been using this die for over a year, I tried it just for the heck of it and it worked.

 

[300 RUM]

Is it possible that when the ram moves up if more then an avg pressure from round to round is used the depth could change, it is kind of a cheep press? I'm going to set a dial indicator on it and check this out

Yes - this will happen. Neck tension IMO is the most significant factor in producing evenly seated bullets. Factors such as the rate that the handle is moved will also have an impact - and yes it is important the seater doesn't push on the nose. I will find and post the link to another thread where nra-for-life had similar issues.

I will say that I have only ever found one circumstance to make the seating depth longer immediately after seating and that was the donut issue described earlier.

Edit - here is the link to the thread that covers areas that you need to consider, and in this case directly solved the mystery. I think on the 2nd page the OP confirms the cause.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3783184.0

I'm not out of hand discarding that it could be the dies or press but knowing what I now know - I don't go there too quickly.

Ok I have been doing some experimenting with 175 SMK's, I did notice the more pressure the deeper the seating, and some difference from a slow movement v a fast movement. Should it really take 3-4 tries to seat a bullet?

 

[6BRinNZ]

Is it possible that when the ram moves up if more then an avg pressure from round to round is used the depth could change, it is kind of a cheep press? I'm going to set a dial indicator on it and check this out

Yes - this will happen. Neck tension IMO is the most significant factor in producing evenly seated bullets. Factors such as the rate that the handle is moved will also have an impact - and yes it is important the seater doesn't push on the nose. I will find and post the link to another thread where nra-for-life had similar issues.

I will say that I have only ever found one circumstance to make the seating depth longer immediately after seating and that was the donut issue described earlier.

Edit - here is the link to the thread that covers areas that you need to consider, and in this case directly solved the mystery. I think on the 2nd page the OP confirms the cause.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/index.php?topic=3783184.0

I'm not out of hand discarding that it could be the dies or press but knowing what I now know - I don't go there too quickly.

Ok I have been doing some experimenting with 175 SMK's, I did notice the more pressure the deeper the seating, and some difference from a slow movement v a fast movement. Should it really take 3-4 tries to seat a bullet?

No - certainly it doesn't take myself that much anymore...it used to. Ultimately the seating depth is all about accuracy as consistent seating depth for its own sake is meaningless, so keep this in context when trying to solve the issue. On this note I have included an article from German Salazars site. His site would be one of the best I have seen for .308 load development as well.

http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.co.nz/2010/09/reloading-measuring-bullets.html

Outside of ensuring I have consistent neck thickness and making sure my technique is good and consistent with the press I have also annealed my cases...I don't bother sorting my bullets to solve the seating depth issue anymore.

An absolute not negotiable for me is - the base of the bullet (boat tail excluded) must not be too close to the neck shoulder junction.. .010" clearance is what I work on.

 

[KMart]

I have found that if I am seating bullets with neck tension around .004 (AR loads) and a slightly compressed powder charge, I get some of this.