reloading 6br ,lapua brass with berger 105 vld's seating pressure varies

[kawsam62s]

question
while reloading this weekend I noticed some of the vld's take a lot of pressure to start in the brass while being seated, then go smoothly , while others seat with ease, its like the transition on the base of the bullet acts as a hump?, to push past
thoughts?
thx.

 

[Ranger188]

Are you using brand new, untouched Lapua brass?
New Lapua 6br necks are really tight and could use a mandrel
to open them up slightly.
Otherwise, you will just have a lot of neck tension the first firing.

 

[kawsam62s]

Are you using brand new, untouched Lapua brass?
New Lapua 6br necks are really tight and could use a mandrel
to open them up slightly.
Otherwise, you will just have a lot of neck tension the first firing.

hi
cases have been fired 6 times or so and just settled on the vld, is the bullet of choice and noticed this tightness,
when the cases were new they were mandreled, I also mandreled a few during the seating operation this weekend with the same feel to them
thx for the reply

 

[Ranger188]

What size bushing are you using?

 

[pacer56]

Bullet diamerter consistent?

 

[perazziguy]

time to anneal the cases?
Jonathan Taylor

 

[kawsam62s]

What size bushing are you using?

hi
.268

 

[kawsam62s]

Bullet diamerter consistent?

hi
yes
.269

 

[kawsam62s]

hi
i also turned a couple cases and ended with a dia of .268 and the same feel
thx

 

[rwj]

hi
yes
.269

A couple of questions...

Have you directly measured the case neck ID and/or wall thickness at multiple locations? If yes, how much variation was detected? Was a “donut” detected at the neck/shoulder junction?

How are the cases being cleaned between firings?

Is there a chamfer present on the neck ID and no burrs present?

Is lube being used during seating?

To what depth are bullets being seated?

 

[kawsam62s]

A couple of questions...

Have you directly measured the case neck ID and/or wall thickness at multiple locations? If yes, how much variation was detected? Was a “donut” detected at the neck/shoulder junction?
hi, yes seems consistant wall thickness is .0125 no donut, altho i dont neck size all the way down to the junction

How are the cases being cleaned between firings?
they are wet cleaned with pins or 0000 steel wool on the necks to remove carbon

Is there a chamfer present on the neck ID and no burrs present?
yes rcbs trim mate inside and outside and did a few manually to be sure was no difference, no burrs

Is lube being used during seating?
yes, one shot spray was applied before sizing, outside and inside the neck

To what depth are bullets being seated?

2.800 to the ogive, witch is close to the neck junction when seated

 

[shootermike82]

You mean 1.80" ?

 

[kawsam62s]

You mean 1.80" ?

yes added in the tool oops

 

[group therapy]

question
while reloading this weekend I noticed some of the vld's take a lot of pressure to start in the brass while being seated, then go smoothly , while others seat with ease, its like the transition on the base of the bullet acts as a hump?, to push past
thoughts?
thx.

im no great shot but here ya go for my experience. are you brushing the inside of the necks with a nylon brush, if not try it. if you are cleaning the brass, try stopping. resize, wipe them well, brush inside of neck and try. the carbon inside the neck has value, my vote is to leave it there. my bullets would seat tuff if I forgot to brush the inside of the neck. also, I chuck the brush up in a drill and spin it, not by hand. I was told not to lube the bullets or inside of the neck, another variable to have to control. of course, you can ask 20 folks and get 25 different answers. good luck sir

 

[tclaunch]

Each and every reply, I am surprised is not the same answer. Your cases are work hardening, and are telling you to anneal. You can anneal as often as each time you fire the case. Its how many top shooters avoid the scenario you are describing.

 

[dgeesaman]

im no great shot but here ya go for my experience. are you brushing the inside of the necks with a nylon brush, if not try it. if you are cleaning the brass, try stopping. resize, wipe them well, brush inside of neck and try. the carbon inside the neck has value, my vote is to leave it there. my bullets would seat tuff if I forgot to brush the inside of the neck. also, I chuck the brush up in a drill and spin it, not by hand. I was told not to lube the bullets or inside of the neck, another variable to have to control. of course, you can ask 20 folks and get 25 different answers. good luck sir

You guys must have nylon brushes made of carbide. When I nylon brush a case neck almost nothing comes out. Even a vigorous brass brushing leaves most of the carbon in my cases.

Anyway to the OP I would look carefully at work hardening. Also apply some of the Redding dry graphite lube on the bullets or swabbed inside the necks. That should greatly reduce the severity of the variation.

David

 

[group therapy]

You guys must have nylon brushes made of carbide. When I nylon brush a case neck almost nothing comes out. Even a vigorous brass brushing leaves most of the carbon in my cases.

Anyway to the OP I would look carefully at work hardening. Also apply some of the Redding dry graphite lube on the bullets or swabbed inside the necks. That should greatly reduce the severity of the variation.

David

the goal is to LEAVE the black carbon in the neck. if you look closely at your brass a few days after you shoot it you will see a light substance starting to form. maybe like corrosion ( it does in mine, the humidity is like 90% all the time where I live so maybe just mine) or something. I have seated bullets when I have forgotten to brush them and seating is far more difficult and erratic. when I remember to brush, smooth and consistent.i was told, by guys that shoot WAY better than me(world record holders and I do believe you need to pick shooters who's advice you will follow and follow it, way to many ways to skin a cat in this game and if you try to follow ALL the great shooters advice you will just wind up chasing your tail running in circles) not to coat the inside of the necks or bullets with ANY lubricant. granted, this was some time ago (2-3 years?) and maybe things have changed, they always do. anyway, next time your loading, just brush the neck with the nylon brush on some and not on others. I bet the brushed necks will be smoother and consistent when you seat the bullets. then again, maybe not, many many variables to try and control in this game and to many influencing factors that are relevant to geographical location, temps, humidity, reloading routines, how we brushed our hair this morning, IF WE BRUSHED OUR HAIR THIS MORNING. I am just sharing what has worked and made a difference for me, as always, ymmv. have a great day and shoot well!!

 

[dgeesaman]

the goal is to LEAVE the black carbon in the neck.

That is one philosophy and I agree it can work. I had hell of a time with poor seating (not mere force variation, but creaking and grabbing) and brass brush + annealing + dry lube eliminated it for me. Nylon brushing did nothing.

 

[Della]

That is one philosophy and I agree it can work. I had hell of a time with poor seating (not mere force variation, but creaking and grabbing) and brass brush + annealing + dry lube eliminated it for me. Nylon brushing did nothing.

Tried just hand cleaning my last batch of brass and definitely had this creaking and grabbing with a TI expander before seating. Never had this with wet tumbling.