Please help with 6.5 gap

[Just4fun]

Ok I will try to call Redding today and talk with them. I went and shot it today again and it shoots like crap and I’m sure it’s all in the neck tension

 

[bozo699]

Just4fun,
I didn’t get through all three pages yet but I have had that problem before and it was squeaky clean necks!... I read where your buddy has no problem but wondering about the necks
Wayne

 

[Just4fun]

Ok thank you. I tried to call Redding today and they aren’t talking calls because of covid-19 so I guess I will have to wait.
I shot the gun today all the same load and it shot like crap.

 

[Just4fun]

After each firing I tumble them in ss
Media so yes they are squeaky clean but last night I loaded some and dry lubed the necks and still had the same problem and inconsistencies in seating depth

 

[Lone Hunter]

Just4fun, See if your buddy will let you take out his seating stem and put his stem in your die. See if that will make any difference on seating the bullet and not getting the ring on the bullet.

 

[Just4fun]

I’m going to barrow his whole die set tonight hopefully so I will play around with a few things.

 

[ppaul]

Just for shits and giggles run a case through your seater die without any powder or bullet and see if the neck is changed. Should come out the same. I may have missed it but, have you used your brass with your friend's die? Just have to try all possible combinations, it'll show itself somewhere!

 

[Just4fun]

Ok I just tried that and there was no change in size

 

[Lone Hunter]

Just4fun, Did you try his Seating Stem in your die? I’ve had Bullets ringed like that and changed the stem or modified it and it took care of the problem. Also I know you lubed inside your necks but try a different lube. All the math adds up and to me it’s either the seater stem and clean brass or both. But then again I’ve been wrong more than right most of the time.

 

[Just4fun]

So his stem is the same as mine but I did try turning about 30 necks today and I seated about 5 rounds with no denting and they seated easy but still have the issue of inconsistency on the seating depth as much as 16 thousandths
So what would cause that?
This is the die I’m using

 

[Erik Cortina]

Start with fired brass and measure neck diameter.
Size brass with bushing removed and measure necks again. If it’s sizing necks, then it’s an issue with die being undersized at neck and sizing more than bushing.
If necks haven’t been touched, add bushing and size brass again, measure necks.
If all sizing checks out, move on to seater die.

Run brass into seater die with no bullet. See if necks were affected in any way. If die is screwed down too far, necks will contact die and crimp necks.
If it’s touching neck in any way, back die out until it doesn’t affect necks.

You should find your problem if you troubleshoot one step at a time.

 

[Just4fun]

I have tried all of that and the necks were still to tight so last night I turned about 30 of the necks and now I’m getting good seating pressure but they still won’t seat consistently they very as much as 16 thousandths and I don’t know why

 

[Erik Cortina]

I have tried all of that and the necks were still to tight so last night I turned about 30 of the necks and now I’m getting good seating pressure but they still won’t seat consistently they very as much as 16 thousandths and I don’t know why

Did you do all troubleshooting steps like I suggested? If you did, you would know what the problem is by now.

 

[Just4fun]

Yes I have done as you suggested fired the case is .297 so I sized it with no bushing and still .297 and then I size it with a .295 bushing and then try to seat a bullet with or with out powder it doesn’t matter it still dents the bullet
So last night I neck turned a few and loaded them and now no denting but same proteas before they will not all seat to the same depth and now I just shot two rounds that were neck turned and I got a lot of pressure signs and real heavy bolt lift from the same load that always shot good.

 

[Just4fun]

I’m so frustrated with this gun I’m thinking I’m going to sale it.
I have tried everything I can think of
The only thing that I have had success with is with my buddies die Which is exactly the same as mine I don’t get it.

 

[Webster]

I think Lone Hunter is right - looks like you're running into the crimp ring while seating. The round on the right in your photo sure looks like a heavy crimp has been applied. Back your seating die off a few turns and adjust your seating stem and see what happens.

I have a Redding Bushing Die I am sure it doesn't have a crimping ring. Don't you have to buy a special die if you crimp? If I run a case into the die so that the die contacts the shell holder very hard there is no crimping. Very few bullets that you buy have a crimping grove on them. I have about 0.002" tension on the necks and I also use a lot of force to pull bullet with a collet puller. I consider it normal. Like others have said you need a seater stem to match your bullet shape. Even with the wrong seater stem the damage looks very excesive?

 

[Erik Cortina]

I’m so frustrated with this gun I’m thinking I’m going to sale it.
I have tried everything I can think of
The only thing that I have had success with is with my buddies die Which is exactly the same as mine I don’t get it.

Did you try running brass without bullet into seating die?
Go back to my post and do every step I suggested. I bet seating die is bottoming out on your brass.

 

[Just4fun]

Yes I did that also and you are correct there is no crimping with the die that I have.

 

[Just4fun]

So I’m at a loss with this load so the dies I was using were the 7 saum with a smaller bushing like in the pic I posted so I went ahead tonight and ordered the 6.5 gap dies so hopefully that will fix my problem.
I fried two shots today from brass I neck turned and on both I had pressure marks and on one I had a really hard bolt lift all from the load I have always used with no problems I don’t get it.

 

[ppaul]

have you had your friend come over and load on your equipment? Maybe he could identify something you're missing. If you do this I would suggest jsut showing him your supplies and then leaving the room so all his senses are focused on the process as you have clearly had enough!