Inconsistent Seating Issues

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softail99

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Feb 8, 2009
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With all of the effort of trimming, measuring, proper die adjustment, perfect charging weight and sierra 2200 match bullets, I am have a strange issue.

Using the Dillon 550 press in a (so to speak) single stage mode, I am seating 308's at 2.806 to provide .10 off the lands. I run a few a couple or so and they are within .001 and then for no dam reason,:what: I am off by .10 , .11and even an occasional .12. I am sure the dies are NOT moving but for the love of Pete, I can't figure this one out.

Anyone PLEASE! Ideas? Thought about going to a Rock Chucker or something but I would think the Dillon would be precious-nuff!

Thanks for any input.
 
I am off by .10 , .11and even an occasional .12.
Are you saysing you are off .010", .011", and .012".
Or off .10" = .100", .11" = .110", and .12" = .120"?

If you are measuring OAL from cartridge base to bullet tip, you can see a lot of variation.
Not all bullets are the same length.

The bullet seating die works of the bullet ogive, or radius, not the tip of the bullet.

If you measure OAL with a bullet comparator off the ogive, you may find you have little or no variation.
http://www.6mmbr.com/catalog/item/1433308/977259.htm

rc
 
Well, those two guys above just hit two mistakes I remember making in my reloading activities many years ago, when I was getting variance in OAL. Good advice, friends.
 
Maybe you need Uniquetek's toolhead clamps http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=415639 Seating Depth Variation << FROM REDDING TECH LINE

There are many factors that can cause bullet seating depth to vary when using our Competition Seating Die. First, make sure you're comparing bullet seating depths correctly. You cannot check bullet seating uniformity by measuring cartridge overall length off the bullet point. You must use a bullet comparator, like our Instant Indicator, to compare bullet seating depths. A comparator contacts the bullet at the bore diameter contact point. This is important, as bullets can vary slightly in overall length.

We have designed the seat stem in our Competition Seating Die to contact the bullet ogive as far down as possible. Our Competition Seating Die features a bullet guide that is only .0005-.001" larger than bullet diameter. This tight fit between the bullet guide and bullet ensures that the bullet is seated straight in the case neck. It also limits how far down the ogive the seat stem can contact the bullet. If the ogive of your bullets aren't uniform, you may notice a slight difference in seating depth. Generally, this isn't a problem as modern bullets are very uniform. In rare instances, when using inexpensive bulk bullets, you may find that the bullets were made on several different machines and then blended.

If your loading press is worn, the ram may not stop in exactly the same spot each time you raise it. Obviously, this will cause variations in bullet seating depth. Although our instructions warn against it, raise the shellholder and adjust the outer, threaded die body to make light contact with the shellholder. (Make sure you keep the contact light, so you don't damage the die.) This creates a "dead length" seating chamber that is unaffected by where the shellholder stops. The only disadvantage to using the die adjusted this way, is that it may be awkward to read the micrometer if it ends up on the back side of the die.

Inadequate or excessive neck tension can also cause bullet seating depth variations. If you're using a bushing style sizing die, make sure you've selected the correct diameter bushing to size the case necks. Our current recommendation, is to select a bushing tha t is .001" smaller than the neck diameter of your loaded cartridges. (See the bushingselection newsletter in the "Tech Line" section of our website for more information.) As cases are fired over and over, their necks become progressively harder. This can cause the necks to "spring-back" excessively when they are sized, which reduces the neck tension on the bullet. Either anneal the case necks after several firings, or discard the cases and start with new, soft ones.

Heavily compressed loads can create problems when seating bullets. Our Competition Seating Die is not a powder compression die. The excessive force required to seat a bullet on a compressed load can damage the die and may cause seating depth variations. Switching to a faster burning or ball powder may eliminate the need to excessively compress the powder charge.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call our technical support line at 607-
753-3331.
 
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A small correction

I meant to write i AM OFF .010 to .012. Go points from all and I will look into another tool. I would have thought that match bullets would have been exact coppies of each.

I spoke with Dillon and they suguested the need to have a dummy case in the sizer on each pull to insure equal pressure on the tool head. Gonna try that also.

Thanks for all of the input.
 
.010 to .012 inch variance.

That ain't bad on a progressive.
 
softail99,

The ogive location of Sierra MatchKing bullets will vary by up to .010". Since your seating die seats your bullets from the ogive, this accounts for your varying cartridge OAL. While your cartridge OAL may be varying by quite a bit, your cartridge base to bullet ogive dimensions (which are all that really matter) are not. In short, don't worry about it.

Don
 
I agree that A) it doesn't matter and B) it's mostly due to variation from one bullet to the next.

EVERYTHING manufactured by man has a tolerance.
 
The ogive location of Sierra MatchKing bullets will vary by up to .010".
I don't quite agree with this.

Your cartridge base to bullet ogive dimensions (which are all that really matter) are not.
And it seems you don't either.

I believe the ogive is in pretty much exactly the same place.

It is the OAL of the bullet that varies.

You seat off the ogive, and it puts the base in the same place inside the case, but you measure off the bullet tip, which varies.

rc
 
Methinks the Meplats Ogive me a Mygraine!

Ogive: is a pointed, curved surface mainly used to form the approximately streamlined nose of a bullet or other projectile.

Meplat: A French term for a flat surface, is the technical term for the flat tip or nose of a bullet.

Might have known if the French had anything to do with it, it would get confusing!

I think we were all talking about the same thing though.

You can't seat off the ogive, and then measure from base to meplat consistently.

If you seat off the meplat, as in a wadcutter or flat point, it will measure more better.

rc
 
Thanks for this info. I also couldn't figure out why my COL varied. Makes sense now.
 
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