I'm having issues with my lee dead set bullet seating dies pushing bullets in on a angle. Not all, probably 4/10 loads. Anyone know a quick fix without purchasing a new die from a different manufacturer?
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I'm having issues with my lee dead set bullet seating dies pushing bullets in on a angle. Not all, probably 4/10 loads. Anyone know a quick fix without purchasing a new die from a different manufacturer?
Due to flat bottom projectiles?
What calibre?
VLD chamfering the inside of the neck might help, but I would get another seating die any day over the Lee.
If you don't want to break the bank for a Redding or Forster comp seater, get the Hornady seater. As you can always get the micrometer stem for it later.
In a way you have answered your own question , Lee dies are not that flash .However you have what you have and the only thing you can do is to be more careful and take it slower , and align things ( like the case and projectiles more carefully centered). It will be a case of trial and error but don't be to obsessive as technique is more important at the moment than trying to chase your tail and the God of Concentricity .
When I'm seating I always seat in steps.
*Sit the case in shell holder
*gently raise ram till projectile is just making contact with the seater
*give it a couple gentle taps to center everything
*seat about 1/4 then lower ram enough to turn the case 1/4-1/3, repeat until fully seated
Certainly had no concentricity issues with my ammo, granted flat base pills are a little more fiddly but you can still use the same technique.
agree with Danny,guide it in gently and start slowly....decent inside champher helps no end,boat tail projectiles even more so....and I personally LIKE LEE dies.... never had any issues with them over the years....I dont do the tap thing,just hold projectile and case mouth as it goes up into die and go slow,if it feels wrong,back out and have look,realign and go again.
Agree with MD. There’s nothing wrong with Lee dies, just make sure you’ve inside champhered case and take it slow and easy. Have lost count of the number of reloads I’ve done in 222,223 & 308 over the last 40+ years, flat base and boat-tail. Any cockups have been due to not paying attention to what I’m doing.
Yep, as the others have said when loading flat base bullets, set it on the case mouth and support with a finger and thumb as you slowly raise the ram until the bullet touches the seating plug - then raise just enough to start seating.
Lower the ram and rotate the case, raise the ram and seat a bit more. Repeat until you're at full depth.
One thing I've found though is that the seating plugs in Lee dies are made to suit a particular nose profile which sometimes doesn't conform to the bullet I'm trying to load. My recent attempts at cast boolits in the 30-06 was postponed as the seating plug clearly preferred long skinny pointy noses over short fat flat ones and wouldn't cooperate at all.
Simple enough to modify the plug or turn a replacement for a perfect custom fit.
When loading cast boolits I also use Lee neck expander die which can be set to give just the absolute minimum flare to the case mouth, sufficient to allow an easier start to seating.
+1 for Lee dies, but I'm not into benchrest accuracy just minute of live animal.
+ 1 for left hand finger thumb guiding the projectile sitting on the case mouth into the die. As an ex farm boy its pretty much the same technique as used in horse and donkey breeding to help the stud get his end in the right hole. YouTube has it all (slow rainy day here)
+ 1 for a very slight case mouth flare with flat bottom projectiles. A bit more is required with cast depending on diameter.
+ 1 for taking it in incremental steps and partially rotating the case a couple of times as bullet is progressively seated.
I can't remember the last time I had a cartridge with the projectile visibly un-concentric.
One day I'll drop back to one calibre, flog everything else off and buy a set of Forsters. I'll let you know if it makes a difference
Are they new cases? I had this with a batch of new cases, had never happened before that. I needed to resize that batch of cases before using them. Problem sorted.
@Three O'Three did you manage to get this sorted with the Hornady Seating Die?
I have Lee dies for 3 different rifles, but the 300 BLK doesn't seat projectiles straight. It's so bad, the neck bulges.
The man at Serious Shooters reckons it's because Lee dies resize the neck too small. If I can avoid it, I'd rather not spend $129 when $69 will do.
Pictures for reference.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1df903d6da.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...060918e119.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c64f6e8f64.jpg
Sort of. I lapped the seating stem to suit the bullets I'm loading and found flaring/expanding the case mouth helps quite a bit to get the bullet started. still get the odd bullet that's a tad on the piss. Also bought some hornady dies which are way better.Quote:
Originally Posted by will.i.em
That.Quote:
Originally Posted by dannyb
They obviously aren't.Quote:
Originally Posted by will.i.em
There is a reason why so many people avoid lee.
75% of the stuff is rubbish.
The cost in wasted components is much higher than a few extra bucks for a die that actually works.
I didn't mind Lee dies, but in this case it was the die.
Got Hornady FL die and the projectiles seat with no issues now.
Looks to me Like you have way too much neck tension. You need to look at the neck sizing, If you are using the collet sizing die then back it off. The guy at Serious Shooters is correct. I looks like a few people Knocking lee dies, I have never had any issue with them, the collet neck sizing die is very innovative and works very well if it is adjusted correctly. I reckon Lee gear is great value for the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by will.i.em
Looking at those photos....must be what a shetland pony mare thinks when sees clydesdale stallion having a pee.....or teecup chiwahwah when sees a st bernard.
a boat tail projectile make shown issue much less so.
I use lee dies and the only problems I have are of my own making.
That said something definitely looks off with those reloads.
Have you tried to measure the sizing die to make sure it's actually sizing for .308 (if that's what is)
Yeah I did. ID of the neck is, on average, .300".Quote:
Originally Posted by 7mm tragic
AFAIK, there's nothing I can do about that.
This got me thinking. I got this set of dies second hand. Maybe the previous owner did something with the decapping pin... lo and behold, it does not flare out like the replacement one listed on reloaders.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3e062ac5a6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...86c36728e6.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by 7mm tragic
That'll definitely do it :O_O:Quote:
Originally Posted by will.i.em
I measured a couple of my dies, they were about 2 thou under nominated calibre
That's funny as fook....no wonder you had issues ...
For all that a few knock Lee there are many thousands using them both to compete and put meat on the table. That said, any mass produced product will have a percentage of faulty items. Like most of the major US suppliers Lee have a darn good warranty service even to NZ. When someone like Nathan Foster's into print recommending Lee dies for excellent Concentricity Intend to pay attention. While there may be a manufacturing issue, its the nut behind the wheel that causes the most problems. Thank you Richard Lee for all you've done to make reloading accessible and affordable literally to millions.Quote:
Originally Posted by zeropak