Okay, I am trying to figure out how to seat my bullets using the rcbs .45 carbide tc set. i have done all steps up to seating. I put a primed, charged and expanded mouth case into the press and run it to the top. Then i put the seater/crimp die into the press and run it down until it touches the case. Then i back it off 1 full turn and lock it in. Next i lower the case and put the bullet in, then run it back up. Now i run the seater adjustment down all the way until it touches the bullet....problem is, it never touches the bullet. what am i doing wrong? if i lower the die, the directions say i will apply a crimp....i want to crimp in a seperate step.
rcbs seater die setup?
- Thread starter firstg19
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ole farmerbuck
Member
Could be. Screw your die in far enough that it starts taking the flare away. You might be suprised how far that will be if you have a big flare. In fact, screw it in as far as you can without crimping the case.
I don't really know, since I seat and crimp at the same time. Not sure why you want to add the step. 
That said, do you have the right seater plug in? They're made for specific bullet types. You might also be right about the case being flared too much. You may have to crimp a little just to get the bullet seated correctly. Mine is still set the way I left it last time I reloaded 45acp. The lock nut is about 2/5 of the way up the shaft of the seater die. I bet yours is more like 1/4 of the way up. The seater plug might not reach down that far.
That said, do you have the right seater plug in? They're made for specific bullet types. You might also be right about the case being flared too much. You may have to crimp a little just to get the bullet seated correctly. Mine is still set the way I left it last time I reloaded 45acp. The lock nut is about 2/5 of the way up the shaft of the seater die. I bet yours is more like 1/4 of the way up. The seater plug might not reach down that far.
When seating: raise the die to prevent crimping, lower the seater plug and start seating, once the OAL is obtained, raise the seater plug then lower the die for crimping, once the crimp is obtained, lower the seater plug, when contact is made, secure the lock nut on the stem and die, seat another bullet and check OAL, seating and crimping will stop at the same time, or seat all of your loads first then go back and crimp with the seater plug raised, or seat with one die and crimping with another. On occasions I use a full length siziing die as a crimp die, it is like partial crimping with a full length sizer.
F. Guffey
F. Guffey
rfwobbly
Member
• The body of the die is what forms the crimp. So if you don't want the crimp, then don't set the body as deeply into the die holder. Raise it up by 1/2 turn or so and lock it in a new position with the 7/8-14 lock nut.
• The adjustable center portion of the die seats the bullet. It is fully adjustable to achieve any bullet seating depth, and thereby any OAL.
• The adjustable center portion of the die seats the bullet. It is fully adjustable to achieve any bullet seating depth, and thereby any OAL.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Do the primary die adjustment with a sized but not belled case.
Screw it down until the crimp shoulder in the die hits the case mouth, then back it off a 1/2 turn.
Then try to seat a bullet in a belled case by adjusting the seating stem down until you get the correct length.
Pretty sure it will work now!
rc
Screw it down until the crimp shoulder in the die hits the case mouth, then back it off a 1/2 turn.
Then try to seat a bullet in a belled case by adjusting the seating stem down until you get the correct length.
Pretty sure it will work now!
rc
243winxb
Member
With the die out of the press, run the bullet seating stem down as far as it will go in the die. Put a bullet into the case mouth. Put in shell holder/ram at full up position. Now screw the seating die down into the press till you hit the bullet. Back ram off, turn die down a little more till you have the correct OAL. This way you will not be fully crimping, But you may notice some of the bell is gone from the case. This is because RCBS dies seem to run very close on inside diameter with a taper crimp seating die. If the method does not work, you may have the wrong seating stem. Is this a 45acp?
i readjusted my expander die, and the problem was that the case was expanded too much. after watching some youtube videos, and re-reading my manual, i figured out that I only want bullet to go in 1/32nd into the case. anyways, no i have that solved, and i was able to properly seat the bullet. What I can't figure out now is how much crimp to apply?...how do i tell how many turns to give it, can you see the crimp? im having a hard time seeing it if you should be able too.
ole farmerbuck
Member
My opinion.......Crimp it just enough so you cant see or feel any flaring on the top of the case with the bullet seated. Case should look and feel straight.
jimmertoons
Member
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I was taught to place the cartridge, bullet first against a wood surface, smack the base with your HAND as if you're trying to drive the bullet back into the case. If it holds, you are good to go. If the bullet goes farther into the case, increase crimp. If you over-crimp, you can induce headspace issues. If you undercrimp, you can end up with bullet creep from recoil.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
It would help to know if you are talking about .45 ACP, or .45 Colt.
Anyway, since it is a taper-crimp die, I assume it is .45 ACP.
If so, adjust the crimp to remove the bell, and then measure the case.
A proper crimp will measure .470" - .471" at the case mouth.
Any more then that will press the case mouth into the bullet jacket and reduce the headspace shoulder of the case.
It will also produce a looser crimp, because the lead core bullet will compress and stay there, while the more elastic case will spring back slightly.
IMO: Beating on a round with your hand to test case neck tension is meaningless.
If it is correct, you will just hurt your hand!
If it isn't correct, you have a bigger problem then the amount of taper crimp you used.
rc
243winxb
Member
to taper crimp a 45acp put the loaded round with the correct oal in the ram/shell holder, run it to top of travel. Now screw in your taper crimp die as tight as you can with you hand. Round is now crimped. Best to set the die on the longest case of the batch so you dont over crimp. Seating the bullet , then crimping is a seperate operation as your doing is the best way.
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