Oversize bullet seating die

[dashootist]

Is there anything wrong with using a larger size seating die?

For example: use a 45ACP die to seat a 9x18 Makarov bullet. Does it effect accuracy?

I also have a 357Magnum seat die. Might be too tight for 9x18 bullets?

 

[Walkalong]

Why? Bought em in sets right?

I doubt a .45 ACP seater would do a good job with 9X18, and a .38/.357 seater may not have enough adjustment in the stem.

 

[dashootist]

The LEE 9x18 die set includes a seat/crimp die. But my Dillon 550B requires a separate seat and crimp die. So I'm short of a seat die.

 

[Walkalong]

If you have an extra .38/.357 die it should work, but you may have to cut some off the bottom.

 

[noylj]

I don't think your 550 "requires" a separate seat and crimp die, but that is the best way to do it.
Seating is the critical step.
I like all the various seating dies, but prefer the Hornady and Lee dies (Hornady because you can clean the seating stem without removeing the die from the press and Lee because they will cut you a custom seating stem for a very reasonable price).

 

[rcmodel]

Is there anything wrong with using a larger size seating die?

Yes.
Using the proper seating die with the proper seating stem to match the bullet ogive aligns the bullet in the case so it goes in straight.
That will be especially critical with the short stubby bullets used in the 9mm MAK.

It also provides the proper crimp and supports the case mouth from deforming, which an oversize die could not do.

Do it right and buy the dies you need to load the caliber you are loading.
Much higher quality ammo will be the end result.

rc

 

[ranger335v]

"That will be especially critical with the short stubby bullets used in the 9mm MAK."

AND the short, stubby but unsupported cases you would be trying to jam those short bullets into. Would be impossible to remove any case flare necessary for proper seating too. But .... why not try it?

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Just because the 550 has four stations doesn't mean you have to use them all. You can try seating and crimping in one step. It can take some time to get it set up right, but once done, you should be good to go.

Andy

 

[yooper_sjd]

I reload for 9x18 mak....one thing I have found for accuracy is seating the bullet straight and true! I got big thumbs, a single stage lee press, and plink with cast 105 gr RN. Even when I reload with a jacketed, I find no need to crimp, but do find a need when decapping to expand the mouth of ctg if using trimmed down 9x19 ctgs.

And it is best to use the proper seating die on such a small bullet to seat it straight as I pointed out above.......

 

[rfwobbly]

I'm with BigJake and others. You are not required to fill all 4 holes on a 550. My 223 dies certainly don't.

You should try to seat and crimp in the 3rd position. That's what the dies were designed to do. While you MAY find that it is easier to taper crimp in the 4th stage, is it certainly by no means "required".

If you feel driven to separate the seating and crimping actions by the volumes of 9x18 that you reload or the quality of the reloads you generate, then you can certainly back off the depth of the die body in the 3rd position (this will stop the crimp action) and add the optional extra taper crimp die in the 4th position. You have 2 options to do this...

• Redding makes one HERE for about $50.
• You can call Lee and buy a separate 9x18 seating/crimp die (the same exact die you have now) place it in the 4th position and remove all the interior seating apparatus.