Seating depth

randas

randas

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Ok just got my lee classic turret press setup.

Using lee dies I can't get the bullets to seat deep enough.

223rem with 50gr vmax boolits. New rem brass

My hornandy manual calls for 2.200 col but with the die turned all the way in the smallest I can get the col is 2.25ish??

Any Ideas? I'm stumped
 
are you feeding this threw a semi or bolt gun? if bolt then its not a big deal, especially if u plan to single shot, how many did u try and seat? the dies seat off the Ogive of the bullet not the tip. the bullet tips can vary some fairly big ammounts so if you only seated one try another and seee what happens.

my 308 calls for a 2.810 COAL, my true OAL is more like 2.930, since i seat .015 off the lands
 
Its a CZ 527, 5 shot bolt. No single loading here, the repeater is a must for quick follow up shots on charging gophers :runaway:

I tried 3 rounds and they varied from 2.23-2.25"

Full disclosure; this is my first attempt at reloading.

I realize col can affect accuracy. Not sure where to start with that so I was going to try different powder charges using the col listed in the book. After I narrow that down I was going to try playing with the col (which I know nothing about)
 
I have loaded about 100 rounds of 55gr .223 in my lee turret to date and have had no problem reaching the depth shown in the reloading manuals. Did you make sure the die is properly screwed into the right depth before you started to adjust the top of the die for depth? I would start there and re-setup the die again.

Keep at it, you'll get there.

I'm only into reloading about a year myself, and I scrapped a few pieces of brass learning the finer points of the 'how to' reload.

Later........
 
Yup like the instructions say, turned it in till the die was touching the shell holder at the top the the stroke, then turned it another 1/4. Redid the adjustment each try. Also tried screwing it in much further but that just seemed to bottom out the press lower in the stoke and didn't help the col
 
after setting the die as above are you then using the top "adjusting screw" to adjust seating depth?You have to tun in the adjusting screw to adjust depth. just turn the knurled knob in. the rest of the die will stay put if set correctly.
 
Yeah I have set the die up as I said, locked the jamb nut, and I have the adjustment knob all the way in

Made up 5 more and the deepest I could get them was 2.239
 
Yup like the instructions say, turned it in till the die was touching the shell holder at the top the the stroke, then turned it another 1/4.
Click to expand...

That is how to adjust a sizing die for full length sizing, that isn't how I would adjust the seating die.
 
Something is wrong.
With any die I have ever seen, the top adjustment could be screwed in until the bullet could be almost burried in the case.
Adjust the main die down to the shell holder, exactly as described. If the top adjustment won't seat the bullet deep enough, something is wrong. Take the die apart and look at it.
 
Here is what I do with the same press when using bullets without a groove.
-Make sure all the brass is the exact same length. Trim if necessary.
-Take the bullet seater die out of the turret.
-Put a sized case in the shell holder and run the press to top
-Back out the adjustment on the seater die as far as possible.
-Screw in the die very gently until you feel the case just touch the inside of the die where the crimping taper is.
-Back the die off about 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and tighten the lock ring. This is so that you don't crimp the case aginst a bullet without a groove.
-Now prime and charge the case, seat a bullet and adjust down until you get your correct depth.
 
I just did a test with my 60gr v-max and lee seating die, the deepest I can get is 2.229 I never noticed because I was loading for a OAL of 2.250 Maybe the lee die doesn't fit the profile of the v-max bullets well ???
 
H4831 said:
Something is wrong.
With any die I have ever seen, the top adjustment could be screwed in until the bullet could be almost burried in the case.
Adjust the main die down to the shell holder, exactly as described. If the top adjustment won't seat the bullet deep enough, something is wrong. Take the die apart and look at it.
Click to expand...

Gotta fall in with this one. You are missing a step, or there is a problem with the die. At least one of my Lee dies, with a particularly short? (RN or FN) ogive bullet will push the bullet in far enough to literally fall into the case. This happened when I was making a dummy. I had been using the dies earlier to seat some 110gn VMax's. I did not change the setting of the adjustment screw and when I set up to do the first 220gn RN, it pushed right into the case, I had to expand the case mouth extra large to get it out.

So, yes, you are missing something here.
 
Well I'm stumped. Played around with it more and I can't get it to seat any deeper

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I did try making some dummy rounds at 2.26" and colored them with marker and they still don't touch the lands at that length in my rifle so I guess I'm wasting my time trying to seat them this deep
 
I just tried mine. Case length 1.760 (max length) Die screwed down until crimp is felt touching the case then backed off 1/4 turn. Plunger screwed completely down. I didn't have a 50 gr vmax but used a 55 gr vmax. (should be similar profile) seated bullet and measure a col of 2.196. Either your plunger is shorter or has a large hole letting it sit further down the bullet. Since you have a longer throat it is a mute point anyway.
 
FWIW, I just tried to seat a 60gn VMAX as far as I could and the best I could do is 2.251" OAL. I'm never even close to that with what I shoot in my .223 but thought it may help you with your question.

I have the Lee anniv. press and deluxe dies if it makes a difference for you.
 
IMO, if your able to measure where your bullet contacts the lands in your rifle, the OAL listed in the book doesn't make a bit of difference. You should use what works best in your setup using safe reloading practices.
 
Tried more dummies at 2.27 and 2.28, colored them with marker, and they still don't touch the lands. Heading to the range with all sorts of combinations and we'll see what they do on paper.
 
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