Bullet Seating Problem; Lee Dies, 8x57

[Frontenac]

Evening everyone. I am just entering into the world of reloading, and my first swing at it will be reloading for my Turkish M38 in 8x57. I haven't had a problem until now, and it deals with bullet seating.

When I place the bullet in the casing, and move it up into the bullet seating die (Lee Dead Length Bullet Seating Die), the die pushes the bullet into the case, and does not seat the bullet into the case. From what I see and hear, the die only touches the bullet, and not the case at all. This occurs even when I have lowered the die and bullet seater almost as low as possible into the holder, and the same problem occurs.

I made sure that the die I have is made for 8x57, and it says so (you never know until you check ). To me, it's as if the die is too big (ie. has a diameter larger than .323). In case it helps, the bullets are Hornady 150 gr. SP, and the cases are once fired PPU 8x57.

Thanks!

 

[Alpheus]

the die pushes the bullet into the case, and does not seat the bullet into the case.

Huh? A seating die isn't supposed to touch the brass. Have you sized the brass in a full length or neck sizing die?

 

[Winchester-1897]

??????

 

[Neilm]

Are you by chance sizing with the collet die? If so you have sized them incorrectly. read the instructions for setting up the die.

 

[Winchester-1897]

Are you by chance sizing with the collet die? If so you have sized them incorrectly. read the instructions for setting up the die.

Sounds like it doesn't it?

 

[Frontenac]

Hey guys, thanks for the replies. Appreciate you all putting up with my rookie question!

I began with the collet sizer die set up as per the instructions. The primer was removed, and there was a firm push to resize the opening. I placed one bullet into casing, and after setting up the seating die as per the instructions, I pushed it up into the die. The bullet then is pushed into the casing. It appears that this isn't happening with mush effort. I've noticed that the bullet moves pretty freely into the casing, as if the opening is too big. Double checked the collet die and its also 8x57. Measured the bullets too and they are the correct diameter.

 

[Spawn-Inc]

watch this set of videos from ammo smith on how to setup the lee collet die's properly Part 1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhTUgytUGnM Part 2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgHR43TN5Zk

 

[Frontenac]

Thanks, I will

 

[Hitzy]

Takes a good amount of force to size with the collet dies (min 25lbs Lee says), make sure you have them adjusted properly and not over-camming.
Also depending on the bullet, there can be very little bearing surface so if you seat too deep you lose neck tension.

 

[bigedp51]

Frontenac

Question, does your die set have a full length sizing die?

 

[JR Hartman]

also be aware that 150 grain is a little on the small size for that case. make sure you do have it far enough in so it has enough neck tension. Most 8mm rounds are approaching 200 grain and are quite long compared to a 150 grain bullet.

 

[Dmay]

Perhaps the OP is alluding to crimping?