Seating question with lee dies

[jcerillo70]

Hi

I’m loading .40 with hi-tek 180gr bullets. I’m using a lee sizing die, Lyman expanding/powder through, lee seating, Redding taper crimp die.

The round fits in the ammo checker before and after resizing. But after seating to 1.185 it does not. After crimping to .424 it does not.

so I assume the adjustment of my seating die is the problem.

should I raise the stem, and lower the die body? Will that help. Pics attached- thanks

 

[Walkalong]

Fat bullet with a damaged case? Crooked bullet with a damaged case?

 

[edwardware]

Set the seating die by screwing it down over an empty case until it contacts (that's the crimp shoulder), then back off 1/2 a turn. Set seating with the stem, not the die.

When crimping, crimp just past the point that you completely removed the flare.

And, I keep saying this. . . decide whether you're shooting a cartridge gauge or gun, sell the other one, and use whichever you intend to shoot to gauge your reloading setup. I suggest you choose the pistol, and use the barrel to gauge your reloads during setup.

If you own multiple pistols, the first time you'll quickly find which is tightest/shortest leade, and use that to gauge.

To answer your direct question, you need to set COAL (seating depth) via the plunk test, in your pistol.

 

[jcerillo70]

The seating die was the problem and your trick worked. It’s now doing everything perfect.

my last question is when I pull the bullet with my kinetic bullet puller to see if the seat or crimp took any coating off, I see this


Do you think maybe those scratches are from the pulling of the bullet?

the only reason I’m getting crazy about this is because I had a round go off out of battery last month and shot a piece of brass into my eyebrow. So any extra steps to produce better loads I will make the time.

thanks again!

 

[LiveLife]

Do you have similar problem with .400" sized 180 gr jacketed or plated bullet?

• If so, it could be your reloading process.

• If not, it could be the bullet and you may need to use thinner case wall brass. (Measure down from case neck where bullet base is as case wall gets thicker)

Depending on the case wall thickness, loading .401" sized lead/coated lead rubs on the chamber by case neck bulge where the bullet base is seated to. Using thinner case wall brass resolved this issue. Using Lee FCD is one solution only if post-sizing does not increase bullet setback.

I do not have this problem with .400" sized jacketed/plated bullets regardless of case wall thickness.

 

[Johnnyd]

Maybe its my eyes but the profile on that bullet looks different. The 180 I've used are more conical. I also use a COAL 1.12.

 

[jcerillo70]

Bump:

do you think those scratches are from pulling the bullet? Or the crimp?

 

[vaalpens]

Is there a reason why you picked a COL of 1.185" ? It seems awfully long. You obviously have to pick a COL that works for your gun and produces the desired accuracy. What is the length of those bullets?

I normally load my 180gr RNFP bullets with a COL of 1.125", but if those are 180gr ACME FP NLG bullets, I see that Alliant lists a COL of 1.16".

 

[jcerillo70]

Is there a reason why you picked a COL of 1.185" ? It seems awfully long. You obviously have to pick a COL that works for your gun and produces the desired accuracy. What is the length of those bullets?

I normally load my 180gr RNFP bullets with a COL of 1.125", but if those are 180gr ACME FP NLG bullets, I see that Alliant lists a COL of 1.16".

I’m glad you brought that up. I have a cz TSO I just bought, so I started looking up max oal for that barrel and chamber. Everyone with that specific gun loads to 1.126-1.135.

1.185 was a major load I saw a lot of people running with sti’s