Issue with seating Nosler Sporting Handgun JHPs.

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Arkansas Paul

Arkansas Paul

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Who all have used this bullet? It seems like a good one, and is pretty reasonably priced.

It has a pure lead core according to the Nosler website and has some lead exposed on the tip.

The problem is, this is what happens when I seat them. It deforms the lead tip. I use regular Lee dies for this gun. It works great for all of my cast loads, but just smashes these to death.
It probably doesn't hurt performance any, but it bugs the crap out of me.

If you have used these bullets, have you gotten the same result? If so, how did you fix it?

4b5EROl.jpg
 
I've used that bullet. I use RCBS dies. I used the round nose seater stem and it squeezedthe hollow point closed just slightly, not to the extent that you have. I was always going to try the flat point seating stem to see if that would not deform it as bad. Just haven't gotten around to trying it yet.
 
I load a ton on them for my 44mags and special. Haven't had any deformation. I use a Lee 4 hole turret press with Lee carbide dies. Guessing maybe some adjustment is required?
 
I had the same issue with some bullets years ago (RCBS dies I think?), switched stems and it worked much better. Lead points were dead soft. Looks like you have a lot of neck tension as well. A stem that hits the jacket would be best of course.
 
I had that happen with 200gr. .45 ACP JHP's. I was glad it did it, they cycle better. For 125 JHP .357, the RCBS seater doesn't deform them at all.
 
ray15 said:
You can't beat that with a stick.
Click to expand...

For sure.
I'll probably just purchase another seater die and use the one I already have for my cast stuff and the other with the custom seater stem for jacked stuff. That way I wouldn't have to switch back and forth.
Pretty reasonably priced option.
 
I'm using those Nosler bullets in the .357 Magnum and loading with Lee dies and see no deformation at all. Is it possible you are not flaring the case mouth enough to start the bullet without excessive pressure?
 
I'm bettin' you're seating and crimping in one step. You are correct, the deformation will not affect accuracy or terminal performance.
 
ArchAngelCD said:
I'm using those Nosler bullets in the .357 Magnum and loading with Lee dies and see no deformation at all. Is it possible you are not flaring the case mouth enough to start the bullet without excessive pressure?
Click to expand...

That is possible. I try to not flare too much to keep from overworking the brass. I may be overdoing it. Or underdoing it as it is.

buck460XVR said:
I'm bettin' you're seating and crimping in one step. You are correct, the deformation will not affect accuracy or terminal performance.
Click to expand...

I do seat and crimp in one step. I'm sure that contributes to it.
 
It sounds like both the flare and the crimp in one step might just be causing the collapse of the HP. You just might fix this one easily, I hope so.
 
That's all I've ever done. I am certainly willing to crimp in separate steps though.

I just looked on Midway for a roll crimp die and it seems like everything is taper crimp.
What do you guys who do it in separate steps use for revolvers?
 
I thought the FCD was a taper crimp.

Just looked on the Lee site and saw it does apply a roll crimp.
Sweet.

Just ordered the crimp die.

I bet ArchAngel is correct. This should be an easy fix.
 
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Arkansas Paul said:
I thought the FCD was a taper crimp.

Just looked on the Lee site and saw it does apply a roll crimp.
Sweet.
Click to expand...
It's taper crimp in autoloader calibers and roll crimp in revolver ones. On a tip I read here I bought an extra 9mm (taper crimp) insert and shortened it to the length of the supplied roll crimp one so I can do either style crimp in 38/357. Between that and the ease of adjustment it's hard to beat the FCD.
 
I seat and crimp in separate steps for these types of bullets.
Even if I seated and crimped in one step I could not deform the bullet nose that much.
I seat these Nosler JHPs to the middle of the cannelure and then crimp, two steps.
I take that back. I was seating and crimping .357 mag. with RSBS dies and I forgot the washer, had one come out just like yours.
 
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Dudedog said:
:eek:Positive comments about the Lee FCD, the end of the world is approaching:D
Click to expand...
I'd say it's a poor fix for having the rest of your dies set up incorrectly but the best crimp die available. The sizing ring on the 38 special FCD is generously sized - if it contacts the case you need to know how badly formed that round is - It won't pass a SAAMI-minimum cartridge gauge and probably won't chamber in the gun, either. It it does the gun has looose chambers.
 
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