inconsistant seating depths

[savagedasher]

First thing I would do is take the seating stem out and blacken a bullet then spin it in the stem and see where the bullet seating location is. Larry

 

[lpreddick]

redding and lee seating stems (the only ones i have used) touch the bullet with the opening of the stem and you can see where this is by removing the stem and push the bullet into the stem until it stops...about 4-6 mm from the tip. all the pressure to seat the bullet is at the edge of the stem and here is where i'v had problems, as stated. vlds will go into the stem until the bullet's tip touches the bottom of the stem and there is no contact of the stem's lip . vld seating stems solve this problem. you can see the stem's rim impression on a bullet, esp if neck dia is .002 less than loaded neck. i'm seeing bullets going into the stem if seating pressure is greater for some necks, resulting in "inconsistent seating depths". i am curently evaluating a .223 lee bullet seater(the guines pig) where i'v filled the stem with epoxy, lubricated a 55 gr bullet and inserted into the stem. i removed the bullet, trimmed the epoxy overflow and am testing bullet seating. sized a neck .003 smaller than loaded and seated the bullet...went in stiff but NO mark on the bullet and depth was the same as a neck .001 greater than loaded. early results. but interesting. disadvantage is the epoxy's shape may only fit one bullet's profile.

 

[Down South]

I think I have it figured out.

Last night I pulled the seating steam out of my Redding Comp die. I put Sierra 190, 168, 180 and Nosler 180 balistic tip in it. The all fit nice and flush in the seating stem.

The 230 Hybrid however did not. It does not sit flush by probably .050. The tip of the bullet keeps it from going all the way in to the seating stem.

I will order some VLD stems and see if that does the trick. Anyone have the part number for them.

KT

When i first bought my redding seater i had the same problem, i called redding and they shipped me a VLD stem free of charge. I now use a Wilson seater with arbor press and when i ordered the seater i told them i wanted the VLD stem and they switched it for me before they shipped it.