Thumb seating bullets for single shot

stubbicatt · August 9, 2015, 01:41 PM

I'm still learning quite a lot, and enjoying it very much. Shot a BPCR years ago, and sold it, something I regret.

Starting into it again with 45-70 this time. With fire formed cases, thumb seating bullets is pretty easy. I have noticed a sort of pneumatic phenomenon however. When I seat a bullet firmly on the wad (over a compressed powder charge) the bullet sort of pops back up. Thumb it down again, it pops back up, due to air trapped beneath it. I sort of have to hold it in position for a little while and wiggle it around a little bit in a sort of circular motion with my thumb for it to come to rest fully seated, before applying a crimp.

It is sort of funny.

bedbugbilly · August 11, 2015, 02:58 PM

A little more neck tension maybe? I'm not familiar with loading the 45-70 so am just curious. Can they be neck sized slightly so the slug stays put until you crimp?

stubbicatt · August 11, 2015, 08:14 PM

Sure, one can do it that way. But thumb seating is fun, and different, and no chances of smooshing it during the seating process. It is cool.

Will-j · August 12, 2015, 12:10 AM

stubb: Leave them as they are....load them and they should center themselves in the throat, and help with accuracy.

WILL, just WILL.

August 9, 2015, 01:41 PM	#1
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	Thumb seating bullets for single shot I'm still learning quite a lot, and enjoying it very much. Shot a BPCR years ago, and sold it, something I regret. Starting into it again with 45-70 this time. With fire formed cases, thumb seating bullets is pretty easy. I have noticed a sort of pneumatic phenomenon however. When I seat a bullet firmly on the wad (over a compressed powder charge) the bullet sort of pops back up. Thumb it down again, it pops back up, due to air trapped beneath it. I sort of have to hold it in position for a little while and wiggle it around a little bit in a sort of circular motion with my thumb for it to come to rest fully seated, before applying a crimp. It is sort of funny.

August 11, 2015, 02:58 PM	#2
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	A little more neck tension maybe? I'm not familiar with loading the 45-70 so am just curious. Can they be neck sized slightly so the slug stays put until you crimp? __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

August 12, 2015, 12:10 AM	#4
Will-j Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2014 Location: SW Ga. Near Ft. Benning Posts: 251	stubb: Leave them as they are....load them and they should center themselves in the throat, and help with accuracy. WILL, just WILL. __________________ Life's too short to worry about the small stuff....... IT'S ALL SMALL STUFF. D@MN, I really miss my meds. THE WINDS OF CHANGE ARE BLOWING FROM OUR OWN CAPITOL.

August 11, 2015, 08:14 PM	#3
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	Sure, one can do it that way. But thumb seating is fun, and different, and no chances of smooshing it during the seating process. It is cool.