Forster Micro Seating die – scratching bullets while seating
Hi All,
Set up the seater die as per instructions. 303br no problems. 7mm-08 different story.
The bullets have vertical scratch marks. Not consistent or repeatable but all scratches appear to be past/below the ogive. The scratches do not appear deep however there is copper jacket material, minute filings, that are collecting on the bullet surface when seating is completed, likely from the previous seating cycle. The scratches are akin to a pulled bullet where the neck contacts but more significant.
I have pulled apart the die and inspected the die chamber P-30 and the seater stem J-30, and cleaned and inspected numerous times and can’t determine anything.
I believe that the cases are concentric but I don’t have the ability to measure objectively. I know the micro seater is supposed to align bullet with case more stringently.
Questions are:
1. I don’t believe this is normal…but perhaps others have experienced this and can share?
2. Is this attributable to bullet variation?
3. Is the scratching a function of the case concentricity?
4. Would this be an issue with the die manufacturing? This was a new die from factory. I have a hard time believing this to be a Forster defect. FWIW The seating stem was set REALLY deep and the first attempt was stiff as hell where I believed to be the end of the stroke and seated the first bullet really deep in the neck.
Regards
Ronr
GIVENS:
- 4th onto 5th season reloading
- Upgrading from Lee seating die
- Bullets used 140gr Nosler BT’s and Sierra Prohunter 140gr. More scratching/scraping on the prohunter. BT jacket seems harder and resistant/resilient.
- Lee challenger press
- PPU brass. Neck turned. Brass purchased new. 2x and 3x fired.
- Redding shoulder bump die and collet neck size
- I would post pictures but can't at the moment
Hi All,
Set up the seater die as per instructions. 303br no problems. 7mm-08 different story.
The bullets have vertical scratch marks. Not consistent or repeatable but all scratches appear to be past/below the ogive. The scratches do not appear deep however there is copper jacket material, minute filings, that are collecting on the bullet surface when seating is completed, likely from the previous seating cycle. The scratches are akin to a pulled bullet where the neck contacts but more significant.
I have pulled apart the die and inspected the die chamber P-30 and the seater stem J-30, and cleaned and inspected numerous times and can’t determine anything.
I believe that the cases are concentric but I don’t have the ability to measure objectively. I know the micro seater is supposed to align bullet with case more stringently.
Questions are:
1. I don’t believe this is normal…but perhaps others have experienced this and can share?
2. Is this attributable to bullet variation?
3. Is the scratching a function of the case concentricity?
4. Would this be an issue with the die manufacturing? This was a new die from factory. I have a hard time believing this to be a Forster defect. FWIW The seating stem was set REALLY deep and the first attempt was stiff as hell where I believed to be the end of the stroke and seated the first bullet really deep in the neck.
Regards
Ronr
GIVENS:
- 4th onto 5th season reloading
- Upgrading from Lee seating die
- Bullets used 140gr Nosler BT’s and Sierra Prohunter 140gr. More scratching/scraping on the prohunter. BT jacket seems harder and resistant/resilient.
- Lee challenger press
- PPU brass. Neck turned. Brass purchased new. 2x and 3x fired.
- Redding shoulder bump die and collet neck size
- I would post pictures but can't at the moment
