Bullet Seating Problem

Mad_Mikee

Mad_Mikee

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I was loading some 30-06 last night and decided to try building some new loads with a different bullet. I've previously shot the 168gr. Barnes TSX, 165gr Sierra HPBTand Nosler 165gr BT's. Never had a problem with bullet seating.

Last night I bought a box of Sierra 165gr Spitzers (SPBT) and the shape is a bit different than the HPBT I've previously loaded.

Now the problem.

After I seat the bullet and I lower the ram the bullet seems to stick in the RCBS die seater plug and pulls out of the case.

I took the seater plug out of the die and put a bullet in the end of it. It looks like where the plug contacts the bullet is just the wrong size making them stick together.

It looks like if the seater plug was a bit smaller (say .27 or 7mm), it might work better.

Is replacing the .30 cal seater plug in my 30-06 dies with a plug with a 7mm or a .27 cal plug a viable option?

(I've already give the dies a good cleaning)
 
Something sound wrong, it pulls the projectile for a newly sized case?? You shouldn't have to change anything in your die. I'd suspect an issue with the projectiles?
Have you been successful in make a round with them and will they chamber in your rifle??
 
I've made one or two rounds (uncharged but with seated bullets) and the chamber without any trouble.

The brass is all once shot but has been full lenth resized and chambers without any issues when there is no bullet seated.

I also thought that maybe I had some bad bullets. I measured the diameter and it's pretty much the same as other Sierras and Noslers I have.

Figured maybe my problem was with the brass so I resized a handfull of them just to make sure.

I've loaded somewhere around 1500-2000 rounds with this same set of dies without ever having trouble.

Looks like other people on the interweb have had similar problems when using round nose bullets.

I tried to call RCBS this morning but they arent open Fridays
Here is a Q&A from the RCBS site:

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Q. When I seat the bullet, the seater plug cuts a ring around the bullet just below the nose. What causes this?

A. In short, the seater plug does not fit the bullet you are using. The seater plug furnished with the Seater Die normally will fit the great majority of the bullets for that particular caliber. However, we cannot make one seater plug fit all bullets currently available. If you experience this problem or any similar problem where the seater plug doesn't match the bullet and you wish to have a special seater plug made, we can supply one from the Special Order Department at minimum cost. See our Special Order Catalog for current pricing.

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It sounds like there might be a small burr or bit of grit inside the seater hole, try cleaning it out and then a light polish inside , you can chuck it in a drill and use a fine (400) emery cloth . I just finished deepening and polishing my Lee and RCBS seating dies and decreased the TIR to .0015" at the tip of the bullet.
 
hunter5425 said:
It sounds like there might be a small burr or bit of grit inside the seater hole, try cleaning it out and then a light polish inside , you can chuck it in a drill and use a fine (400) emery cloth . I just finished deepening and polishing my Lee and RCBS seating dies and decreased the TIR to .0015" at the tip of the bullet.
Click to expand...

I cleaned out the inside of the dies last night and the inside of bullet seater plug. Lots of copper came out. I like the idea of giving it a quick polish in a drill. Sounds like a plan for tonight.

It really seems that the bullet is being pushed too far into the seating plug which is why I wondered if a smaller calibre seating plug from a .27 or a 7mm would work better for this particular bullet.
 
I think unless the bullet tip is contacting the end of the plug it shouldn't matter where on the bullet the plug contacts, a smaller plug will contact the bullet nearer the tip which would prevent the tip botoming out. Because you see copper inside I'm betting on a rough spot in the plug. Let us know how it turns out.
 
hunter5425 said:
I think unless the bullet tip is contacting the end of the plug it shouldn't matter where on the bullet the plug contacts, a smaller plug will contact the bullet nearer the tip which would prevent the tip botoming out. Because you see copper inside I'm betting on a rough spot in the plug. Let us know how it turns out.
Click to expand...

Well I gave it a go. Put the seater in the drill and used some 400grit sandpaper to smooth the inside out. Looked really smooth.

Seated a couple bullets in cases (further in than I'd like). Seems to work okay. Bullet seated in the mag box and easily chambered. I'm looking for a point where either the bullet is seated out so far that it will barely fit in the mag box OR the bullet touches the lands so I have a starting place for adjustment.

Screwed the bullet seater plug out 1 full turn (approx 0.04'') and tried to seat another bullet. This time the bullet stuck inside the die and pulled out of the case.

The picture shows from left to right. Nosler 168 or 168gr (cant remember) BT, Sierra 165gr HPBT, Sierra 165gr Spitzer (spbt) and the Sierra 165gr Spitzers stuck in the seating plug, 30-06 brass (lined up where the bullet was seated in the case prior to being pulled out) and the die body.

DSC00695.jpg


Maybe this is just one of the cases where I'll have to seat the bullets deeper than I'd like just so they stay in the case. If it matters, the rifle is a Ruger MK-II in 30-06.
 
I would try a different plug first, second option is to stuff something soft (a small piece of cardboard maybe) into the 30 cal plug to prevent bullet from jamming in the plug. As it is now it seems the taper of the bullet matches the internal shape of the plug causing it to jam in the plug. Just an idea and worth what you paid for it.
 
Thanks for the help guys. I'm going to call RCBS on Monday when they're open and maybe they have some ideas. Most likely I'll just try a smaller plug. Kind of what I figured from the start but it never hurts to get some ideas from others.

RCBS has been really great for other things I've dealt with them on so I'm sure they'll either have some suggestions or be able to sell me a smaller plug to try.
 
Mad_Mikee said:
DSC00695.jpg


Maybe this is just one of the cases where I'll have to seat the bullets deeper than I'd like just so they stay in the case. If it matters, the rifle is a Ruger MK-II in 30-06.
Click to expand...

From looking at that picture, it looks like you have maybe 1/2 a calibre of neck engaged by the bullet, that may be part of your problem with pulling the bullets out after seating. Can you repeatedly seat them deeper with no problems? The rule of thumb is one full calibre of engagement in the neck for proper bullet retention.

Mark
 
If the seater plug pulls the bullet back out during the seating process, that tells me you don't have enough neck tension. When you loaded your TSXs, were you able to turn the bullet in the case neck with your fingers? If so, I think we've found your problem. I would either polish the expander ball, try a smaller one, or simply don't use one in an attempt to gain more neck tension.
 
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