Still having problems

[Bert Gamble]

I just can't seem to get the bullets to seat straight in the Dillon 650XL. At first I thought it was the flat nosed 147 Gr bullets that I was using, but the same thing is happening to the 135 Gr RN. They are so far off of center that they will not go into the case gauge.

I have tried being very careful to set it straight in the bell, and even increased the size of the bell to give it a deeper start, but more than half are visibly off center.

I never had this problem loading 230 gr 45 ACP on the Hornaday LNL, but 9mm may be a more difficult caliber to load.

[Divernhunter]

Are you sure you have the correct seating stem shape for your bullets?
Just a quick thought

[Bert Gamble]

Are you sure you have the correct seating stem shape for your bullets?
Just a quick thought

Yes. Dillon dies have a stem that can be rotated, and I have switched it based on the bullet shape.

Thanks for the thought though. That could have done it if set wrong.

[pacrat]

Have you measured your expander? Then compared it to your actual bullet diameter? Or using the "nibs" on your calipers, measured the ID of cases after sizing/expanding and before seating? Then compared that dim. to actual bullet diameter?

Actual "interference fit" between a bullet and a case neck should ideally be .001" and no more than .002". Excessive force used to seat too tight bullets, of the short pistol variety, makes them tend to rock/tilt as they are seated.

Is there a particular brand of case this is happening on? Some are thicker than others. And some have more "springback" than others due to metallurgy.

Take your seating stem out of die. Turn it upside down in your hand. Set a bullet on it nose first. Does it stand straight in a stable manner, or tip?

Originally Posted by Divernhunter View Post
Are you sure you have the correct seating stem shape for your bullets?
Just a quick thought

Even with the tricky Dillon flippy seating thingy. That question may be relevant. Looking at Dillon website. The flippy seater is for SWC on one end, and RN on the other. Most plated flat nosed bullets are neither. And may be conflicting with the seater nose.

[jericho89]

If they are Dillon dies then call Dillon and ask them for assistance. If you get someone who is clueless call back and get someone else. 9mm is no different to load on a 650 than 45. I have loaded hundreds of thousands of each on a 650 over the last 20 years with no issues. Granted I am not using Dillon dies but the process is the same.

[mjmagee67]

Having loaded 10 of thousands of rounds on Dillon equipment I would look at two different things.

First- are you flaring the case enough? Gould the bullet be hanging up on the side of the case causing it to go in catiwompus?

Second- I would get another/different seating die. I've had great luck with the Dillon dies and the Redding Competition Seating die. The other day I loaded 900 rounds for the Area 1 Championship and got 3 that failed case gauge.

[Bert Gamble]

Having loaded 10 of thousands of rounds on Dillon equipment I would look at two different things.

First- are you flaring the case enough? Gould the bullet be hanging up on the side of the case causing it to go in catiwompus?

Second- I would get another/different seating die. I've had great luck with the Dillon dies and the Redding Competition Seating die. The other day I loaded 900 rounds for the Area 1 Championship and got 3 that failed case gauge.

I have RCBS dies that I am going to try.

I think I have opened the case mouth enough. It is really wide, and the bullet goes in with plenty of space on the sides. I will also use the Lee Factory Crimp die. I have learned that they will fit on the Dillon if the locking ring is attached from the bottom.

[Revoman]

Not sure, but maybe something to check;
Is the die/shell opening centered in the die? Is the Dillon seating die station centered over the shell plate? Is the Dillon flaring die centered over the shell plate? Are the bullets the correct size/caliber?
While I have never heard of an issue with centering, it could happen, no one is perfect and they could have had an off day. If the bullets are oversized, that could also explain the issue?
Just thinking out loud.

[9mmepiphany]

Boy, I'll bet you're wishing you'd kept the LNL now...BTW, it is working great

Have you tried using a bit less expansion?

The case might be flared so much that the bullet is being allowed to "tip" before it reaches the seating stem.

What has worked for me is using a Lyman M-die which forms a "cup" at the neck of the case to hold the bullet straight as it enters the seating die. Newer RCBS and Redding expansion dies have copied this design.

The other thing that I have done is add a Redding Competition Seating die to my set. It holds the bullet and case in alignment as they are raised to meet the spring loaded seating stem. The Hornady Seating die with the alignment sleeve is almost as nice, but the Redding Micrometer seating adjustment makes changing OAL, when changing between bullet profiles, much easier

[tonyjr]

A few things to check -
One of my nephews picked up some 9 mm range brass . The case base was / were bent just enough to tip case - into brass bucket
Check that the shell plate is flat - if tilted , can cause -
Check if die is cross threaded

[Bert Gamble]

Boy, I'll bet you're wishing you'd kept the LNL now...BTW, it is working great

Have you tried using a bit less expansion?

The case might be flared so much that the bullet is being allowed to "tip" before it reaches the seating stem.

What has worked for me is using a Lyman M-die which forms a "cup" at the neck of the case to hold the bullet straight as it enters the seating die. Newer RCBS and Redding expansion dies have copied this design.

The other thing that I have done is add a Redding Competition Seating die to my set. It holds the bullet and case in alignment as they are raised to meet the spring loaded seating stem. The Hornady Seating die with the alignment sleeve is almost as nice, but the Redding Micrometer seating adjustment makes changing OAL, when changing between bullet profiles, much easier

If I am able to get this one working I will be happy, but I am glad you like the LNL. I have wondered how that went. I will look into the Redding comp die. Thanks

[Bert Gamble]

A few things to check -
One of my nephews picked up some 9 mm range brass . The case base was / were bent just enough to tip case - into brass bucket
Check that the shell plate is flat - if tilted , can cause -
Check if die is cross threaded

I swapped out the Dillon seating and crimp dies for RCBS and Lee factory crimp and it seems to be working. The RCBS have perfectly shaped seats for both flat and round nose bullets. I have seated several of the 147 grain flat nose and they all go right into the case gauge. I set the factory crimp die so it is about 0.001 larger than the case right after sizing. Is that correct?

Sorry it has taken so long to respond. I have been out of town and couldn't work on the machine.

[thx1138x1]

I crimp my 9mm at .376.Do a plunk test,if it goes plunk generally speaking it should work