THE ACCURATERELOADING.COM FORUMS


Moderators: Mark
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Having trouble aligning bullets in 223
 Login/Join
 
new member
posted
Hi, I'm a little new loading bottle neck cases. The bullets that I'm loading are flat base and I'm having a hell of a time keeping them aligned when I try to seat them. I have used the chamfering tool to ease the inside of the case but The bullets won't stay in the case. I have to hold them right up until they go into the seating die. when the cases come out they look like they have a slight bulge on one side of the neck (I think the bullets are falling over before the seater can finish the job). Any suggestions.

I'm using Dillon dies in a Rockchucker. Thanks
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: 31 January 2008Reply With Quote
one of us
Picture of hivelosity
posted Hide Post
remove seater plug. put a case in the shell holder and run it up in the die. screw the die down as far as it will go or unti it touches the shell holder. install the seater plug and set it at the seating depth you desire.
If the die has a roll crimp you will have to back off a 1/4 turn on the die. that should let the bullet go far enough into the die to keep it aleigned
 
Posts: 2134 | Location: Ohio | Registered: 26 June 2000Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
....and one mistake made by many folks new to seating rifle cartridges is that you need to hold on to the bullet until the very last split second or it can cant in the die and cause just what you describe. This goes for all seating dies and is especially frustrating when seating FB bullets.


If the enemy is in range, so are you. - Infantry manual
 
Posts: 494 | Location: The drizzle capitol of the USA | Registered: 11 January 2008Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Hey Geddy, First off, make sure your Press is "level".

Now try doing the same thing you are already doing - except - when you release the Bullet from your grasp, e-a-s-e the handle down slowly until you feel the Bullet touch the Seating Stem and STOP. Lightly "pat" the Press Handle as you would a dogs head, then ease the Bullet into position by pushing the handle on down.

One of my buddies was having a problem similar to what you described and the above fixed it for him.

Best of luck to you.
 
Posts: 9920 | Location: Carolinas, USA | Registered: 22 April 2001Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Two things come to mind:

1. Use a VLD chamfer to put a long bevel on the inside of the case.

2. If you have problems after trying all that's been mentioned, Forster's seating die has an alignment sleeve to guide the bullet. Redding's mic seater also has this feature.


________________________
"Every country has the government it deserves." - Joseph de Maistre
 
Posts: 1184 | Registered: 21 April 2007Reply With Quote
new member
posted Hide Post
Thanks for the responses. I've had much better luck holding the bullet until the last split second. Boat tail bullets are easy. These FB bullets take a lot more patience.
 
Posts: 2 | Registered: 31 January 2008Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
You could always get an RCBS Competition seater die which eliminates this problem by inserting the bullet in a side window.
 
Posts: 41 | Registered: 30 June 2008Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
You could always get an RCBS Competition seater die which eliminates this problem by inserting the bullet in a side window.


+1

LWD
 
Posts: 2104 | Location: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: 16 April 2006Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Geddy:
Hi, I'm a little new loading bottle neck cases. The bullets that I'm loading are flat base and I'm having a hell of a time keeping them aligned when I try to seat them. I have used the chamfering tool to ease the inside of the case but The bullets won't stay in the case. I have to hold them right up until they go into the seating die. when the cases come out they look like they have a slight bulge on one side of the neck (I think the bullets are falling over before the seater can finish the job). Any suggestions.

I'm using Dillon dies in a Rockchucker. Thanks


Your main difficulty is you are loading light short bullets in a .22 caliber. .17s are worse.
One way to handle this is to taper expand the necks so the bullet can be stuck in the case mouth slightly.
If you have finger room you can spin the case slightly as the ram starts to squash your finger. This helps the bullet ramp up the shoulder in the die.
 
Posts: 13978 | Location: http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/tarawa2.jpg | Registered: 03 December 2008Reply With Quote
one of us
posted Hide Post
Get a Vickerman seater die.
Lyle


"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. I would remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."
Barry M Goldwater.
 
Posts: 968 | Location: YUMA, ARIZONA | Registered: 12 August 2003Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Geddy:
Hi, I'm a little new loading bottle neck cases. The bullets that I'm loading are flat base and I'm having a hell of a time keeping them aligned when I try to seat them. I have used the chamfering tool to ease the inside of the case but The bullets won't stay in the case. I have to hold them right up until they go into the seating die. when the cases come out they look like they have a slight bulge on one side of the neck (I think the bullets are falling over before the seater can finish the job). Any suggestions.

I'm using Dillon dies in a Rockchucker. Thanks


I highly recommend Hornady's New Dimension 223 Die Set.

The seating die has this neat sleeve that projects downward out of the die. As I raise the case up into the seating die, this sleeve aligns the bullet straight up and down.

It's the neatest thing since sliced bread.

Here, take a look:
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?...ee86adb292ef34652d80

Miller Outfitters sells them for a lot cheaper than Hornady. Give Keith a call, he's a real nice guy.
http://www.milleroutfitters.com/

Hack
 
Posts: 103 | Location: Columbus, Georgia | Registered: 08 April 2008Reply With Quote
One of Us
posted Hide Post
Answer=Wilson Straight Line Seaters.
I have them for every caliber I load for except for the 30-30.




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
  Powered by Social Strata  
 


Copyright December 1997-2023 Accuratereloading.com


Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia