This is F'ed ,LOADING SUCESS!

Kelly Timoffee

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So, have an issue, an issue that made me walk away from my reloading room I was so furious.

Reloading 300WM.

190 LRAB
Hornady brass , already fired in this rifle
215M primer.
80gr of H-1000 - PREVIOUS TYPO WAS 90GR
COAL of 3.540"

This is the second session this has happened.

I am getting up to 0.030" in COAL fluctuation.

I will set the dies as I always set and check each time I reload.

Get my desired COAL , load another, same, keep loading, then get one that is 3.566" , then one that is say 3.560" , 3.540" , 3.535" , not always in this order but all over the map.

so, I stop , take a known good COAL , back off the die, put the ram up turn the setting down to touching the bullet, and carry on.

I will take one of my long ones, 3.566" for instance and it doesn't even touch the seater , load another cartridge , get a good COAL , do another 3.535" do another couple, get 3.555' or something.Do the whole process again.Same sh it.

I went to try setting the die so the ram stops at the die base, set it s it just touches, all the same.

Get another one COAL at 3.540" take one of the long ones at 3.555" try and set again, it doesn't even touch.

I did this for about an hour.I had to walk away.The dies have been cleaned checked, double checked, everything tried and tested at different settings , etc, etc, etc...........

I am about to take the grinding wheel to that press (rock chucker) and turn it into recycling.

I did check on a comparator to ensure these differences weren't just bullet tip, the differences were still there.

WTF gives??!!!!!

P.S. - I tried another seater also.
 
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It's likely that there are subtle differences among your bullets in their shape, your seating die is engaging the bullets at a specific diameter and the distance from that diameter to the tip of the bullet is not consistent.
 
my guess , two things in combo, varying neck tensions, and a loose die. I put an 0 ring between the die and press, takes up the slack. not the answer, but reduces the variable. next would be temper the brass necks so they are all the same resistance in seating. frustration interferes with analysis.
 
What kind of dies are they? Could you disassemble them and see if grit or debris inside dies?
Do you reload any other caliber, and do other caliber do this when reloading? Would be a way to rule out your press as the issue
 
What kind of dies are they? Could you disassemble them and see if grit or debris inside dies?
Do you reload any other caliber, and do other caliber do this when reloading? Would be a way to rule out your press as the issue

Dies are clean, haven't seemed to be any issues with any other chambering , I load for many.These were both RCBS.
 
Are you measuring OAL or to the Ogive?

This. COAL is irrelevant unless you're worried about staying within mag length. CBTO, cartridge base to ogive, is the measurement that matters.

My experience with Nosler Accubonds is the tip can vary widely in length, sometimes up to .030". CBTO will be within a few thousands.
 
I had a similar issue with inconsistency. For me, heavy friction inside the necks and I almost switched to tumbling with SS pins.

Lubing my bullets before seating solved my issue. Just a finger on the lube pad and a quick roll between finger and thumb. Good to go!
 
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