Thread: seating die is pulling out bullets

Yes. It is a stepped expander die. First section that contacts the neck is your standard expander size, then further up it steps out to bullet diameter.
You can actually use the die as just an expander die without flaring the neck or adjust ithe die further down in the press to just flare the neck out at bullet diameter.
The projectile sits nicely in the flare already aligned with the die and seats smoothly.

Very sharply squared flat base projectiles are always hard to start into the case neck, even with a heavy chamfer.

Originally Posted by Old_School

Is that a neck expander die? I think someone sold one of these here recently.

Would appear so.
Never needed one myself.
But just started using a DIY neck flaring tool for cast. Perhaps try one of them.

Originally Posted by zimmer

Yes. It is a stepped expander die. First section that contacts the neck is your standard expander size, then further up it steps out to bullet diameter.
You can actually use the die as just an expander die without flaring the neck or adjust ithe die further down in the press to just flare the neck out at bullet diameter.
The projectile sits nicely in the flare already aligned with the die and seats smoothly.

Very sharply squared flat base projectiles are always hard to start into the case neck, even with a heavy chamfer.

OK, never had much experience with them until recently, but it makes sense.
I wonder how these types of projectiles were loaded in the factory?
Would it benefit from a crimp afterwards if the neck has been flared out?

[QUOTE=Old_School;1739040]Obviously it must be jamming inside the seating die.
See the marks in this photo, you can see a ring mark around where it had met the neck of the case and then its pulled back out a bit. How common is this?

Came across this situation today, chap with a brand new lee 300wm die, bad machining / finishing on the projectile spindle

I load flat base projectiles often and have never flared and rifle cartridge cases, hand gun - yes. Never Rifle.

Look into deburring your case mouths with a VLD deburring reamer. The LEE and most RCBS deburrers are 60deg. VLD is in the region of 22deg. Makes seating FB projectiles easy.

[QUOTE=flock;1746925]

Originally Posted by Old_School

Obviously it must be jamming inside the seating die.
See the marks in this photo, you can see a ring mark around where it had met the neck of the case and then its pulled back out a bit. How common is this?

Came across this situation today, chap with a brand new lee 300wm die, bad machining / finishing on the projectile spindle

Thats my guess too, ive largely sorted it, but will need a bit more polishing. I have a lyman set that is coming my way soon which will be good to try out.

Originally Posted by Jaco Goosen

I load flat base projectiles often and have never flared and rifle cartridge cases, hand gun - yes. Never Rifle.

Look into deburring your case mouths with a VLD deburring reamer. The LEE and most RCBS deburrers are 60deg. VLD is in the region of 22deg. Makes seating FB projectiles easy.

Yeah my reamer is probably 60 degrees, might grab one of those.
What projectiles are you loading? The CAC flat base type im using has a much sharper bottom edge compared to the likes of the HXP ones for example.

I'd lap the seating stem with about 400grit lapping paste. OR use some 2 part resin such as araldite along with a release agent to get a perfect match.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

I'd lap the seating stem with about 400grit lapping paste. OR use some 2 part resin such as araldite along with a release agent to get a perfect match.

I was thinking of using my lathe and putting a projectile in the drill chuck and use some lapping paste and polish.

Yep, you will waste 1 or 2 bullets but will work


Just re-use the bullets ar fowler's.

Deburring the case neck. Poor deburring case neck will make it harder to seat the projectile(jamming in the seating stem), also showing seating rings on the projectile.

Loaded a bunch last night with HXP projectiles and all seated firmly.
Tried another CAC projectile and was loose as anything.
I managed to trace one of these lyman neck expander dies down, last in the country apparently.
Hoping it will sort this out.

Soo, still a poor result.
My time and money is important. Yours should be too.
NFI how many but just for plinking IIRC.

STOP fuking around.
Nail polish will hold them in place. Just paint and seat.
Shoot, job done.

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Soo, still a poor result.
My time and money is important. Yours should be too.
NFI how many but just for plinking IIRC.

STOP fuking around.
Nail polish will hold them in place. Just paint and seat.
Shoot, job done.

Not really, I successfully loaded a ton last night with HXP projectiles, Ive been able to confirm what the problem is, as ive had zero issues with these.
My lyman die arrived today so should be able to report back how it goes with the WW2 era MK7 bullets.
Surprised no one else has run into similar trouble, as there are a fair few out there who reload with these.
I am going to be shooting a fair bit of both going forward.

OK. Didn't see above post.

All good, had great success with the die last night.
Makes quite a difference in seating the bullets.
I have discovered that the size of these projectiles does vary however, some are measuring as low as .309 and are giving me problems, others are as large as .313 and are seating fine.
Never realized the quality control was that bad, but im going to compare a few random ones to see if its limited to certain years or makes of ammo.
All in all a good result however, so I hope this is helpful to anyone else who loads these.
If i find too many are undersize I will likely polish down the neck expander on the decapping die and then I will be sorted.