Seating Stem Marking LRN

[Saluki91]

I have been loading .45ACP 200gr LSWC with my Redding Pro die set, and have experienced no issues with the seating stem. However, when I attempted to run some 230gr LRN through the press, I found that the stem was really doing a number on the bullets... often leaving light rings, and occasionally cutting deeper. See the attached pic.

I cleaned and degreased the stem, but that didn’t help. This is the only stem in the box, and apparently the only one Redding offers for these dies.

Is there anything else I can do short of getting another seating die?

Thanks!

 

[Soonerpesek]

I have been loading .45ACP 200gr LSWC with my Redding Pro die set

I would think that that particular die set would use a seating stem that would contact the shoulder of the LSWC bullet.
Is that what is "cutting" into the bullet...?
I would think you would need a seating stem with a roundnose profile...IMO

 

[AJC1]

I chamfer the edge on a lot of seating stems to break the edge. I even had issues with a stem by rcbs made for one of their own molds. It's a finishing step wildly popular in machining that helps a lot. If your in a pinch the 115 degrees on a drill bit big enough works as well.

 

[FROGO207]

Yep put a radius on that inner edge of the seater stem. A 45* countersink, a cone shaped stone in a drill or whatever to turn down that sharp edge.

 

[Otto]

What are you using to expand? The Pro series doesn't have an expander. Suggest an "M" die.

 

[Saluki91]

What are you using to expand? The Pro series doesn't have an expander. Suggest an "M" die.[[

The Dillon powder die on my press also expands the case. I put enough bell in the case mouth so that the bullet sits up without manipulation. Is it possible that I need to bell it more?

Thanks!

 

[243winxb]

Bell more. If that doesnt fix the lead shaving i see in photo, try seating & crimping in separate operations.

It takes a lot of pressure to seat a bullet when its being crimped at the same time.

A seat die may remove the case bell to soon. A die issue.

 

[Saluki91]

Bell more. If that doesnt fix the lead shaving i see in photo, try seating & crimping in separate operations.

It takes a lot of pressure to seat a bullet when its being crimped at the same time.

A seat die may remove the case bell to soon. A die issue.

Thanks... will give it some more bell for sure.

 

[lordpaxman]

The Dillon powder die on my press also expands the case.

DAA sells a M style powder funnel that fits the Dillon. It helps a lot to have that step in the case, but don’t bell too much, just enough so you don’t get lead shaving. I’m not sure if the lead ring buildup at the case mouth in the pics is due to insufficient belling or if it’s due to seating and crimping in the same step. If the latter no amount of belling will prevent that.
Like others have said, either break the sharp edge on the seater stem, or you can fill it with JB weld and custom make a profile for your particular bullet. Let us know what you do? Good luck.

 

[Saluki91]

DAA sells a M style powder funnel that fits the Dillon. It helps a lot to have that step in the case, but don’t bell too much, just enough so you don’t get lead shaving. I’m not sure if the lead ring buildup at the case mouth in the pics is due to insufficient belling or if it’s due to seating and crimping in the same step. If the latter no amount of belling will prevent that.
Like others have said, either break the sharp edge on the seater stem, or you can fill it with JB weld and custom make a profile for your particular bullet. Let us know what you do? Good luck.

I have that powder funnel... will drop it in and give it a go.
I tried belling more, but I don't think that was the answer... adding much more flare to the case mouth than I was already giving it created issues with the mouth of the seating die.
There is a separate crimp die in this set - no crimp/seat combo.
I'll try the DAA powder die first, then look into a different seating stem to fiddle with. If that doesn't work, I'll look try a different seating die.

Thanks!

 

[AJC1]

I have that powder funnel... will drop it in and give it a go.
I tried belling more, but I don't think that was the answer... adding much more flare to the case mouth than I was already giving it created issues with the mouth of the seating die.
There is a separate crimp die in this set - no crimp/seat combo.
I'll try the DAA powder die first, then look into a different seating stem to fiddle with. If that doesn't work, I'll look try a different seating die.

Thanks!

If your flare is max and your still shaving you should chamfer the cases. I know people hate doing it on pistol but shaving is bad.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

Had a similar issue but to a much lessor extent.
Dillon 45 Auto seating die with a reversible insert for SWC and RN.
On 200g RN there's no mark, but on 230g there is a light but noticeable ring.
Took the insert out and placed it in my drill chuck, then took a Dremel tool with a Cratex deburring hard rubber insert. It's diamond impregnated but is more of a polisher then it is a material removal omethod.
I just broke the edge on the RN lip of the insert. If it was a .060 radius it is now a .090 rad.
Did the trick.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have that powder funnel... will drop it in and give it a go.
I tried belling more, but I don't think that was the answer... adding much more flare to the case mouth than I was already giving it created issues with the mouth of the seating die.
There is a separate crimp die in this set - no crimp/seat combo.
I'll try the DAA powder die first, then look into a different seating stem to fiddle with. If that doesn't work, I'll look try a different seating die.

Thanks!

Had a similar issue but to a much lessor extent.
Dillon 45 Auto seating die with a reversible insert for SWC and RN.
On 200g RN there's no mark, but on 230g there is a light but noticeable ring.
Took the insert out and placed it in my drill chuck, then took a Dremel tool with a Cratex deburring hard rubber insert. It's diamond impregnated but is more of a polisher then it is a material removal omethod.
I just broke the edge on the RN lip of the insert. If it was a .060 radius it is now a .090 rad.
Did the trick.

One thing to try is buy a second identical seating stem and modify it for the RN bullet. That way, you know it isn't going to be a problem for your existing loads. It does take a whole lot of pressure to cause that kind of ring, though. I think I'd be a little more concerned with why so much pressure is being required to seat the bullet properly. It should not take enough pressure to cause ringing like that.

 

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

I know I could have belled more but I was running into case ripping on occasion.
45 Auto brass has only .010 wall thickness.
The smaller radius of the 200g RN doesn't even get to the "relieved" area.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I know I could have belled more but I was running into case ripping on occasion.
45 Auto brass has only .010 wall thickness.
The smaller radius of the 200g RN doesn't even get to the "relieved" area.

Agreed 100%. Too much bell is no bueno. My thought was to look at the 230gr. bullet and see if it has a taper to it - wider shoulder or base - than the 200gr. bullet he's been using. Something is causing the bullet not to want to seat without a lot of force and it's a pretty short list - the bullet, the sizing, the seating die - and the fact that the 200gr. isn't being scored like that limits the options.

 

[243winxb]

adding much more flare to the case mouth than I was already giving it created issues with the mouth of the seating die.

A seat die may remove the case bell to soon. A die issue

May not be you problem?

But i opened the inside diameter of my seating die with emery paper on a wood dowel. Being careful to not remove the crimp area. This allows the case bell to remain untouched longer, no shaving of lead.

Put extra bell on a case mouth and take case mouth measurements at different lengths into the die, as you remove metal. Its a slow process.
If seating & crimping in separate operations, turn the seat stem down a lot. This will keep the case mouth in the larger diameter die area.

I dont get shaving off my cast bullets anymore when seating them.