Suggestions for seating die slicing bullets

[straightShot]

I put a set of RCBS .45 ACP carbide dies on a Dillon 550B. Running Berry's .45 plated round nose bullets in the bullet seating stage, bullets are occasionally sliced/gouged just below the nose by the round nose bullet seater.

I could probably bell the case more or sand the inside edges of the bullet seater plug, but there has to be something else. I can't be the first one to experience this. I never had such a problem with my inexpensive Lee dies, but bullets started to stick in the Lee seater die and cleaning and sanding didn't help, so I switched.

Do you have any suggestions? I even thought about putting Dillon .45 dies in the Dillon press, but they were out of stock when I purchased the RCBS replacements, so RCBS is what I'm working with right now.

 

[jmorris]

It could be a lack of bell but if it’s just messing up a portion of a “side”, it’s more likely a bullet getting seated crooked to start with, like the one on the left.

This can be cured with the correct nose guide installed for seating there are different ones. The RCBS ones will look like the ones on the left. Use the one that fits the bullet the best.

At that point if you are raising the ram with the bullet straight like theone on the right, it will seat correctly. Even with very little bell.

 

[rfwobbly]

The way I read this, you simply need a seating stem more closely matched to the shape of the bullet's ogive. You can 1) buy a new seating die (such as the Dillon) which comes with a stem expressly for RN. Or, 2) you can take your existing SWC stem and add hot glue or epoxy, so that a cup is formed that has the reverse shape of the bullet. This is done by adding grease to a sample bullet's ogive (to prevent adhesion), then pressing it into the still form-able glue.

Obviously, glue won't last forever, but it will give you a very good idea if this is the root problem. Ultimately you'll want to do the same thing in metal to get a long-lasting solution. Hornady and Dillon are the 2 seating dies I know of with changeable anvils. In this way you can have a machinist make up a small anvil to correctly fit all your favorite bullet ogives. Precise ogive fit is one of the keys to achieving low variations in OAL.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hondo 60]

If you continue to see this, contact RCBS.
There may be a sharp edge, of it may need polishing.

It happened to me & they hand polished a new stem & sent it.
No charge.

 

[straightShot]

If you continue to see this, contact RCBS.
There may be a sharp edge, of it may need polishing.

It happened to me & they hand polished a new stem & sent it.
No charge.

I sent them a note regarding this three weeks ago on their website, but I have not heard back from them.

 

[SamT1]

For cast bullets I’ve modified some seating stems to the shape of my preferred bullet. Usually just smooth it with a larger drill bit.

 

[Blue68f100]

Depending on how bad it is you may want to chuck it up to a drill and see if you can remove the sharp edge. My not take much to keep it from damaging the bullet. Every time I get a new set of dies I always remove the seating stem and polish it up, removing any sharp edges.

 

[jmorris]

I sent them a note regarding this three weeks ago on their website, but I have not heard back from them.

Call and talk to a person and RCBS customer service is pretty instantaneous.

Did you buy your die set new?

 

[Hondo 60]

I sent them a note regarding this three weeks ago on their website, but I have not heard back from them.

You may have to call.
Sometimes the emails are flooding in and they get behind.

 

[Hondo 60]

Depending on how bad it is you may want to chuck it up to a drill and see if you can remove the sharp edge.

Ummm I don't think I'd do that unless you get no satisfaction from RCBS.
If you mess with it, they may say it's your fault.

 

[Blue68f100]

You are not going to reshape it. All you will be doing it knocking off the sharp edges. 600 grit and finer is what you should be using.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

My experience: I agree a phone call to RCBS is a good place to start. You many find you get a very good answer plus some assistance with a bullet seating stem. I like the suggestion of belling the mouth of the case more. The heel of the bullet should fit into the case. If bullets going straight in is still dinged up really do give RCBS a call. You can save yourself time and heartache by calling.

Are those seating stems in the picture for RN bullets or SWC's. If a bullet seater does not fit you can have a ring around the bullet. This happens when the edge of the seater presses against the bullet..

 

[straightShot]

Call and talk to a person and RCBS customer service is pretty instantaneous.

Did you buy your die set new?

Yes, I did buy them new.

 

[jmorris]

Looks like they don’t send them with multiple seat plugs anymore.

Found this on page 6 of the current instructions that come with the die sets.

 

[straightShot]

Well, I didn't receive an email response to my original question, but I called their support number and got a live person right away! I should have done that in the first place, but I never expected to get a real, knowledgeable person on the line.

I was told to ensure that the belled case is .030 - .032" greater than the bullet OD. I'll see where I'm at and adjust accordingly.

 

[Ruger 15151]

Seating stem fit is important and I think you have received some good suggestions on how to improve your seating stem. However, I think most seating stems should be able to seat a standard shaped 45 ACP RN bullet fairly straight.

It looks like you are loading lead coated bullets and I would image they are oversized. I would suggest you look at a Lyman M Style expander die. These expander plugs were especially designed for loading lead bullets where you need to expand the shell mouth a little more to accept the oversized lead bullet. More importantly, the expander plug allows the bullet to be inserted into the case about a 1/32 - 1/16 and then sit on a shelf. This give you a much better chance for seating the bullet straight and without shaving it.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brand...ol-die-sets/pistol-neck-expanding-m-dies.html

Redding and Dillon have also incorporated this design into their new dies.

Hope this helps.

 

[straightShot]

Seating stem fit is important and I think you have received some good suggestions on how to improve your seating stem. However, I think most seating stems should be able to seat a standard shaped 45 ACP RN bullet fairly straight.

It looks like you are loading lead coated bullets and I would image they are oversized. I would suggest you look at a Lyman M Style expander die. These expander plugs were especially designed for loading lead bullets where you need to expand the shell mouth a little more to accept the oversized lead bullet. More importantly, the expander plug allows the bullet to be inserted into the case about a 1/32 - 1/16 and then sit on a shelf. This give you a much better chance for seating the bullet straight and without shaving it.

https://www.lymanproducts.com/brand...ol-die-sets/pistol-neck-expanding-m-dies.html

Redding and Dillon have also incorporated this design into their new dies.

Hope this helps.

I don't think that the Lyman expander plugs that you mention will work on a Dillon in station two, but I may be missing something. From the picture of the die, I don't think that I would be able to drop powder. I will look into the design changes that Dillon has made for their new dies. Maybe I'll just make the switch.

Thanks!

 

[Ruger 15151]

Their powder through dies are design the same way with a step.

 

[Mowgli Terry]

Dillon 550: It would have helped if you were able to describe exactly how you had your machine set up. The powder funnel does expand the case mouth-if you are using a Dillon powder measure. You screw the powder die in to make more flair in the case mouth. The idea is to get the heel of the bullet into the case mouth. If you are not using a Dillon powder measure I can't help. My loading has been done on a 550 or before that on a single stage press. Dillon has good customer service and good phone help. Also, consult your instructions on the 550. .