I've got an RCBS die set that has an aggravating problem: on any compressed load, the seater plug grabs the bullet at the ogive like a colett bullet puller and won't let it go. I'm talking about loads that are two full grains from max! I have to unscrew the die and stick a screwdriver in the die to loosen it.

Anybody ever had this problem? What's the solution? (Please don't say don't load compressed loads; in this caliber, you don't have much choice.)

I think RCBS will provide you with a seater that matches your bullets if you send them a few sample bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
I've got an RCBS die set that has an aggravating problem: on any compressed load, the seater plug grabs the bullet at the ogive like a colett bullet puller and won't let it go. I'm talking about loads that are two full grains from max! I have to unscrew the die and stick a screwdriver in the die to loosen it.

Anybody ever had this problem? What's the solution? (Please don't say don't load compressed loads; in this caliber, you don't have much choice.)

It happens, I usually take it out and grind the ogive on my drill press until it quits grabbing, I have even done it by hand with a rounded dowell and wet/dry cloth, then polish with 400 grt.

Just talked to RCBS customer service, and they are sending me a new seating plug, with extra polishing, which should correct the problem.

I was rather impressed!

I have had this problem often and not always with RCBS. I simply polish the seater plug with steel wool and Flitz and carry on.

quote:

Originally posted by GAHUNTER:
Just talked to RCBS customer service, and they are sending me a new seating plug, with extra polishing, which should correct the problem.

I was rather impressed!

That was going to be my suggestion. It seems they always fix items I've managed to "bubba up" when it wasn't required of them.

I had a similar problem with an old set of Texan dies. Finally figured out that the expander plug in the sizing die had worn down enough to make the brass slightly undersized and hence more difficult to seat the bullet. A new RCBS neck sizer fixed it.

I think I fixed it myself. I simply removed the seater from the die, put it in a cordless drill (being very careful not to bugger up the threads), cut a bit of 400 grit sandpaper which I shaped into a cone, inserted the small end of the cone in the seater, inserted a loaded bullet, tip first, into the cone for pressure, and proceeded, as slow speed, to sand the interior of the seater plug. In a few seconds, it was smooth as glass.

I just loaded five more compressed loads -- no problem!

If we were to get perfectly polished parts with every die set / press / scale etc. we buy, we would be paying big $$$. Sometimes a little TLC goes a long way toward perfecting a great tool.