hi everyone...
I would like some pro's here to help me with this and critique my hand-loading methods if possible.
My problem: my bullet seating depth is inconsistent. I am getting overall length variations upwards of .003 (maybe this is good? I was kind of hoping to have it to the nearest .001)
The cause: I believe i have inconsistent neck tension. I recently bought a KM arbor press with the force measurement indicator. Data shows a direct correlation between longer overall lengths after seating the bullet (measured to the o-give) and having to use more force to seat the bullet. I am however unable to draw any conclusions as to what is causing the increased neck tension on some cases and not others. In fact the data actually seems to be very random. When I have a case with more or less than average neck tension the Force measurement indicator does an excellent job of exposing it, but i just cant figure out what is causing it in the first place.
My loading process, on this particular batch was like this..... I am using 3 times fired brass. I trimed prior to the last firing. I first decap only and then put the brass into the wash (ss media). then i put brass through expander mandrel and turned a small amount of material off the necks. (first time neck turning this brass). I then chamfer and debur and run through bushing bump die (no button). I then prime, charge, and seat the bullet (bullets sorted by weight) with a Wilson seater. Is there something I can be doing here that i am missing to get the tension more consistent????
please give me your opinion... thank you
I would like some pro's here to help me with this and critique my hand-loading methods if possible.
My problem: my bullet seating depth is inconsistent. I am getting overall length variations upwards of .003 (maybe this is good? I was kind of hoping to have it to the nearest .001)
The cause: I believe i have inconsistent neck tension. I recently bought a KM arbor press with the force measurement indicator. Data shows a direct correlation between longer overall lengths after seating the bullet (measured to the o-give) and having to use more force to seat the bullet. I am however unable to draw any conclusions as to what is causing the increased neck tension on some cases and not others. In fact the data actually seems to be very random. When I have a case with more or less than average neck tension the Force measurement indicator does an excellent job of exposing it, but i just cant figure out what is causing it in the first place.
My loading process, on this particular batch was like this..... I am using 3 times fired brass. I trimed prior to the last firing. I first decap only and then put the brass into the wash (ss media). then i put brass through expander mandrel and turned a small amount of material off the necks. (first time neck turning this brass). I then chamfer and debur and run through bushing bump die (no button). I then prime, charge, and seat the bullet (bullets sorted by weight) with a Wilson seater. Is there something I can be doing here that i am missing to get the tension more consistent????
please give me your opinion... thank you
