Seating Die Shaving Lead

D.B. Cooper · Dec 26, 2020

Just getting set up to reload 30-30 and find myself having new problems.

When I seat the projectile into the case mouth, the projectile seats at a slight angle, and the case mouth shaves lead from one side of the projectile.

I'm using a brand new Lee die set. I don't see any defects on the inside. Cleaned it with alcohol and a q-tip. Projectile is Missouri Bullet Company 165 grn FN, BHN 18, powder-coated (HI-Tek),sized .309.

I'm guiding the projectile all the way up to the die, but I can clearly see it's going into the case at angle. If you look at the cannelure it's further from the case on one side than the other.

It's consistent. Every time. I haven't loaded one correct cartridge yet.

On the theory that the sizing die isn't opening the case mouth enough for a .309 projectile, I loosened the lock nut and pushed the decapping pin/case mouth expander as far down as it will go (end of deacapping rod is flush with the lock nut on the top of the die), but that made no difference whatsoever.

Any idea on how to resolve this?

Shooterbob · Dec 26, 2020

A Lyman m die

bob40caliber · Dec 26, 2020

Just an adjustment issue, I believe.

Shooterbob · Dec 26, 2020

Or a lee multi cal expanding die .cases must be expanded for lead bullets

brasscollector · Dec 26, 2020

Couple of things come to mind..

When I'm seating lead bullets into rifle cases I use my LEE universal expander to just flare the case for seating w/o shaving lead. Works great but I know it's just another thing to have to buy...

I have an old Lyman 308W seating die. Seating stem was not contoured for the bullet I was using, it never seated anything straight. Run out would go from barely acceptable to visibly crooked. Different die took care of that issue.

D.B. Cooper · Dec 26, 2020

bob40caliber said:
Just an adjustment issue, I believe.

What would I adjust?

film495 · Dec 26, 2020

just out of habit, I just touch the bullet to the seating die, and sping, and touch, and spin, 3 times, then seat the bullet. in theory makes sure the bullet centers into the seating die before being pushed down into the case. also make sure the cartridge holder is the right one, and is tight.

AJC1 · Dec 26, 2020

So you need a separate expander if your not using one. Rifle sets dont give you what you need for lead and are set up for botail bullets. You will need to add a flair that the expander ball will not give.

edwardware · Dec 26, 2020

@Shooterbob is right. Cast bullets need more flare than jacketed (or you'll shave), and almost all benefit from mandrel expansion. The MDie does both.

Hooda Thunkit · Dec 26, 2020

AJC1 said:
You will need to add a flair that the expander ball will not give.

This. You need to flare the case mouth. Just enough to start the bullet.
The Lee universal flare die works, the Lyman M due is better.

If you plan to shoot lead in different cartridge and calibers, look at the NOE flare die setup. Very slick setup, with interchangeable dies.

D.B. Cooper · Dec 26, 2020

Shooterbob said:
Or a lee multi cal expanding die .cases must be expanded for lead bullets

Are you talking about this?

https://leeprecision.com/universal-case-expanding-die.html

Seems like I would run the case through the standard decapping/sizing die, re prime, then run just the case mouth up into this die to bell/expand the case mouse another 1-2 thousandths?

Bill M. · Dec 26, 2020

It does not sound to me like your bullet seater matches the shape of the bullet. Yes, you might need more flare but if it shaves it ought to shave all around. I would take the seating die apart and look things over.

Fordfarmboy · Dec 26, 2020

Have you checked the pin in the Decapper to make sure it right size.

Bfh_auto · Dec 26, 2020

D.B. Cooper said:
What would I adjust?

Like others said. You're missing a flare die.
I have both the Lee and Lyman die.
Shooting hard cast. You don't notice a difference

Shooterbob · Dec 26, 2020

Bd yes that’s it .you need to expand your brass for lead bullets. That will fix the shaving issue you are having.

Shooterbob · Dec 26, 2020

And yes the procedure you described is correct

Shooterbob · Dec 26, 2020

You will need to adjust the flair just enough to not shave lead .good loading

AJC1 · Dec 26, 2020

Check out a lyman m die. If your looking for the best tool for the job. There are others but your process for lead should look just like pistol.

D.B. Cooper · Dec 26, 2020

Thanks folks. I'm just going to order the Lyman die from Midway, since most of you are saying it'e better than the Lee. Besides, I like that it's caliber specific. 30-30 is the only rifle I would be loading cast bullets in anyway.

Minor set back, and I won't be able to have a 30-30 range day during this time off, but it's a cheap enough fix to the problem.

cfullgraf · Dec 26, 2020

Take a chamfer tool and knock the inside edge off the case mouth. With all the other suggestions, this will remove a cutting edge that can scrape some material off the bullet.

You will need to re-do the chamfer after every case trim.

forrest r · Dec 27, 2020

Myself I prefer the lee universal case expanding die over the m-die.

I use/test 30cal rifle bullets that are .309"/.310"/.311" along with jacketed .308" bullets. The m-die works but the lee does a better job over a larger range of bullet diameters. Being it's universal I also use it for other "specialty" bullets in other calibers where the m-die's or custom expanders aren't the best choice.

I adjust the lee universal expander so that just under 1/2 the gas check sits in the case neck, same for the plain based bullets. Sounds like a lot of flare but it isn't & the bullets start strait and stay strait during seating.

tightgroup tiger · Dec 27, 2020

Both expanders would work but I prefer the M-die profile expander.

I run the profiled stem down low enough that the die is putting enough flare on the case to stop shaving and the M-die step is below the flare to hold the bullet straight, when loading lead bullets. No shaving, no scraping, no problems.

With plated or jacketed I just raise it up so I only have the M-die profile for the bullet to snap into nice and straight and no flare.

Johnnyd · Dec 27, 2020

Did you chamfer? Have you sized the bullets?

stillquietvoice · Dec 27, 2020

D.B. Cooper said:
Thanks folks. I'm just going to order the Lyman die from Midway, since most of you are saying it'e better than the Lee. Besides, I like that it's caliber specific. 30-30 is the only rifle I would be loading cast bullets in anyway.

Minor set back, and I won't be able to have a 30-30 range day during this time off, but it's a cheap enough fix to the problem.

If you have a 303 British for set you might try using that expander ball until you get the Lee. Would expand the neck to 311 nut might be enough to hold bullet in place for crimping

DukeConnor · Dec 27, 2020

I use the lee universal with NOE M die style expander plugs.

Seating Die Shaving Lead

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