RCBS Seater Die Issues

[lostfish]

Hey everyone,

I am having some issues with my seater die seating my bullets to different lengths even after it is set and snuged down to my press. I will set it to 2.750" exactly, and it will seat the first bullet perfectly to that spec, then it goes all over the place. Next bullet will be like 2.765", then 2.740". It will not seat them all at the length I want. I checked and there's not anything inside the die. Anyone know how to fix this? THANKS!

[45mike]

are you measuring to the tip or using a bullet comparator?

[Sheldon]

The bullets will vary in length and measuring from the tip is really going to show that off. You need to get a tool that allows you to measure off the oglive surface of the bullet which is a much more consistant measuring point.

[lostfish]

I have been messing with the set screw on the top of the die, turning it in and out to adjust the bullet depth... the die is seating the bullet not from the tip but about 1/4" down around the diameter of the copper. Not sure if that is what you were asking...I'm fairly new to this!

[huckberry668]

the die is seating the bullet not from the tip but about 1/4" down around the diameter of the copper.

This is the way the seating stam works. It's cupping the bullet around the ogive and not push directly on the tip. Make sure you lock the seating stam down after adjusting. I assume you're measuring the loaded round from the tip to the case head. If so, yes, the over all length tend to differ sligtly like that.

When you use a comparator, you're measuring the ogive to the case head and usually that measurement doesn't differ much from round to round.

Here is a pic on comparator


here is one on over all length.

[FLIGHT762]

As shown in the photos by huckberry668, if you measure your overall length by measuring base to bullet tip as in the bottom photo, you will get varying lengths, especially with lead tip bullets. The tips vary.

Now as explained and shown in the top photo, the comparator measures off of the bullet's ogive and will give you a more precise measurement.

[lostfish]

I understand now. Thanks for the help... I was about to call RCBS. I AM using lead tipped GameKings. I will need to purchase a comparator!

[huckberry668]

Actually, you don't need comparator unless you're trying to load the bullets in respect to the lands of the riflings (touching the rifling, or slightly into or away from them).

You're fine as it is if you're loading to the standard magazine or cartridge over all length as suggested in loading manuals. The softpoints will vary a little but no cause for concern.