New Redding Comp seating die sticking on bullet?

[ballison]

I just started reloading for a 260 and noticed something with the Redding Competition Seating die that I have never run into before. When I seat the bullet, it sticks and "pops" when coming out of the die. The bullet is a Berger 140 hybrid target. The only thing I can figure is the new unloaded Lapua brass has a neck diameter of .290 and a loaded round is .295. Could the .005 neck tension be putting too much pressure on the bullet to seat it? If so, this should go away after the rounds are fired and resized to .293. I use the same set-up for 308 and never had this problem.

 

[michaelnel]

Brand new Lapua brass seems to have overly tight necks. I run an expander mandrel down both my new Lapua .308 and 6mm BR brass before loading. That relieves some of that neck tension. I also FL size them, trim to length, chamfer and deburr them.

 

[284driver]

Same here with high neck tension. I always expand my necks before loading as well.

 

[Patch700]

May not hurt to also sacrifice a couple bullets and chuck them up in a drill with some fine lapping compound to ensure you don't have excessive tooling marks on the inside of the stem..

 

[Randy L]

I suggest you give Redding a call. I had the same issue you are describing. I talked to a tech at Redding and I'm getting another stem that he said will work better with the hybrids. It has not arrived yet, so I don't know if it will solve the problem or not.

Randy

 

[watercam]

It should. The Hybrids have a VLD-shaped nose. Redding makes a stem specifically for them. Also for the 6.5/142 SMKs.

 

[ballison]

I suggest you give Redding a call. I had the same issue you are describing. I talked to a tech at Redding and I'm getting another stem that he said will work better with the hybrids. It has not arrived yet, so I don't know if it will solve the problem or not.

Randy

I thought the stem that came with the Competition Seater was for vld or long ogive bullets?

 

[noload]

That much seating pressure will cause the stem to cut into the bullet and stick to it. You probably can see a ring on the bullet where the seater stem touches it. If you can increase the neck ID with a mandrel, and get a VLD stem (if they sell them) or as suggested by another member ..lap the harsh shoulder in the current stem.

 

[amlevin]

Note that the closer the fit to a bullet shape, the greater the tendency to "stick". Try pulling a pair of Gauge Blocks apart after letting one sit on top of the other.

As for new brass I always run an expander mandrel through all mine. It usually comes out of the box/bag with enough dings it needs to be straightened anyway. Might as well make sure there isn't excessive neck tension.

As for "lapping" i usually just end up with a ring ground into the soft metal of the bullet and the seating plug is barely touched.

 

[michaelnel]

I thought the stem that came with the Competition Seater was for vld or long ogive bullets?

Nope.

They sell a different seater plug for VLD. I bought one for mine from Brownells.

 

[ballison]

Thanks for all your suggestions and help! I just ordered a new VLD seating stem for my die. Talked with Sinclair's and Berger, and both gave me the same part number. Should get rid of the sticking and produce less runout.