Recommend a seating die??? Please...

[phaessler]

Can anyone recommend a seating die?? Loading .270Win, 140BTSP Hornady SST's. Used an RCBS and a Lyman, both leave a ring just below the poly tip on the bullet. Anyone use a different brand with better results?

Thanks

Pete

[flashhole]

If you are looking to step up a notch over a "standard" seat die......I like either the Forster Ultraseat Die or the Redding Competition Seat Die. Both keep bullets in line with the case neck. Both make a difference in accuracy.

[Dlr8]

This seems to me to be a pretty common thing with hornadys bullets lately, very easy to leave a ring around.. I have never had a problem til I started using the red tipped bullets (Amax and Vmax)... Funny thing is, one box will do it, one won't. The ring for most hunting situations won't hurt anything. You might take the seater out of your die and hit it where the bullet enters the plug with some sand paper making it less sharp.. I just started seating my bullets very slowly with as little pressure as possible. If you are using a compressed load it will make things worse.. I don't know if the seating dies mentioned above will cure the problem or not.. I know that I have a seat of 30-06 Hornady Dies and RCBS .308 win dies and they both will leave the ring on certain Hornady bullets.. I haven't tried the sand paper trick to either. Seating them slower cured it for me for now

Dave

[hivel37]

The only plastic tip I currently use is 35 gr VMax in 22 Hornet - for this I use a Lee collet set. The seater doesn't leave a ring.
I use a Redding competition seater for 22-250 and it leaves no ring that I've noticed.
Also use a Lyman AA seater for 270 - it has a sliding sleeve and doesn't leave marks. That die is no longer available new, but can be found at gun shows.

[ldv444]

Forester or Redding makes the best seating dies in my opinion. If you want to try hand dies, which I also have and use, Wilson dies are great, but that's a whole different game. Hope this helps!

[BigJakeJ1s]

You might try Hornady seating dies. They have a similar sliding alignment sleeve to the redding comps and forsters, but it does not engage as much of the cartridge (i.e. below the shoulder) as those do. Doesn't have the price of those either. Optional micrometer adjustment if you want (but often too tall with one for co-ax press).

Andy

[Martyn4802]

You can eliminate the ring you are getting with the dies you are now using.
Remove the stem from the seater and polish the edge of the cone that seats the bullet. That will solve the problem.

Martyn

[SL1]

I have had the same problem with Hornady bullets in RCBS dies, even before the "plastic tip" era began. I think it is due to the Hornady "spire point" shape, which is more of a flat conical shape compared to the more common, rounded "spitzer" shape.

You can try to round the edge of the seater die stem where it contacts the bullet. That will work, but be careful to do it evenly so that it does not seat the bullet a little off-axis when you are finished. Putting it in a power tool like a drill will help keep it even all-around (compaerd to trying to turn it by hand while you "sand" with VERY fine emery paper).

Another approach would be to use a Hornady seating die. I like them for 2 reasons. The first is because they have a sliding sleeve that gets the bullet into alignment before it contacts the seating punch and starts to move into the case. The second is that the seating punch is a small, simple, non-threated part that can easily be changed for different bullets. I can make my own on a small lathe that I have owned for years.

If all else fails, I think both Hornady and Lee will custom-make seating stems (for their own dies) to fit specific bullets if you send them a sample bullet.

After saying all this, I don't think the rings really make much difference in performance unless perhaps you are shooting VERY long ranges. I could not tell the difference at 450 yards.

SL1

[DaveInGA]

I would start with a Lee or a Hornady die, probably Lee. The Redding and Forster dies may also have your solution, but they'll be expensive and they're not as flexible about coming up with custom seating stems like Lee and Hornady are.

Regards,

Dave

[steve4102]

Save your money and forget about the Hornady seating die. I purchased one for my 7.62x39. What a piece of junk. It is caliber specific not cartridge specific. The case is extremely loose in the die and produces the largest bullet runout I have even seen.
If you want to get rid of the ring, as already suggested polish the inside of the stem. If you really feel the need for a good seating die get a Forster BR die. They are the best I have used.
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...310&t=11082005

[BigJakeJ1s]

Save your money and forget about the Hornady seating die. I purchased one for my 7.62x39. What a piece of junk. It is caliber specific not cartridge specific. The case is extremely loose in the die and produces the largest bullet runout I have even seen

Interesting, I wonder if they put the wrong insert in your die? Their 7.62x39 seating die is unique to that cartridge (unlike their seating die for several other 30 caliber cartridges). The sliding alignment sleeve need only be able to center on the neck and shoulder, not match it exactly. For example, a sleeve designed for a longer neck and/or shallower shoulder angle would work for slightly shorter necks and steeper shoulders. Every manufacturer lets a lemon loose once in a while, did you contact them about it?

Andy

[steve4102]

Every manufacturer lets a lemon loose once in a while, did you contact them about it?

No, not yet. I plan to just sent it back for a refund. I am not even sure this die is for the 7.62x39. The plastic sleeve it came in is marked correctly, but there is no markings on the die whatsoever. That is about the dumbest thing I have ever seen in a reloading die. Good thing I have only ONE, otherwise I wouldn't know which one to send back or throw away.

[nodlenor]

I would suggest calling Hornady and RCBS and see if they can give you some insight on the problem. They are usually very helpful with reloading problems. I use RCBS, Lyman, and Hornady quite a lot and have never had this problem but will watch closely in the future.

[FatWhiteMan]

I'll throw in on the Hornady dies as well. They should not leave the ring and if they do, I bet Hornady will give you a seater to match their bullet.

[ForneyRider]

7.62x39 is not .308 diameter. I think it is .310 or .311.

[UGH]

For accuracy and ease of use, The Redding comp dies are hard to beat.

[steve4102]

7.62x39 is not .308 diameter. I think it is .310 or .311.

Mine is .308. It is a Ruger built in the 80's, it has a .308 bore with a tapered throat to accept the larger .310-.311 dia bullets. Some call this POS design a "Squeeze Bore".