Frustrating numbers

Ryan500

Ryan500

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
55   0   0
Location
Calgary
Heres my question, I am loading for 7.62x54r using .311 FMJBT's. I switched to these hoping to get some more consistent OAL's. Now i also measure to the Ogive of the bullet. They are still coming in about .008-.010 different. So I get looking at my seating die, the largest opening on the peice that pushes the bullet in is .260" and sits way high on the bullet.

So what i'm saying is, how can i get a consistent measurement to the ogive if the seater is not seating using the ogive (or close too).,

These are lee dies.


Thanks.
 
Are you saying that the overal length of the ammo varies (distance from case head to bullet tip)? Or that the distance from the case head to the bullet's ogive is varying by 8-10 thou?

Most seater stems I have seen touch the ogive somewhat far up (your .260" diameter doesn't surprise me), and succeed in giving quite consistent ogive placement from one round to the next. In the Sierra and Lapua match bullets I've used, the "front part of the ogive" seems to be located pretty repeatably relative to the part of the bullet that touches the lands.
 
I had a problem like this in 308. I put the seater stemin a vice and just used an electric drill to widen the hole in the seater. It then pushed further down on the bullet. You might have to use a smaller drill to deepen the hole, too, so the bullet tip of a VLD does not bottom out.

I have had very good luck when i called the manufacturer about problems like this. usually I was not the first to call and they had a slution for me. More than once they have said "Send it back and we will modify it for you."

Hornady did this for me when I switched over to AMax bullets and my seaters were hitting the plastic tips.
 
With the seater stem removed from the die, place a bullet tip in it. It should contact the bullet in a ring of contact (e.g. a .25" diameter circle). Make sure that the bullet *tip* is not touching inside the stem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom