Seating depth problem. Help needed.

hawkeye10 · March 29, 2012, 04:58 PM

I am trying to seat Hornady 60 grain Z-Max bullets in caliber .223 and can't get my overall length of 2.250 inches to stay the same. I am using Lee Deluxe dies. My over all length is varying as much as 12 thousands. Thanks for any advice. Don

PA-Joe · March 29, 2012, 05:05 PM

Remove your seater plugger and see how it sits on the top of the bullet. The bullet is most likely too narrow at the tip to fit correctly. You can make a new plugger or send the bullet to lee and have them make one.

Tim R · March 29, 2012, 05:21 PM

Also keep in mind is there can be that much difference in the tip of the bullet. To make sure you are seating to the same depth you need the tools to measure at the ojive.

mehavey · March 29, 2012, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Remove your seater plugger and see how it sits on the top of the bullet.

Good advice.

The Z-Max has a [glowing green

] polymer tip that if contacting the inside top of the seater, is probably getting 'squished' ever-so-slightly.

farmerboy · March 29, 2012, 10:26 PM

The bullet may be different lengths according to the ogive. That's where you measure to but even if it's off that's fine. Theyre all the same. If your press is tight and putting em out the same. The press is seating bullets from the die pushing the bullets from the ogive or close to it so dont worry about the bullet tips as the can vary and some bullets are closer than others but as far as the ogives go they should be fine. You could also get a comparator but it's still the same. Don't put all the tips the same for then your ogives may be off the .014 then.

deadwolfarms · March 29, 2012, 10:33 PM

Are all your cases the same length

farmerboy · March 29, 2012, 11:32 PM

A finished round has nothing to do with case length. A case is a certain length and a bullet is pushed from ogive are close by to the depth it's set from by your press. Nothing about case length at all

March 29, 2012, 04:58 PM	#1
hawkeye10 Member Join Date: August 27, 2011 Location: Murfreesboro,Tn. Posts: 52	Seating depth problem. Help needed. I am trying to seat Hornady 60 grain Z-Max bullets in caliber .223 and can't get my overall length of 2.250 inches to stay the same. I am using Lee Deluxe dies. My over all length is varying as much as 12 thousands. Thanks for any advice. Don __________________ Don't worry be happy!

March 29, 2012, 05:21 PM	#3
Tim R Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: God's side of Washington State Posts: 1,601	Also keep in mind is there can be that much difference in the tip of the bullet. To make sure you are seating to the same depth you need the tools to measure at the ojive. __________________ God Bless our Troops especially our Snipers.

March 29, 2012, 05:05 PM	#2
PA-Joe Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2010 Location: NEPA Posts: 909	Remove your seater plugger and see how it sits on the top of the bullet. The bullet is most likely too narrow at the tip to fit correctly. You can make a new plugger or send the bullet to lee and have them make one.

March 29, 2012, 10:26 PM	#5
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	The bullet may be different lengths according to the ogive. That's where you measure to but even if it's off that's fine. Theyre all the same. If your press is tight and putting em out the same. The press is seating bullets from the die pushing the bullets from the ogive or close to it so dont worry about the bullet tips as the can vary and some bullets are closer than others but as far as the ogives go they should be fine. You could also get a comparator but it's still the same. Don't put all the tips the same for then your ogives may be off the .014 then.

March 29, 2012, 10:33 PM	#6
deadwolfarms Member Join Date: November 27, 2011 Posts: 26	Are all your cases the same length

March 29, 2012, 11:32 PM	#7
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	A finished round has nothing to do with case length. A case is a certain length and a bullet is pushed from ogive are close by to the depth it's set from by your press. Nothing about case length at all