hornaday 223 seating issues

[skizzums]

let me start by saying i have loaded 10k+ of pistol cartridges, and only 300 223 using boatails

i bought 100 223 hornaday flat-based varmint 55gr SP, i cant the bullet to go into the mouth at all, i have to try to balance it best i can and slowly creep i into the seating die until it hits, using lee dies, how can i open the case mouth just a hair more to hold the bullet? i trie chamfering and it helps, but still a pain in the a@&

[SVTCobra306]

There isn't a heck of a lot that I know of that you can do about it. Hornady's seating die has a seating plug that free-slides until it hits a stop, and it hangs out the bottom and guides the bullet straight up in (or something close to it) for seating. With others you just have to shove it on and hope it sticks LOL.

[skizzums]

okay, as long as its not just me, that makes it all better; just figure i have to be doing something wrong

boatails for me from now on

[rebs]

are you chamfering the case neck ? I am and using RCBS dies I have no problem seating the bullets, flat base or boat tail.

[PawPaw]

It comes with practice. You'll feel the bullet hit the mouth of the case, then a little resistance, and it's in. After you've done several hundred, you'll be an old pro. However, I did purchase a Lyman VLD chamfer tool that helps with the transition on flat-based bullets.

[steve4102]

That's the way it's done. Chamfer the inside of the case mouth, hold the bullet on top of the case mouth with your fingers and slowly raise the ram.

[Jim243]

1. Get a larger mandrell for the sizing die.

2. Get the case flare die. (Lee)

3. Get thinner bullets (LOL)


Jim

[SL1]

For flat based bullets and no sleeve on the seating die, it might help to use an stepped seating plug like the Lyman "M" dies use. That allows you to set the bullet in place pretty square before you run it into the seating die.

But, it leaves a tiny section of the case neck at the mouth too large. It is not gripping the bullet and might hinder accuracy or even chambering unless it is removed. If you are crimping the bullets, that will handle the stepped case neck. If not using a roll or collet crimp, then you may need to come-up with another solution to removing excess mouth flare.

SL1

[skizzums]

i will be using the FCD die to start, but eventually i would like to get away from the FCD because they are against my religion

[leefan]

What I do with my Lee die is keep my fingers on the bullet until the die draws blood.

[superspirit]

Lyman M die then crimp. works fine every time.