COL adjustment issues

[croue]

I'm loading some 40 grain Hornady V-Max 223 rounds.
Load data I find recommends 2.200 or 2.215 COL.
I bottomed out my Lee seating die and can't get this bullet below about 2.245.

Not a huge length difference I suppose? Should I be concerned?
Haven't tested it in the chamber yet, but will be surprised if it actually hits the lands. I'm thinking the Lee dies just don't allow for as much range as other dies?

C

[highpower790]

I'm loading some 40 grain Hornady V-Max 223 rounds.
Load data I find recommends 2.200 or 2.215 COL.
I bottomed out my Lee seating die and can't get this bullet below about 2.245.

Not a huge length difference I suppose? Should I be concerned?
Haven't tested it in the chamber yet, but will be surprised if it actually hits the lands. I'm thinking the Lee dies just don't allow for as much range as other dies?

C

Start by rereading the setup instructions for the die and readjust.There is plenty of adjustment!

[croue]

Ok, I did read the setup instructions, and have the die seated against the shellholder at the top of the stroke, plus a little bit. It is sitting tight against the shellholder. Locked in tight and not slipping. So far so good?

Then I used the length adjuster (center knob) and kept going down until it stopped turning. Usually, I can actually shake the die and hear the insert that seats the bullet sliding, but it stops when I hit the bottom of the adjustement and doesn't slide any more, and it's still too long. The insert seems to be at the bottom of the bore? Seems quite simple. Does it sound like I'm doing something wrong? What?

I can seat some Barnes hollow points down to 2.200 or less with no problem and have adjustment left over. Not so with the V-max bullets. At least the 40gr bullets. Haven't tried the 53, 55, etc.

Short of grinding the die bottom face down I'm not sure I can get any shorter.

C

[highpower790]

Ok, I did read the setup instructions, and have the die seated against the shellholder at the top of the stroke, plus a little bit. It is sitting tight against the shellholder. Locked in tight and not slipping. So far so good?

Then I used the length adjuster (center knob) and kept going down until it stopped turning. Usually, I can actually shake the die and hear the insert that seats the bullet sliding, but it stops when I hit the bottom of the adjustement and doesn't slide any more, and it's still too long. The insert seems to be at the bottom of the bore? Seems quite simple. Does it sound like I'm doing something wrong? What?

I can seat some Barnes hollow points down to 2.200 or less with no problem and have adjustment left over. Not so with the V-max bullets. At least the 40gr bullets. Haven't tried the 53, 55, etc.

Short of grinding the die bottom face down I'm not sure I can get any shorter.

C

Sounds like your doing it right...I think a taller shell holder would be in order.try something from RCBS or another company that will fit.

[bsumoba]

Lee dies will bottom out with a tapered, 55gr or less bullet. I can only get 2.30" with Sierra 55gr Blitzkings.

You can get a thinner shellplate or you can live with the OAL, which is perfectly fine in an AR if thats what you are worried about. Because you are loading out longer, pressures will be less in the round, so if you're looking for velocity, then use the longer OAL and work up your load. If you have a chrono, even better.

[JagerDog]

If you're bottomed out on the shell holder, shell holder height isn't going to change anything. OP is correct that he'd have to grind down the face of the seating die.

I haven't loaded 40gr, but LOTS of 50gr with my Redding dies. Never been an issue.

Do you need the shorter OAL? I tend to like longer OAL's, but you have to have enough engaged in the neck for proper retainment. I'd verify the desired OAL per the bullet mfg.

[croue]

Don't really need the shorter OAL, but that's what was listed in the load data.
I'm going to shoot them as the length is fine in the AR chambers.

The profile of the V-Maxes is quite narrow at the tip compared to other bullets.
I am going to get a custom seat made by Lee. Found it on their website. For about 12 bucks including shipping, they'll make a custom insert seat for you. Just send them a bullet and twiddle your thumbs while they set up their lathe I suppose.

I figure if I get one made for the V-Max profile, between that one and the standard insert seat which works well for more typical profiles I'll have my bases covered and can set OAL where I want for pretty much any 224 diameter bullet profile.

FWIW- the weight had nothing to do with the COL not being able to be set where I wanted. All Vmax bullets seem to have the same tip profile, just a longer tail section for the heavier bullets.

I think I need to get the OAL gauges that work off the ogive now that I know I have such different profiles in my inventory.

C