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Old February 23, 2012, 09:04 AM   #1
ostrick
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Bullet seating problem with 22-250

I am wondering if this is a common problem with new brass or something else.
Reloading for Rem. 788 in 22-250 using new Winchester brass. New brass has been resized and trimmed.
Most, but not all, of the bullets seated have very light neck tension. So light that dropping the finished round into the shell box (base first) will cause the bullet to slide into the case. I am using a very light crimp at this time.
Bullets are the .224 V-Max and the .224 Speer. New Lee dies. Seated to COL of 2.345
Could I have a resizing die with a oversize expander ball?

Last edited by ostrick; February 23, 2012 at 09:14 AM.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:14 AM   #2
P.A. Dutchman
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Is this a new set of dies also, or have you used them before with no problems? It could be an over sized expander ball. You might also want to mic the expander ball and bullet tips to make sure they are the correct diameter.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:17 AM   #3
603Country
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Someone recently had a similar post. I think it was his expander ball, and he had Lee dies.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:17 AM   #4
ostrick
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Yes, new dies. Have check diam. of bullets and will check expander ball.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:26 AM   #5
ostrick
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Expander ball measures .223 also checked the expander ball from my .223 die set, it measures .219.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:29 AM   #6
Brian Pfleuger
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There's your problem.
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:37 AM   #7
ostrick
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Yep, should have done a little more investagating on my own. Some times you get tunnel vision.
Thanks folks
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:48 AM   #8
Brian Pfleuger
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Chuck it in a drill and go at it with some fine grit sandpaper. Switch to polishing compound on a cloth when you get close to the size you want. Check often. Too small would be a bummer.
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Old February 23, 2012, 10:04 AM   #9
ostrick
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That was my plan... Measure twice cut once.
Thanks
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Old February 23, 2012, 12:40 PM   #10
Mal H
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It's odd that the die set came with that size expander ball. What is the manufacturer of the set? Are there any indications on the box that it is a special set? Most manufacturers simply don't make that mistake.

I would strongly suggest taking the ball resizing process slowly. My expander ball is 0.222" (that 1 thousandth of an inch makes a big difference). Maybe size a case and seat a bullet every .001" as you go.


Very nice rifle, by the way. My 788 in 22-250 was the first rifle I started reloading for back in the '60's when they were just starting to sell them. Still have it and will never sell it.
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Old February 23, 2012, 02:04 PM   #11
Clifford L. Hughes
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ostick:

Contact Lee and ask for the correct expander ball. They should send one free. If they don't send you one, send the dies back to Lee for a refund and purchase a set of RCBS dies. You won't be sorry.

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Old February 23, 2012, 02:09 PM   #12
AllenJ
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I agree with Clifford, they're new dies so contact Lee and let them know the problem. I'll bet they bend over backwards making it right.
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Old February 23, 2012, 03:46 PM   #13
Brian Pfleuger
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clifford L. Hughes View Post

Contact Lee and ask for the correct expander ball. They should send one free. If they don't send you one, send the dies back to Lee for a refund and purchase a set of RCBS dies. You won't be sorry.

Funny you should say that. I just got my first set of RCBS dies after starting with only Lee collet and seating dies and Redding body dies.

The RCBS neck sizer works well enough but my first thought with their seater is that somebody wondered how complicated they could make something that should be simple. Really? A lock nut and screwdriver to adjust the seating plug? What's wrong with a big knob?

Anyway, they're "good enough" for what they do but they ain't all that and more. I'd much rather have my Lee collet and Dead Length seater. Unfortunately it's not made for 270wsm.
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Old February 23, 2012, 06:29 PM   #14
243winxb
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22-250

Quote:
I am using a very light crimp at this time.
A .223 expander should not produce a loose bullet, as brass springs back some. Standard expander diameter is .222" as already said. No need to crimp for a 22-250. Possible thin walled brass? Or sizing die to larger in neck area?
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Old February 23, 2012, 09:20 PM   #15
ostrick
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I'll give Lee a call and find out options and get exact expander size. Will post results.
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Old February 23, 2012, 11:19 PM   #16
davery25
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yeah please do, i have this exact problem with my Lee 223 dies
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Old February 23, 2012, 11:37 PM   #17
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Quote:
yeah please do, i have this exact problem with my Lee 223 dies
davery, you should call as well it would confirm that this is just not an isolatated instance.
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Old February 24, 2012, 07:19 AM   #18
Brian Pfleuger
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There have been sporadic reports of oversized expanders for years. It makes me wonder if they're not made on several machines and one of them doesn't hold tolerances very well.
I'd call Lee, I suppose, but it's really a 5 minute fix.
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Old February 24, 2012, 09:18 AM   #19
ostrick
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Spoke with Peter (Lee Precision) about this isssue. His suggested I return the die for replacement. I will reduce the expander ball first and see if that solves the problem.
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Old February 24, 2012, 10:23 AM   #20
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Maybe the sizer die itself is too big and not sizing the neck down far enough???? Lots of problems with those "quality" ..........dies
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Old February 26, 2012, 03:15 PM   #21
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Don't reduce the expander ball, send the die back. They made it, they should fix it.

I'm not a big fan of Lee. Some of their stuff is fine, some just doesn't please me. Most of my die sets are RCBS, some are Lyman, a couple Lee.

There is no point to crimping .22-250 ammo. All that does is give you a way to screw up your ammo if done badly, and works the brass more than needed is done at all.
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Old February 26, 2012, 04:21 PM   #22
Brian Pfleuger
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Normally I would agree with returning a defective product and would probably do so with a die set if I could get a replacement at a store. I can't see mailing it back in and waiting 10 days or two weeks during which time I can't load ammo when I can fix it myself in 5 or 10 minutes.
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