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December 27, 2011, 12:05 AM | #1 |
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Inconsistent bullet seating 40 S&W OAL
I'm reloading Rainier 180gr FP using Redding Competition Dies and a Hornady LNL Press. When trying to seat the bullet at 1.125, I get a variance of 1.124 - 1.138 OAL. I have tried to load one at a time and multiple rounds at a time with no difference. Do you guys get consistent OAL no matter what? I'm wondering if it is the bullet shape and that its because the Redding bullet seating is seating off the ogive of the bullet and not the top. I have also tried not using the taper crimp to see if that was the issue, but it is not.
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December 27, 2011, 12:47 AM | #2 |
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I am not going to be of much help, but is your shell plate tight and not wobling Try one case at a time and see if you have the same problem.
Jim
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December 27, 2011, 12:52 AM | #3 |
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Yup the shell holder is tight and not wobbly. I have tried one at a time and multiples with the same issue. I'm guessing it has to be the bullet since the redding die seats the bullet from the ogive and not the top.
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Scott |
December 27, 2011, 08:51 AM | #4 |
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Are you using the correct steating plugger? They make one for Round Nose and another for Flat Points. If you look at the bullets this difference is normal. If you measure the ogive they will have a closer tolerance.
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December 27, 2011, 08:54 AM | #5 |
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Is the cup in the seating die dirty? A few thousand is OK but .013 seems odd. All I will add is clean the die and see if it helps
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December 27, 2011, 09:03 AM | #6 | |
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COL Variation
Measure off the ogive. Take the seater plug out of the bullet seating die, place it on top of the cartridge and measure from the base of the case to the top of the seater plug.
Progressive press can add as much as .010" variation to the COL. From Lee's FAQ website Quote:
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December 27, 2011, 11:04 AM | #7 |
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Thanks for the feed back... This is a new die set and I cleaned off all th shipping oil that was put on these dies by redding. 1st time using it. They told me that they don't make a flat point or semi wad cutter seater plug for the Competition die bullet seater. Redding also mentioned that it is recommended to go off the ogive (which I do for rifle) than the tip of the bullet for consistent jump.
The cripming is done on a different satation and I too eliminated that part from my seating. So I'm guessing its just these Rainier 180gr FP nose bullets.
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December 27, 2011, 11:48 AM | #8 |
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I had same problem with Rainer bullets on 9x18 cal. went with a different
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December 27, 2011, 12:36 PM | #9 |
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What brand did you with?
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Scott |
December 27, 2011, 02:46 PM | #10 |
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Is this a LNL Classic single stage press or the AP progressive. If the AP when you set up the dies you have to have a case in each position. This stabilizes the plate and keeps all of the positions at a uniform height.
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December 27, 2011, 02:52 PM | #11 |
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I have the LNL progressive. And I did make sure to have cases in each station except for the last couple of course. I checked the bullet pal and base to ogive and it varies also with bullets that have the same base to ogive measurements.
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Scott |
December 28, 2011, 01:23 AM | #12 |
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I'm going to go out on a limb and ask... Have you checked your primer seating depth? OAL length is going to appear to be off if you're primers aren't all seating flush with the base and you measure across the center--could be they aren't seating fully or you have a few shallow pockets. Just a thought.
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December 28, 2011, 01:29 AM | #13 |
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I thought of that too so I made sure I measured the ones where the primers were seated well. I used a Hornady bullet and neck comparator on both ends of my micrometer which also allows for the primer to not be part of the measurement since the primer would be placed where you check the bullet ogive. I'm going to purchase Bayou 180gr TC bullets and hopefully that seats better.
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Scott |
December 28, 2011, 01:38 AM | #14 |
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i have the same problem with Extremz plated bullets....I load on a 650 and i am happy if i can keep oal at -/+ .004. I think it is the bullets. If you ever look/measure every bullet there is a lot of variation. I can even see the flat point isn't really flat so the bullet uniformity is not too great.
One day i will have to get some quality jacketed bullets and see what happens, but i can get plated really cheap so i keep buying them. art |
December 28, 2011, 01:49 AM | #15 |
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I was planning on picking up some Hornady XPT just to see how well those seat. I'm starting to shoot a lot and like shooting the plated because they are cheap.
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December 28, 2011, 08:28 AM | #16 | |
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Quote:
OAL problems. |
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December 28, 2011, 10:06 AM | #17 |
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Thanks! I might pick up a box of Berry's at Cabelas and give those a shot.
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