bullet seating problem

[strokerace]

so i'm new to reloading i reloaded some 20 rounds just fine but when i went to reload some more today and got to the bullet seating step i did everything i had been doing before but the bullet got stuck in the die. i tried re adjusting it and rechecked it but the bullets kept getting stuck. whats going on here? thanks every one

[joelogic]

Bullet stuck in the die? Thats a new one.

Correct die?
Take the die apart and inspect.

There is really nothing in there to hold onto a bullet.

[strokerace]

its the correct die. ive taken it apart and didnt see anything that would cause the bullet to get stuck but it just seems to get jammed into the die and is stuck there until i take it apart and get the bullet out.

[NoNOS67]

its the correct die. ive taken it apart and didnt see anything that would cause the bullet to get stuck but it just seems to get jammed into the die and is stuck there until i take it apart and get the bullet out.

Give us some more details. What are you reloading, cast, plated, pistol, rifle...

[strokerace]

sorry .308 winchester jacketed hollow point hornady 168 gr into mixed brass thats been fired once. i'm using 50.5 grains of hodgdon H380 powder. using lee dies in an rcsb turret press.

[skibuff]

Wrong seater plug for bullet?
Is the crimp set way too low and it getting stuck there?

[strokerace]

its getting stuck in the seating plug just seems to be binding up in it. i dont think its the wrong plug it worked before and i havent changed anything since i got the die.

[koehn,jim]

I have had a similar problem with excess lube build up on the cases. When you take the die apart is it full of gunk, this would indicate too much lube.

[strokerace]

not really no. its still clean.

[Bill Steele]

I have seen this with 168SMK's when I was loading really compressed charges using a Lee seating die. I think what was happneing is when I really cranked down on the press to seat the bullet, as the bullet got to the powder and started causing resistance to the bullet, the seating plug would be forced apart where it contacted the ogive, when I let up as it came back it would kind of grip the bullet. I don't use that seating die anymore, in any case.

Do your bullets seat easily? Are you loading compressed charges?

[strokerace]

yeah its a compressed charge. i'm still trying to fine tune the my loads. any suggestions on how to keep the die from doing this?

[joelogic]

50gr sounds like a lot. Hodgdon doesnt even list H380 for .308.

The powder work fine for you?

[strokerace]

i started at 45.5 but at 100 yards the rounds were landing 6-8 inches low so i was told upping the charge would likely help which is when i ran into this problem. other than that i seems to work fine. my lyman reloading book lists H380 for .308 with 165 gr bullets.

[Bill Steele]

yeah its a compressed charge. i'm still trying to fine tune the my loads. any suggestions on how to keep the die from doing this?

I just backed down a little on the load so the powder was not compressing quite as much. It really screwed up my OAL consistency and damaged a few bullets before I gave up on that bullet load combo.

Since, I have used a Redding Comp seater, Wilson hand die and even a Lee Loader to seat bullets and have not seen it again.

Good luck, have fun.

[wood carver]

50gr sounds like a lot. Hodgdon doesnt even list H380 for .308.

51gr of H308 is about max for a .308.

I'm thinking the OP is using the incorrect seating plug. It should match the face of the bullet.