Strongest made bullet seating die????

[ronas]

I have search and read about other having this problem, including the resent thread about jacket crushing.

I am seating a 175 nosler custom competion HPBT over 44.2 grs. of varget well within hogden's max or 45 gr. I am having the problem because I need to seat bullets to 3.131" ogive. This is by far what the rifle shoots most accutately. Bullet is jumping .050" which seems like a lot but it shoots remarkable well.

So who make the stoutest bullet seater die. And it is not Forester or Redding Micro adj. dies.


Edited: I have tried different brand of brass too with Nosler having the least internal volume and Hornady having the most, at least so far.

[freonr22]

I don't know how they stack up, but are often forgotten about

http://www.ch4d.com/catalog/dies

[CSACANNONEER]

I'm not understanding why you need a stout seating die.

[ronas]

I don't know how they stack up, but are often forgotten about

Thanks for responding. I'll call them tomorrow. Their website says they make custom stems too.

[ronas]

I'm not understanding why you need a stout seating die.

Because what I'm using will not seat the bullet far enough into the case. It is a compressed load. I can get it down to ogive of 3.131" but I have to keep turning the stem down sequentialy and measure each time, way to much trouble and time.

[Mr Ed]

Have you looked into a Wilson bullet seater/die? I have been using one for my .308 and have had very consistent results. I used mine with an arbor press I got at Harbor freight.

[CalTeacher]

So, just for clarification, what problem are you experiencing? Are you crushing the jackets on your bullets? How is a seating to blame for crushing jackets? I'm not being snarky, I'm just wondering how this is occurring because ive never encountered any problem like this.

That being said, I'm not sure how stout a seating die can be.

Edit: if you can get your desired length, why is the die not holding its setting? Is the seating plug coming loose? Threads on the adjustment knob stripped? That seems odd.

[ronas]

So, just for clarification, what problem are you experiencing? Are you crushing the jackets on your bullets? How is a seating to blame for crushing jackets? I'm not being snarky, I'm just wondering how this is occurring because ive never encountered any problem like this.

That being said, I'm not sure how stout a seating die can be.

Edit: if you can get your desired length, why is the die not holding its setting? Is the seating plug coming loose? Threads on the adjustment knob stripped? That seems odd.

Not crushing the bullets or the shoulders of the brass. Not had this problem before either.

I am not getting my desired length the first time it goes in the die to seat the bullet. When I set die to exact length with dummy round it comes out perfect with no powder. But the round loaded with powder will be to long. That is the ogive measurement will be to long.


If I'm not being clear on something just ask.

[skibuff]

So the powder is pushing the bullet back up or keeping it from fully seating?

My RCBS dies non micro adjust are threaded in and locked with a jam nut very solid. The only Lee seater die I have the seater plug kinda floats in there loose doesn't seat very consistant.

I don't know that a new die will fix your problem. It could be a small amount of play in your shell plate or flex in the die holder.

[SixPointEight]

2.131" has your COL at about 2.700" doesn't it? You're telling me factory gold medal match doesn't chamber in your gun(it measures about 2.225" to the ogive)? I had a savage with a really short chamber. Max COL with a 175 was 2.815", and everyone told me I was an oddball.

Anyways, are you using a drop tube? Loading 155's I am pretty much filling a case up, but using a 12" drop tube it settles the powder down to just below the case neck. If that doesn't help, you're compressing that load a bit too much I think

[Sheldon]

There is such a point where compression will be excessive.....sure you aren't at that point?

[ronas]

Below is photo of ammo test and why I want the 3.131" ogive to work, without take a long time to seat each bullet. In testing photo I used for best group Hornady brass and 210 Fed match primer. For all others I used Lapua Palma brass and CCi 450 SR magnum primer. All of these rounds used 44.5 grains of varget.

All shots were from 200 yards. Started at 3.131" ogive which equates to .050" jump. Each group that follows is .050" closer to the lands. Starting in upper left and going left to right the groups measured as follows:
.167", .455", 1.274", .567", The bottom row is 1.418", 1.574", .733".

[Bill Steele]

I don't think it is a die strength issue, that is, I don't think another brand of die will make a difference. The initial OAL variance is likely due to the compressed powder pushing the bullet back up (giving it spring) as the ram pressure is released. Subsequent seating strokes finishes the job on compressing the powder enough to keep the bullet seated where you want it.

I think you could try a few other things (other than just running the ram up and down enough to compress the powder). One you could try a long drop tube as mentioned above. Another is to get a small vibrator and have it run touching your full case to help settle the powder prior to seating (I am always amazed how much powder can be settled, it has to be better than crushing the kernals), another might be to find another bullet that is tolerant of being seated at or into the lands (although .050" of additional space may or may not give you the space you need to get the bullet to stay put). Another idea is maybe try a different bushing to add a little neck tension and help hold the bullet on the first stroke (these kinds of things get circular, i.e. tail chasing).

I would also check your cartridge OAL after a day or two and see of they crept back up.

Definitely stay away from LC Match cases. The good news is Hornaday brass is pretty competively priced.

[phish]

You need to suck it up and back off on your charge weight. Get a custom ground chamber reamer next time...

[Fjold]

My 375H&H dies are made by Lyman and in one of my loads I compress the powder from half way up the neck to completely below the neck of the case (it's probably 3/8") and don't have any problems