I am using a Redding Comp Seating die for my 22-250. When I am seating a bullet to a certain depth I set the die using the micrometer on top of the die. Most times they seat to within .002. I measure from base to ogive using the Hex Nut that Sinclair sells with the hole for each caliber on each side. As I said they are within .002. The other day some of them came out as much as .008 or .009 long. I turned the micrometer down the amount they were too long and put them back in to bring the bullet down. The problem was that the bullet did not move, I turn the setting down again and the bullet now moved double what I wanted. I have used this die for over 4 years and never had any problems before. I loaded 40 cases and only about 15 were the proper seating depth. The 40 cartridges had a varience going from .009 long to .007 short I tried a different brand of bullet and the same thing was happening. I tried calling Redding but they are located in NY state and are closed. I took the die apart but it looked good and was pretty clean. Does anyone out there have any ideas what can be the problem. Thanks for any help offered.
Problem with seating die
- Thread starter Poconolg
- Start date
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Crunching powder?
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Is the bullet sticking in the seater plug?
Bullet hanging in seater plug due to a difference in springback / work hardening.
I have had this issue on 3 different occasions. Each time it was a different cause. The first time, it was due to my own inattention. I failed to tighten down the lock nut on top of the seater die. It was a Whidden micrometer top seater. I just kept turning down the "dial". Then I noticed the loose nut and tightened it. The bullet was then seated too deep. I readjusted the micrometer and was all good after that.
The next time it was caused by gunk in the seating stem. Cleaning fixed it.
The third time was caused by brass that was fired at least 5 times and had hardened. Thats when i started annealing.
The next time it was caused by gunk in the seating stem. Cleaning fixed it.
The third time was caused by brass that was fired at least 5 times and had hardened. Thats when i started annealing.
ronemus
Gold $$ Contributor
Redding seating stems tend to bell with use, which leads to galling and/or inconsistent seating. The stem should move in the sleeve with minimal friction and very light lubrication. I switched to Forster seating dies; their stems behave better metallurgy and have shown no tendency to bell.
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
Spin a stiff nylon brush inside your necks before seating the bullets. Seating bullets into a neck without any prep causes very high seating forces.
Ned Ludd
Silver $$ Contributor
Because you already measured CBTO on all the loaded rounds, I have to ask whether you took any other measurements? Specifically, is the neck O.D. after re-sizing what it should be for whatever diameter bushing you're using? When did you last do a prep of this brass? Have you loaded round previously using this specific brass prep without issue? Or are these the first rounds you've loaded after completing a fresh brass prep? Excessively tight necks can be one factor that is causative for what you're describing.
What I'm getting at here is that after listening to your story, something has changed. Otherwise, you would have noticed this seating depth issue before, which you stated you did not. There are some obvious points where something might be different:
1) the annealing process
2) some kind of issue with seating die stem or the seating die itself
3) the formation/enlargement of donuts during the the most recent firing or two
4) a heavily compressed load
5) The reloading press needs work (this could be just lubricating the ram, or something more complex)
6) You accidentally used a different shellholder/bushing/Lot# of bullets
etc., etc., etc.
In order to identify the root cause, it will be necessary for you to identify/isolate different possible causes (i.e. variables), make a list, then try to rule them out one by one. If you haven't done so already, one obvious place to start is by measuring the various external dimensions of the cases themselves, mainly because it's very straightforward and simple. If you identify a measurement such as neck O.D. that isn't what it should be, it points in some obvious directions because there aren't that many ways that measurement could change (i.e. the bushing itself or an expander ball are the most likely causes). If no dimensional measurements of the re-sized cases are out of line, you can most likely rule those causes out and move on to checking others.
What I'm getting at here is that after listening to your story, something has changed. Otherwise, you would have noticed this seating depth issue before, which you stated you did not. There are some obvious points where something might be different:
1) the annealing process
2) some kind of issue with seating die stem or the seating die itself
3) the formation/enlargement of donuts during the the most recent firing or two
4) a heavily compressed load
5) The reloading press needs work (this could be just lubricating the ram, or something more complex)
6) You accidentally used a different shellholder/bushing/Lot# of bullets
etc., etc., etc.
In order to identify the root cause, it will be necessary for you to identify/isolate different possible causes (i.e. variables), make a list, then try to rule them out one by one. If you haven't done so already, one obvious place to start is by measuring the various external dimensions of the cases themselves, mainly because it's very straightforward and simple. If you identify a measurement such as neck O.D. that isn't what it should be, it points in some obvious directions because there aren't that many ways that measurement could change (i.e. the bushing itself or an expander ball are the most likely causes). If no dimensional measurements of the re-sized cases are out of line, you can most likely rule those causes out and move on to checking others.
My bet
Work hardened brass and or donut in the neck.
Are you annealing?
Are you using a bushing sizing die or a full length die?
Get you some gauge pins and see if that sized neck is the same inside diameter all the way past the neck shoulder junction.
Work hardened brass and or donut in the neck.
Are you annealing?
Are you using a bushing sizing die or a full length die?
Get you some gauge pins and see if that sized neck is the same inside diameter all the way past the neck shoulder junction.
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