First Time Reloading - What em I doing wrong?

Paulinski

Paulinski

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I decided to take the plunge :) Got a RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Kit - Hornady Carbide .45 ACP 3 Die Set, Hornady Lock'n Load conversion.

My load is Federal Brass, CCI Large Pistol Primers 4.7 grain of Win 231, Extreme Plated 230 grain bullets seated to OAL 2.255.

I set the decapping die to stick out 3/16 like it says in the instructions. That works fine.

When it comes to seating and why are my dies leaving a ring on the bullet? :( What em I doing wrong? I set up my seating die so it seats and crimps at the same time? Also once the bullet is seated and crimped it seems like its sticking to the bottom of the die on the way out?? :(

Any help is appreciated.

ResizedBullets-1.jpg

ResizedBullets.jpg


Thanks in advance

Paul
 
do you have the right insert in you seating die.. should have an insert from round nose and SWC .. you have the wrong one installed

And how much belling have you got on the case.. a pic of the case at the belling and seating stages would be good...
 
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Another vote for different seating insert.

I like to "bell" the case mouth so I can pick up a case by sticking bullet in the mouth...

Also get yourself a Lee FCD(factory crimp die). It will be the best $20 you ever spent. It is one extra stage but I haven't found a better crimp option yet.
 
OK guys I'm lost. I'm reading and re-reading the hornady instructions and I can't figure it out. I'm going to forget about crimp I just want to seat the bullet without the mark. Anybody has any luck with the hornady carbide 3 die set.

There is no seating inserts. Only one seating stem.

This is very frustrating. :(
 
I don't know the Hornady dies (I personally think they look like a lot of work) but did you not get another insert ... That certainly looks like a SWC profile... and if you are haveing to push that much to seat the bullet you don't have enough belling on the case...
 
I'm with Repete on this one, Too much crimp, headspace is on the case mouth and your pic of the loaded round shows the case mouth crimped into the the bullet.

Back off the seating die, then turn the bullet seating depth adjustment down to get your proper OAL.
 
The .45acp cartridge is loaded without a roll crimp. The bullet is held by case friction alone. The .45acp headspaces on the case mouth.

Your cartridges are being over crimped from the photos you provided. The case only requires a taper crimp of .469 - .471 measured at the case mouth. If you are belling your cases, as you should, prior to loading then all you want to do is remove the belling.

As to the deformity on the bullet (the rng), as you apply force to over crimp your bullets you are forcing the seater in to the nose of the bullet. If your bullet seater does not come with different seaters then use what you have but REDUCE the crinp and your problems will disappear.

Take Care

Bob
 
I agree your crimp is excessive...but I also agree you're using the wrong seater insert. I'd go back to where you bought the dies and get the insert that should have come with your die set.
 
It could be that your bullet guide (the jobbie that protrudes from the seating die and guides bullets in) is bottoming out on the top of the die and when you are seating you are causing the bullet to deform. I remember when I first was learning to reload I would screw up some cases on the seating die because I would screw the die in too low and cause the shoulders to collapse on my .223. My advice is back off your seating die in the press - and lower your seating stem to achieve the correct OAL. As your die probably seats and crimps at the same time (RCBS ones do at least) it is probably the reason why your cases are overcrimped.
 
In a pinch, you can wad up(now don't laugh until you try it) some paper in your mouth, insert it into the seating insert, make sure it is flat on the bottom. Seat a bullet, and make sure it is centered, leave it sit on the seated bullet so the paper will set up in the center and guide the bullet without the bullet coming in contact with the steel. This is as a last resort and does work very well, unless it is not centered in the insert, then all bets are off. Until you are more at ease with reloading; crimp in a separate operation.
 
The ring on the bullet ogive is placed because the seater shape is wrong for the bullet shape.The shape you have may be for a flat point or semi wad cutter.You can purchase a seating plug(you don't need a whole new die) for a round nose bullet shape.Your seller didn't sell you the wrong part,you just have to have extra tools to get the job done.

I believe they are interchangeable from one manufacturer to another,but I could be wrong about that.
 
I'm begging to suspect the bullet seater is indeed for semi-wadcutter type bullets. I sized to case mouth and tried to seat one more. Same thing a ring around the middle of the projectile and when I tried to crimp (slightly this time ;) )I was adjusting the crimp but the bullet was getting pushed deeper in the case. However quick check revealed there are not other seaters included with the dies. :(

Not a good start to reloading at all.


Here a quick pic - sorry about the blurriness

Die-2.jpg


Also in addition to the ring the bullet gets deformed as well.

ResizedBullets-3.jpg

ResizedBullets-2.jpg


Paul
 
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Hornady only includes one seating stem because they feel that is all you need. You would not be having problems with their one-size-fits all seater if your seating force was not excessive.
 
once you have solved your visibly excessive crimp problem, and seating ring continues, try polishing the sharp edge of seating punch with stone and/or sandpaper(rotate punch in an electric drill, if possible). Seating punches are often roughly machined or poorly designed to deal with different nose designs. Be patient, read and research.
 
RePete said:
Are you belling the case during (or after) charging the case? Which could be the problem of excessive seating force.
Click to expand...

In the last three pictures the case was first belled until the case was opened enough for bullet to seat.

Right now I'm going to forget about seat and crimp in one action. Just going to concentrate on seating only.

How can I reduce the seating force?

Paul
 
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