The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Help! seating Hornady .223 v-max

McClintock · September 9, 2010, 09:15 AM

LALineman,

I've run into the exact same problem. Using the Lee Deluxe die set for .223, I can't seat the Hornady 40 gr. V-Max bullets deep enough. I can get them down to about 2.280", and then the seating stem bottoms out. This is the only bullet that I've tried that does this; I can seat Sierra BlitzKings and Barnes Varmint Grenades to the proper OAL.

Fortunately for me, the Hornadys are the most accurate that I have tried, even at the 2.280 length, even though this is very long.

Short of calling Lee, or perhaps milling a few thousandths of an inch off the bottom of the seating die, I don't know what to suggest, either.

Just curious, what press are you using with the Lee dies? Also, as Sevens suggested, what powder charge are you using? I'm running 27.0 gr. of H335 (it's a warm load, but not at max), so it's not a compressed charge.

Cheers!
McClintock

September 9, 2010, 09:15 AM	#12
McClintock Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2008 Location: The Bald Prairie of Southern Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 305	LALineman, I've run into the exact same problem. Using the Lee Deluxe die set for .223, I can't seat the Hornady 40 gr. V-Max bullets deep enough. I can get them down to about 2.280", and then the seating stem bottoms out. This is the only bullet that I've tried that does this; I can seat Sierra BlitzKings and Barnes Varmint Grenades to the proper OAL. Fortunately for me, the Hornadys are the most accurate that I have tried, even at the 2.280 length, even though this is very long. Short of calling Lee, or perhaps milling a few thousandths of an inch off the bottom of the seating die, I don't know what to suggest, either. Just curious, what press are you using with the Lee dies? Also, as Sevens suggested, what powder charge are you using? I'm running 27.0 gr. of H335 (it's a warm load, but not at max), so it's not a compressed charge. Cheers! McClintock