Guys
I was wondering what if anything do you guys use to seat bullets & keep them with the OAL consistant? It seems that my Oal is very inconsistant with the polimer tipped bullets. I find that they vary quite a bit. So I end up constantly adjusting the die. I know there is at least on kind of precision seater & was wondering is there anything that works for more than one Manufacturers Dies? Also any suggestions or tricks would be appreciated.
Rich Jake

Hi RJ, Most of the time the OAL varies as the bullets are different lengths. You bullet seater is actually seating on the ogive and not the tip, thus, the variation in OAL. Sinclair makes a "nut" like affair with different diameter holes in the flat area that you can use with you calipers to check OAL off the ogive as opposed to OAL. One of those tools will help and provide a more consistent place to check OAL....

Rich Jake, If you want to take the time, I started weighing my bullets just for that reason. Most of the time, not all the time, if you start with matched weight bullets, your COL (oal)will stay pretty consistent. Is this a waste of time - probably - just something to try.

I'm not a benchrest shooter either, just a handloader looking for the "perfect" setup.

T/C nimrod
I've weighed bullets so I could get better consistancey with both groups & velocity. I didn't think about it for this. It worth a try I guess. I think that suggestion by MSSMagnum might be the best route though. I'll try out your suggestion untill I order the bullet comparitor that Mike was talking about.
Rich Jake

RJ, ditto on what Mike said on the OAL. AS TC nimrod said would be good if you are shooting for groups. On a hunting side of it go with the OAL.
Jeff

RJ, should have said to use both and anything else that works for you when you are going for groups. Or should I say "flys"? LOL

RJ-

Count me in on both weighing and checking OAL.
The Sinclair catalog has several different types of OAL gauges.

You might also try 'painting' your bullet with an ink marker, then seating it - check the marks to see exactly where the seater is contacting the bullet.

I remember seeing elsewhere on the AR page that some reloaders carefully drill/dremel out the inside of their seating stems so the stem acts on the ogive instead of the tip.

Or if you enjoy monkeying around, make your own gauge.
I bored out the back of a case and tapped it 1/4 -28, then took an old bolt ( I think 3/8 ) cut the head off turned it down and threaded it to fit the case. then bored it out so a 1/8 peice of brazeing rod slips through it. Then I tapped a cross hole in it for a 6-32 screw.
by the way it was a fired but not resized case.
To use it I drop a bullet in the case -- slip it in the chamber, -- gently push the bullet out until it hits the rifling. Then lock the set screw on the rod. Take everything out and drop the bullet back in the case. check OAL with dial caliper.
It takes longer to tell about it than do it.
Jim

I forgot .
set bullets back .005 or so. I don't like them touching the lands.
Jim

Shooter2,

That's excellent.

Jim, do ya shoot at Tri Cty R&G? Come to the matches in the service truck Jim that I know? Have not seen ya for a while. Shooting a 7 US in a TC as I remember?
Jeff

Rich, I have used the "comparator" device by Sinclair that Mike mentioned. Now days, I find myself only using it w/ HP and lead tipped bullets. When I start working up a load for a specific bullet, I measure the OAL of 10 of that particular bullet. In my experience, the plastic tipped bullets have such consistent OAL that using the comparator w/ them proved to be just an extra step that slowed me down. I use various different sizing dies, ranging from the high end Redding Bench Rest Competition dies to the low priced Lee dies. Maybe I've been lucky, but I haven't had to fiddle much w/ the die settings. W/ non-plastic tipped bullets, I check the OAL w/ the comparator every 5th round or so to be sure things haven't changed drastically. Usually, the settings haven't changed significantly so this step just ends up reassuring me everything's ok. I never have weighed bullets. I've been very pleased w/ the loads for my guns. Most will hold moa or less when I do my part. Gary T.

Gary
I was loading Hornady 50 gr vmax bullets in 22-250's obviously not in a contender, but I was getting anywhere from dead on where I wanted. To 2 thousands to too long or 4 thousands too short. The die was an RCBS seater die. That's a pretty good variation.
Rich Jake

Jeff
Yuup thats me. But I drive the pu now and leave the big truck at home.
I have been playing with a 218 BEE lately, lots of fun. Think I found a pretty good load today.
I haven't shot silly wets much for the last year or so, ( mean boss thinks sunday is just another work day ).
Jim