I have two sets of Redding Competition dies in 25-06 and 6.5x284. I have yet to use the latter as I am waiting for delivery of a rifle. However, I have noticed that the .25-06 seater leaves a small indent around the circumfirance of the bullet which it is contact with as the bullet is seated in the case.
The loaded rounds measure .282" at the neck, I have a .281" bushing in the neck die for re-sizing so I do not think I have too much neck tension.
All cases have been neck turned to the same size prior to use. I am using Speer 100g soft point flat base and boat tails, both are affected with the same mark after loading. Accuracy does not seem to be affected, however, the marks left on the bullets cannot help.
Anyone any ideas?
I have taken the seater apart and cannot see any burrs/machining defects.
I have a set of normal Redding Dies in 22-250 AI which do not leave this mark.

Obviously your seating stem does not fit the bullet very well. Take out the seating stem and put it into a vise. Chuck up a bullet into an electric drill and put some 400 grit paste on the bullet and polish the seating stem mouth.



Fred M.

Zermel's technique works well. Even if you bugger up the seating stem a replacement is just a few bucks.

JCN

Excellent suggestion, why didn't I think of that!

Actually the way I do it. I use s small chuck with a 1/4" shank that fits into the Forster drill press shell holder.
The shell holder is mounted on the drill press concentric with the drill press spindle and chuck.

The seating stem is chucked up in the drill press an bullet in the shell holder chuck. This will polish a perfect concentric seating stem. If your are really fuzzy you have a fitted seating stem for each bullet you use.

I polish all my seating stems in that way, if your set up
is concentric there is no way you can bugger up a stem.

If you have no tools, send in your stem and a couple of bullets to Redding and the will make you a fitted stem that is concentric.

Most dies (even good quality ones - Redding, Forster) do this to varying degrees - how can the manufacturers fit their seating stems to fit all possible ogives. As suggested above, if you don't like the looks of the seating "ring", you'll have to polish your seating stem. How much of a ring you get also depends on how much the neck has been sized down (on Redding dies you can control this with the bushing) - and how easy an entry the bullet has into the case mouth, so make sure you give the cases a nice inside chamfer to smooth bullet entry.
- mike