seating die issues?

[Bkluke]

i have been loading for my 204 ruger, and noticed that the run out is running about .004 to .006 sometimes more. i'm useing a redding comp seating die. is there any other die out there that can do better. or is there something wrong with my redding die. or is it the brass, :,

 

[trappst]

It could be alot of things or a combination of a few things.

First, you have to start with good brass. Neck thickness must be uniform and the sizing die shouldn't be inducing runout. Runout in the body area could also be causing problems.

If your sized necks aren't showing runout, then you need to look at your chamfer and deburring process. An uneven chamfer can cause the bullet to "tip" slightly when seated. Are you using a 45* or VLD style chamfer tool?

Then, you should start looking at the die. Check the seating plug to see where it's contacting the bullets at. If there is a problem with the plug, call Redding they'll take care of you.

I don't think I covered everything but this should give you a good start. Hopefully someon else can give you a more in depth answer!

Trapp

Just FYI, I resized my first group of 204R cases last night. I was using 1x fired brass from factory Hornady ammo. I ran all the cases through a Lee FL sizer and runout at the neck is equal to or less than .001". I haven't seated any bullets yet but I'm hoping the seating die will stay on par with the sizer!

 

[skipper]

I have a couple of 204 Rugers. The Redding Competition Seating die with micrometer on top is,IMHO) THE best .204 seating die considering the Rockchucker press I use. The sliding sleeve design works like a charm. I had an RCBS Gold Medal Match seating die with micrometer top and the cute little loading window cut into the side of the die body. Run out was all over the place. That die now sits on a shelf collecting dust. My first seating session with the Redding solved my run out problem. Typically, my run out is right at .001". I think your problem might be elsewhere. Measure your run out all the way through your reloading process and you might get a good idea where the run out is coming from. I would highly suspect an expander ball or something else, like previously mentioned.

I wish RCBS would fix their die with the loading window on the side. I love being able to drop the bullet in from the side instead of balancing it on top of the case.

 

[Bkluke]

i'm useing hornady brass, i did switch to the rcbs fl xl die i was useing a rcbs fl bushing die, {set aboout half way down the neck.} i was trying to get better groups with 32 gr bk. not sure how the run out was with the bushing die. but it wasn't shooting that great. not very consistant {26.5 rl 10x}