Son......don't ever complain....if it" still feels tight"!
Reloading headache with bullet seating issues
- Thread starter Rileyz
- Start date
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Randy Tidwell
Well-Known Member
My experience is if the seater stem is marking the bullet, you have too much neck tension.
Never had a problem with a Forester seater. Been using them for 40 years.
JMHO
Never had a problem with a Forester seater. Been using them for 40 years.
JMHO
Is your only concern the ring left by the seater? There area couple ways to fix that. I've seen it happen across multiple different manufacturer's seating stems with different bullets. You can try different neck tensions but it's easier to modify the stem.
As mentioned above the easiest way is to put some quick-set epoxy in the end of the stem and shove a bullet in until it sets. Just rig up some way to hold the bullet in place while it sets. You'll need to drill a small relief hole in the center once it's cured to accommodate bullet's with different meplat lengths. As stated above it spreads the seating pressure across the entire bullet. The downside is that the stem is now set aside for that one bullet.
I've chucked a bullet in a lathe (you can use a drill) and spun it in the end of the seating stem using lapping compound. This is more time consuming than the epoxy but I've found it works across a multitude of different bullets.
Whenever I see rings on bullets I choose to epoxy the seating stem.
As mentioned above the easiest way is to put some quick-set epoxy in the end of the stem and shove a bullet in until it sets. Just rig up some way to hold the bullet in place while it sets. You'll need to drill a small relief hole in the center once it's cured to accommodate bullet's with different meplat lengths. As stated above it spreads the seating pressure across the entire bullet. The downside is that the stem is now set aside for that one bullet.
I've chucked a bullet in a lathe (you can use a drill) and spun it in the end of the seating stem using lapping compound. This is more time consuming than the epoxy but I've found it works across a multitude of different bullets.
Whenever I see rings on bullets I choose to epoxy the seating stem.
Just wanted to bring a little closure to this thread and thank everyone again for all the help. I've been really busy the past month but was able to make it out to put some hand loads through this rifle for the first time last week. I've never had such accuracy the first attempt reloading for a new rifle/load. I took 3 shot groups with the same powder charge and 4 different seating depths with .020" difference between each group. I don't have a vice or lead sled so I'm shooting off a bag and I couldn't hold it any steadier than how it grouped. The largest 3 shot group was 3/4" from the center of the holes and the other 3 groups were 5/8". This rifle is certainly capable of better accuracy with a more stable rest. I couldn't be much happier. Now time to try some higher powder charges to see if the accuracy is this good with a faster load.
Mikecr
Well-Known Member
Doesn't seem much response for large seating changes. That's surprising,, and weird.
Yeah, I was surprised too that they kept hitting in the same spot basically and all grouping well. I'd heard the scenars weren't too searing depth sensitive but still pleasantly surprised.
Mikecr
Well-Known Member
I shoot the same bullet, and get more opening/closing with testing.
I wonder what your throat leade angle is
I wonder what your throat leade angle is
I couldn't tell you. Just been lucky so far I guess.
hunterbob
Well-Known Member
Get a" Lee factory crimp die." It crimps from the sides. The regular die set does a roll crimp, and is tricky bc you can deform the shoulder easily or not crimp enough.
