69gr SMK inconsistent seating

[NiMiK]

Has anyone ran into any issues with inconsistent seating using .223 bullets? Here's what I've had with a batch of 30 rounds using a single stager was and RCBS small base die set. I've reset the dies and started over twice but every couple of rounds would throw off the seating depth. Anyone have any insight on what could be the issue? Should I try a FL die set instead?

Case trim: 1.749
Powder: varget 24.5 +/- .1gr
Primer: CCI 400
Brass: PMC once fired
Projectiles: Sierra 69gr MatchKing

COL:
18 rounds at 2.259
9 rounds at 2.255
3 rounds at 2.250

[ExtremeX]

First off how are you measuring the completed round? If you are going from tip to tip those figures may be acceptable. You need to use a bullet comparator and measure from the base to the ogive if you want a more consistent measurement.

If you are doing that, then it may be the seater. I have never enjoyed the RCBS seater due to the plug never matching the profile of the bullets I use. The RCBS seater for example is a mile away from the ogive when using bullets like Hornady AMAX. With the Forster Ultra micrometer seater my COAL measurements are generally always spot on.

[damndave]

First off how are you measuring the completed round? If you are going from tip to tip those figures may be acceptable. You need to use a bullet comparator and measure from the base to the ogive if you want a more consistent measurement.

If you are doing that, then it may be the seater. I have never enjoyed the RCBS seater due to the plug never matching the profile of the bullets I use. The RCBS seater for example is a mile away from the ogive when using bullets like Hornady AMAX. With the Forster Ultra micrometer seater my COAL measurements are generally always spot on.

[NiMiK]

First off how are you measuring the completed round? If you are going from tip to tip those figures may be acceptable. You need to use a bullet comparator and measure from the base to the ogive if you want a more consistent measurement.

If you are doing that, then it may be the seater. I have never enjoyed the RCBS seater due to the plug never matching the profile of the bullets I use. The RCBS seater for example is a mile away from the ogive when using bullets like Hornady AMAX. With the Forster Ultra micrometer seater my COAL measurements are generally always spot on.

Thanks ExtremeX! I'm measuring from the base to tip of the bullet for OAL. It's become frustrating as I'm now backing of the seater and adjusting as I go for every round. I think you're correct about the seating die. I'll try another brand and hope that helps.

Are the dillon 223 seating die pretty consistent on the xl650?

[ExtremeX]

Measuring from the base to the tip of the bullet is the incorrect way of measuring seating consistency. The Base to Tip measurement I use as a ballpark figure for COAL, and I expect some variation here.

The measurement I care about is from the base to the ogive, and you should consider buying one of these to check the consistency of the ammo.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/231904/hornady-lock-n-load-bullet-comparator-basic-set-with-6-inserts

I have never used the dilon die so I don’t know how they compare… but do yourself a favor and just go straight to a competition seating die with a micrometer top. I was hesitant to try them for so long on price alone, but after getting them, it’s all I use. I like the Forster Ultra dies, and I understand Reddings product is basically the same.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/665744/forster-ultra-micrometer-seater-die-223-remington

[J-cat]

My box of 69SMK is +\- .010" in both base to tip and base to ogjive measurements.

[cfm117]

You need a die that seats off the ogive. I use redding comp die. Its expensive, but when you your X ring is 6" at 600yds with irons, constistency is the key.

[GeoffLinder]

I agree that the Redding seater is the way to go with SMK's. their tip is inconsistent as that is where the jacket wraps and is trimmed off. This is no problem in usage and performance, you just have to understand that measuring from base to tip is misleading with these.

[ocabj]

Pretty much all rifle dies will seat off the ogive. But you still need to measure off the ogive, too, otherwise the overall length will still vary because you're measuring from base to tip when meplats are all inconsistent.

[Ferrum]

I've made the mistake of letting lube build up in the die... Will definetly cause varying OAL.

[ExtremeX]

Pretty much all rifle dies will seat off the ogive. But you still need to measure off the ogive, too, otherwise the overall length will still vary because you're measuring from base to tip when meplats are all inconsistent.

While that's the objective I find some seating stems are not always where they are supposed to be...

I took my RCBS competition seating die, Lee seating die, and Forster sealing die and all of them contact the bullet in different locations, some closer to the ogive than others especially with VLD style bullets.

I just couldn't use the RCBS die with Amax bullets, it was a mile away from the ogive.

Just to give myself a visual representation I removed the seating stem from each one of my dies, and make a mark with a sharpie where it contacted the bullet, and did the same with the Hornady bullet comparator. It was eye opening.

[NiMiK]

Thanks guys. I'm going to pick up a Redding comp or Forester Ultra. I've tried 10 rounds at the range over the weekend and was impressed with the groups given the fact that I measured from COAL. Here are pics of the 10 rounds I've loaded and the 20 rounds of American Eagle 55gr. I'm sure it'll be better once I measure from ogive. The flyers aren't mine. Someone shot and broke my target stand and ended my session early.

[OpenSightsOnly]

For 223, go for the Forsters micrometer seater since that holds better than Redding micrometer.

The seating stem of the Redding micrometer is not designed for compressed loads plus I seems to recall that they have a different seating stem for VLD and non-VLD.

[ar15barrels]

My box of 69SMK is +\- .010" in both base to tip and base to ogjive measurements.

The OP's rounds all seem to be within +/- 0.005" of 2.255".

[ronas]

If you really want to do a lot more work for more consistent bullet seating and release try the following: 1-clean insides of neck with brush even if you use ultrasonic cleaner,2-after sizing run a die with a madrel thru neck,3-then use a bushing neck sizer die.