edwardware
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- Joined
- Feb 23, 2010
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- 4,426
Yes. Lee makes functional reloading gear, not beautiful.Am I expecting too much?
The marks on the bullets have no measurable effect. For beauty, buy Redding.
Yes. Lee makes functional reloading gear, not beautiful.Am I expecting too much?
I just feel that if I’m trying to be precise everywhere else with the ammo why throw that away by messing with the bullet aerodynamics?That part is made by the millions, probably on an auto screw machine, with a generous tolerence, and that particul part's finish isn't a critical factor. Bullet marking has never had any effect on any aspect of my reloading (accuracy, function, feeding, etc.) except my ego. A variation in reloading is when something is not exactly the same from round to round and a rough seating stem ID doesn't change from round to round. I have kept very good tolerences with my Lee dies, just as close as my Hornady and RCBS dies. No one witnesses my reloading so how good my dies look is only for my benefit, my ego...
Even if that mark is an actual cut into the bullet?Yes. Lee makes functional reloading gear, not beautiful.
The marks on the bullets have no measurable effect. For beauty, buy Redding.
Unless your adding material (like ink), any mark is a cut into the surface.Even if that mark is an actual cut into the bullet?
You do have a point there.Unless your adding material (like ink), any mark is a cut into the surface.
Show me a tenth of a minute group (0.1" @ 100 yards), and I'll share your concern that marks on the bullet just might be a matter for concern. Otherwise, I call it beauty for beauty's sake and that's not Lee's value proposition.
View attachment 1040001 My original bullet seating stem. The lines on the inside work carving gouges into my bullets...Am I expecting too much?
. Perhaps I missed it but what bullet (weight, style, caliber) and gun are you using?I just feel that if I’m trying to be precise everywhere else with the ammo why throw that away by messing with the bullet aerodynamics?
Yes, it will. If not physically, for sure mentally. If it didn't make a difference all the real/ Bubba bullet manufacturers would be sending us marred projectiles because it doesn't make a difference.Just curious, but will it make a difference in accuracy to someone who isn't a competitive shooter? Or for that matter, for a competitive shooter?
Probably notJust curious, but will it make a difference in accuracy to someone who isn't a competitive shooter? Or for that matter, for a competitive shooter?
Yes, it will. If not physically, for sure mentally. If it didn't make a difference all the real/ Bubba bullet manufacturers would be sending us marred projectiles because it doesn't make a difference.
Reloading is more than saving a buck, for most. IMO.
Do yourself a favor and give the Lee's Dies away and buy good RCBS OR Hornaday dies.
I have put a small piece of aluminum foil in the tip of the seating plug and that eliminated any rings on cast lead bullets. Did it make a difference in the accuracy of my handgun shooting? No.
This is a 7.62x39 RCBS seating stem from @ 2007. It had the same crappy machining on the inside that it has on the exterior. It also SPLIT AFTER LOADING LESS THAN 200 ROUNDS.I guess you would need to compare the Lee stem with those from other brands to see if there’s much difference.
In many seater stems, the end of the cavity frequently marks the bullet even with expensive die sets. Polishing out the transition and rounding it a but usually does away with the marking.
The machining marks up into the seater may not touch the bullet and/or not leave a mark. But, also, polishing them out a little will eliminate the problem. The replacement looks good in that department but it still may have a sharp transition at the entry of the seater stem.
I think Lee should do better but remember they are a bargain priced supplier.
For me, Lee is a love/hate relationship. Some products I like, some are trash in my opinion.