Seating die question.....need input.

[Patch700]

Question for you Bob , if you take a sized case that is ready to be charged and seated (with no powder tho for this test) will the case fit all the way into the sliding chamber?

The reason I ask is I've seen instances much like this where the cases sized were a little larger than the dimensions of the sliding chamber. In example , you size the cases with a Redding die (lets even assume you FL sized them) but you use a whidden seating die. The whidden sliding chambers are cut with a specific reamer that is usually held to a tighter tolerance than most.

I have a whidden 6.5x47 sliding chamber here that will not allow any brass to completely enter it if it hasnt been FL sized in a die that sized my brass too much for my liking. They are that tight.



I hope this makes sense.

Good luck.

 

[/VH]

Bob,

Just for reference, I have recently sorted the following 6.5 mm bullets with a Bob Green comparator (seating stem "datum" to ogive) into groups that measured within 0.001" of each other:

1. About 900 Berger 140 gn Hybrids - these sorted into 4 lengths, primarily into 2 lengths with less than a small handful in the two outlying groups combined.

2. 100 Hornady140 gn Amax - these sorted into 4 lengths, primarily into 2 lengths with only 4 bullets in the two outlying groups combined.

3. About 80 Swift 130 gn Scirocco II - these were all over the place in about fourteen lengths.

4. 150 Berger 130 gn AR Hybrid OTM Tactical - these sorted primarily into two lengths but had a substantial number of bullets in four additional lengths and four bullets that were just plumb goofy.

So, my point is; I was pretty impressed with the consistency of the Amaxes.

As far as your predicament, with what you have thus far explained and I'll add that you have done a very good job of communicating; my bet is that the neck of the sleeve is too tight for your case neck wall thickness or the brass that you have been working with is inconsistent in hardness.

Have you tried coloring the outside of a case neck and then seating a bullet in it, to check for interference?

Forgot to mention, I also sorted a couple hundred 136 gn Scenars with excellent results, as well.

 

[bobinpa]

Question for you Bob , if you take a sized case that is ready to be charged and seated (with no powder tho for this test) will the case fit all the way into the sliding chamber?

The reason I ask is I've seen instances much like this where the cases sized were a little larger than the dimensions of the sliding chamber. In example , you size the cases with a Redding die (lets even assume you FL sized them) but you use a whidden seating die. The whidden sliding chambers are cut with a specific reamer that is usually held to a tighter tolerance than most.

I have a whidden 6.5x47 sliding chamber here that will not allow any brass to completely enter it if it hasnt been FL sized in a die that sized my brass too much for my liking. They are that tight.



I hope this makes sense.

Good luck.

That's interesting and it makes sense. You may be onto something. I'll look at that before I go any further. It'll be interesting to know if that's a cause. Also, as I said before, I'm going to prep some of the brass myself. I think if I start from scratch, I might eliminate this trouble. I'm only going to do a few (maybe 10-15) pieces. Then I'm going to do some in depth measuring of mine vs what came with the gun. Trouble is I know the guy that prepped this brass. He is a very precise person......very precise. So I doubt that I'll find inconsistencies, but if I do, I'll have to ask about the history of the brass.

 

[bobinpa]

Bob,

Just for reference, I have recently sorted the following 6.5 mm bullets with a Bob Green comparator (seating stem "datum" to ogive) into groups that measured within 0.001" of each other:

1. About 900 Berger 140 gn Hybrids - these sorted into 4 lengths, primarily into 2 lengths with less than a small handful in the two outlying groups combined.

2. 100 Hornady140 gn Amax - these sorted into 4 lengths, primarily into 2 lengths with only 4 bullets in the two outlying groups combined.

3. About 80 Swift 130 gn Scirocco II - these were all over the place in about fourteen lengths.

4. 150 Berger 130 gn AR Hybrid OTM Tactical - these sorted primarily into two lengths but had a substantial number of bullets in four additional lengths and four bullets that were just plumb goofy.

So, my point is; I was pretty impressed with the consistency of the Amaxes.

As far as your predicament, with what you have thus far explained and I'll add that you have done a very good job of communicating; my bet is that the neck of the sleeve is too tight for your case neck wall thickness or the brass that you have been working with is inconsistent in hardness.

Have you tried coloring the outside of a case neck and then seating a bullet in it, to check for interference?

Forgot to mention, I also sorted a couple hundred 136 gn Scenars with excellent results, as well.

I was impressed with the AMAXs myself, but I only looked at a small sample. I also didn't use the same method as you. I never heard of that comparator so I looked it up. It's more precise than what I was doing for sure.

I haven't colored the outside of a neck yet but I have slid a couple cases up in the die by hand. They went in easily and I didn't feel any resistance at all. I'm really starting to think that it may be the brass itself or the stack up of tolerances/inconsistencies.

 

[/VH]

[/quote]



I haven't colored the outside of a neck yet but I have slid a couple cases up in the die by hand. They went in easily and I didn't feel any resistance at all. I'm really starting to think that it may be the brass itself or the stack up of tolerances/inconsistencies.
[/quote]

Right Bob, it was my understanding that you tried this yesterday morning with sized brass but I think if you'll color the outside of a case neck and actually seat a bullet, the bullet will expand the case neck somewhat from the sized diameter and with the neck colored you may see signs of interference between the sleeve neck and the case neck. It might be worth a try.

 

[bobinpa]

VH, I must have misunderstood you the first time, but I have it now. I will try it. From some of the things I have read about whidden dies they are tight, so you may be onto something. I'm going to do some testing this weekend. The outcome will tell me if I have to call whidden next week.
Thanks again.

 

[/VH]

Best of luck with it Bob. I don't know if you're turning necks for that rifle or not but if so, it may be a simple matter of just taking off a couple more "tenths", if you can stand it.

In any case, I'd appreciate knowing what the problem is once you get it figured out because if it's not this or inconsistent brass hardness, I am stumped and it would be another educational experience.