Crooked bullets.
- Thread starter Axis II
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shell70634
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Does the seating stem fit the bullet shape properly?
troy fairweather
Member
Press could be spread some and the tips not working right with the seater. Can't turn the case half a turn and seat again to help out. Make sure you have a hard stop or seating death my varry some.
AJC1
Member
Is it a seating and crimp die that is to low and your trying to shove the bullet in after engaging the crimp.
GeoDudeFlorida
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My first thought, too. I would also look at the expander and the shape of the bullets base. How are you starting the bullet?
I have no idea to be honest. I’ll check tomorrow.
I’ve got the die backed out so far it can’t be crimping. It’s like 1 in 6-7 that does it.
I am holding it on the case until my fingers touch the die and then letting it seat.
AJC1
Member
There are a few solutions.
1.as mentioned a seating stem check.
2. A die with a support collar
3. A chamber style seating die.
I use both 2 and 3. To be honest I tire of the forever seating stem fit issue. The one you have on hand never seems to be a good fit. As much as I don't care for Hornaday. Their seating stem options and availability is top notch imo.
How would I know which seating stem I need?
AJC1
Member
If you have a Hornaday die I take the bullet and test them in the store. My Wilson chamber seaters only have two options, standard and vld. I try them both and use the best fit. Who makes your die.
GeoDudeFlorida
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AJC1
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Just standard 223 dies
AJC1
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I contacted rcbs before and they will make you a stem but don't stock any different shapes. I shoot heavies 69+ so I got the wilson.
AJC1
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Have one of those in 308, I like them.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Doh!! Sorry I didn’t notice it was out of stock. Check Midsouth shooters, Natchez or Midway Maybe one of them will have it in stock.
AJC1
Member
The older version is called a gold medal, you may find one cheaper that way
243winxb
Member
To much. Place an empty case in. Run all the way up. Place seat die in press. Turn die in/down, till crimp ring contacts case mouth. Back die out 1/4 turn, lock.
Now try seating a bullet by adjusting the seat stem/plug.
Last edited:
Blue68f100
Member
You can drill out the seating stem so the tip does not contact. Most mfg have ELD type seating stems available.
EMC45
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What I was going to say exactly. I tried seating .308 with Lee dies unscrewed pretty far out and got crooked bullets. I screwed the die all the way down to touch the case mouth and then backed it out about 1/4 - 1/2 turn. That solved the problem.
Got her fixed. So I have no clue what in the world is going on but I sized these cases, checked them in a case gauge, chamfered the case mouth and some of these have 0 neck tension. Now I did prep these around October. I figured pull the ones that are crooked and when I started pulling on the collet I noticed no resistance. Each crooked one the only thing that kept the bullet from dropping into the case was varget.
243winxb
Member
No neck tension, not good.
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