Seater Die Stems & Matching Bullet Profile

[quaid]

My lee dies (various calibers) did not come with multiple seating stems to match bullet nose profile. I bought a used set of Redding dies (38spl/357) that did and played with them to match the bullet profile.

Do the different seating stems make enough of a difference to be worthwhile?

I now need a die set for a newly acquired caliber (44 mag, win 94 lever rifle.) I'll probably end up buying a lee set regardless, it comes with a shell holder, and the powder-through-expander matches my reloading style. At that point I shrug and add the extra few bucks and buy the whole 4 die set.

Should I still get a better seater then the Lee to match bullet nose profiles?

 

[243winxb]

Lee Seating "plug" or stem

The seating plug should match the bullets ogive/nose profile so it seats the bullet straight. Rifle bullet-

V-MAX Bullets Need Custom Bullet Seating Plug
Posted by Andy @ Lee Precision on 10 January 2012 11:57 AM
The bullet seating plug in the bullet seating and crimp die is generic and designed to seat a wide variety of bullet types. It is a very low drag bullet and has very steep sides. These steep sides allow a large portion of the bullet to slide into the bullet seating plug before the plug makes contact with the bullet ogive. This causes the bullet seating plug adjustment to bottom out before the bullet can be seated to achieve the cartridge overall length you are loading to.

A remedy for this is to order a custom bullet seating plug for $8.00 + shipping. Order the plug online at: http://leeprecision.com/custom-bullet-seating-plug.html

Send the sample bullet you want the plug made for, along with a copy of your invoice, and we will make the plug for you.

Lee Precision

4275 Highway U

Hartford, WI 53027

 

[howlnmad]

If you're loading round nose bullets, use the seating plug the way it is. If you're loading wad cutters or other flat nosed bullet, take the seater plug out and flip it over.

 

[GLOOB]

It can make a noticeable difference with plated pistol bullets and hollowpoint pistol bullets. These bullets are soft enough to deform while seating. This can mess up your hollowpoints and throw the OAL all over the map.

Jacketed and commercially cast bullets are generally hard enough it doesn't make a bit of difference. I have used a round nose seater plug with MBC cast semiwadcutters. The edge of the nose was as defined as a razor. There was no measurable deformation. Home cast bullets can be a problem. When you're making your own bullets, you can often make 'em a lot softer than commercial cast, once you get the other things right.

With rifle bullets, you generally won't have any such issues, cuz they contact the ogive. And rifle bullets are harder.

Should I still get a better seater then the Lee to match bullet nose profiles?

You can order extra seater plugs from Lee Precision at 2-3 bucks per pop and make them yourself. Some people use epoxy. I prefer to chuck them up in a 1/2" drill and grind the contours with a rotary tool. Lee will also make custom seater plugs for a nominal charge, if you send them a sample of 4 of your bullets. I have only made custom seater plugs for plated and JHP pistol bullets. Well, I made one for my 357 SWC, too, just because it's so easy to make a seater plug for a flat point bullet.

I also made a "do all" seater plug for 40SW. It is all cored out, so there's just a band of contact on the ogive as far down as possible. I made it specifically for Nosler JHP, cuz the lip of the hollowpoint comes to a sharp edge that easily folds over like aluminum foil. But it works pretty good for every 40SW bullet I have. It sometimes leaves a faint ring on the bullet, but it doesn't close up or smoosh the lip of the hollowpoints. Since Lee pistol seater plugs are smaller in diameter than the bullet, there's a limit to how far down you can reach on the ogive. Mine comes down somewhere's around halfway.

 

[quaid]

I just checked my 45 acp lee dies and 38/357 lee dies. The seater plugs are not reversible and have only one seater profile, round nose. I bought both of those sets new within the past few years.

I'll be looking to load either a lead flat nose, swc, or hollow point for this 44 mag rifle, looks like Lee is out.

Does the Hornady set come with multiple profiles or do I need to order separately? Midway lists different hornady seat stem part numbers. Midway is not clear which sets come with more then one seat stem.

 

[Hondo 60]

Do the different seating stems make enough of a difference to be worthwhile?

Sometimes.
I know that's not a definitive answer, but it's the truth.

I had one set of dies that was leaving a mark on the bullet.
It's an RCBS set, when I contacted them, they hand polished a new stem for me.
No charge & didn't have to return the old one.

I'm not sure what Lee's policy is.

 

[243winxb]

You can order extra seater plugs from Lee Precision at 2-3 bucks per pop

I'm not sure what Lee's policy is.

See post # 2

 

[GLOOB]

Wow, I didn't know they were only $8.00. That's cheap as chips. FTR, the 2-3 bucks a pop I stated was for stock seater plugs, for making your own custom plugs.