Too much tension?

[1 LT MPC]

I'm loading 38 special with 158 gr LFP at 358 diameter. When I get to the seating die, I have to use pliers to turn the knob to get the bullet to the crimp groove. Is it the die or am I not belling the case mouth enough. The bullet is a 15 brinell hardness. OAL comes out Ok and I'm using 4.1 gr of unique.

 

[ole farmerbuck]

Why are you turning the knob while seating the bullet? Raise the die with the handle then screw the knob. Once you get the die set to the right depth, you shouldnt have to screw with it.

 

[1 LT MPC]

I do raise the handle. I'm talking about adjusting the die. I loaded six rounds but I had to get the initial setting by using pliers. All six rounds are tight and I do mean tight.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

so you turned the seating plug adjustment knob to push the bullet into the case on the first round?

 

[capreppy]

Are you adjusting with the arm up and a bullet seated?

If so, you are doing it incorrectly. Seat a bullet, lower ram, check OAL. If long (I typically start very long), the adjust the sweater down (WITHOUT a bullet in the seater). Reseat that round and check OAL again. Repeat until you get the correct OAL. Then do a few to make sure it is consistent. If crimping (sounds like you are), you will need to check OAL after the crimp as the OAL may change.

In the case of crimping, get close to the correct OAL (let's say within 0.002), then crimp and confirm the final OAL is where you want it. If still long, adjust seater, seat bullet, crimp and recheck OAL.

 

[1 LT MPC]

I adjust by backing out the ram and turning the adjustment knob, closing the ram and checking OAL, then repeating as necessary.
The problem occurs at a certain point in the die when it seems to freeze and I have to use pliers. At this point, I have backed the round out of the die. I also start out by seating the bullet long. I back the seater knob out enough to see some threads and then start the process.

 

[capreppy]

I adjust by backing out the ram and turning the adjustment knob, closing the ram and checking OAL, then repeating as necessary.

There shouldn't be any tension at that point.

Clean dies? Maybe a build up in the seater?

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

maybe you don't have the die body screwed down far enough in the press.

 

[1 LT MPC]

I screw the die down to just touch the shell holder.

 

[beatledog7]

Your die is not performing properly. Most likely there is something--a sliver of lead I suspect--jamming the threads of the seater plug. Take it out, disassemble it, and clean the threads.

 

[rbernie]

From your description, i assume that you're using Lee dies. The only resistance to turning the bullet seater should come from an o-ring. If you have to use any real force to turn it, then you need to back the seater all the way out of the die body and clean it and the internal threads.

 

[Walkalong]

Are you adjusting the whole die body instead of just the seater stem?

Adjustments should never be that hard, assuming you do not have a lock ring tightened while adjusting, whether it is the body, or internal stems.

 

[Gillie Dog]

I saw this happen to a friend once and it turned out to be the wrong seating plug in the die. He had cleaned a couple dies and mixed up the plugs when reassembling the dies.

I would advise to not use pliers to do anything with/on dies. Determine what the problem is first.

GD

 

[1 LT MPC]

Problem solved. I backed the seater out of the die and found a metal shaving jamming the threads. Thanks to all for the input.

 

[stevehenry1]

clean dies

I've had a similar problem. It turned out that the bullet lube getting in the die. This was with cast bullets. I had to take the die apart and scrape all the wax out and then reassemble it. I've had it happen twice since I started reloading