My process is as follows, using Lee everything (has served me well and reasonably priced over the last year)
Decap and size using said die
SS media tumbler using the Thumbler
Case length with the drill and cutter tool
Chamfer with the drill and tool
Prime with a hand primer
Load powder
Use the lee seating die to seat projectile
Measure and shoot round
Now the question, I get a lot of rounds that teh neck on teh case is too large and does not put tension on the bullet to seat properly, I use the crimp die to bump it in place. I had a box of rounds that I crimped too hard that caused a bulge in the round and prevented me from cambering the round. After thinking through my process I realized that I put too much crimp on the rounds and squeezed the bulge below the rim of the neck. The solution I am thinking about if getting the RCBS AR X die to reduce the amount of case stretch and cutting needed on the brass. I plan to size and decap with the Lee then use the X die for resizing after trim, I think the motion of the cutter bit as well as the pilot is opening up the neck too much causing the lack of tension in the first place.
#1 Do I need to crimp?
#2 will the x die do what its advertized to do?
I shoot AR 308 and a M1A as well as two different bolt 308's.
Decap and size using said die
SS media tumbler using the Thumbler
Case length with the drill and cutter tool
Chamfer with the drill and tool
Prime with a hand primer
Load powder
Use the lee seating die to seat projectile
Measure and shoot round
Now the question, I get a lot of rounds that teh neck on teh case is too large and does not put tension on the bullet to seat properly, I use the crimp die to bump it in place. I had a box of rounds that I crimped too hard that caused a bulge in the round and prevented me from cambering the round. After thinking through my process I realized that I put too much crimp on the rounds and squeezed the bulge below the rim of the neck. The solution I am thinking about if getting the RCBS AR X die to reduce the amount of case stretch and cutting needed on the brass. I plan to size and decap with the Lee then use the X die for resizing after trim, I think the motion of the cutter bit as well as the pilot is opening up the neck too much causing the lack of tension in the first place.
#1 Do I need to crimp?
#2 will the x die do what its advertized to do?
I shoot AR 308 and a M1A as well as two different bolt 308's.