Bullet Seating
Quote from Reloader on February 15, 2014, 6:32 amI have just purchased a new XL650 and have got it all set up.
I'm reloading 9mm now but have set of dies for 45acp also.
What I'm seeing is when I seat the bullet in the seating die and check for proper COL it is varying. Proper COL is suppose to be 1.125. I adjusted die to that COL and ran a few rounds through it. Remeasured them and the will vary any where from 1.114 to 1.130. Is this normal for this to happen. Made many adjustments to seating die but keeps varying off. I'm using Berry's Plated 115 gr bullets.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gene
I have just purchased a new XL650 and have got it all set up.
I'm reloading 9mm now but have set of dies for 45acp also.
What I'm seeing is when I seat the bullet in the seating die and check for proper COL it is varying. Proper COL is suppose to be 1.125. I adjusted die to that COL and ran a few rounds through it. Remeasured them and the will vary any where from 1.114 to 1.130. Is this normal for this to happen. Made many adjustments to seating die but keeps varying off. I'm using Berry's Plated 115 gr bullets.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gene
Quote from Reloader on February 16, 2014, 5:44 amYes. I'm using round nose Berry's FMJ 115 grn.
And do have the right seat insert selected.
Yes. I'm using round nose Berry's FMJ 115 grn.
And do have the right seat insert selected.
Quote from Reloader on February 16, 2014, 3:57 pmsounds like your shell plate might be loose and allowing the case to travel up & down in a rocking motion also if your using once fired brass sometime brass is not consistent some is softer than other the plate needs all 5 stations to have a case in it push on station 4 downward see if is rocking it should feel a slight springing to it that is very slight if the shell plate rocks your rnds will be all over the oal range hope this helps
sounds like your shell plate might be loose and allowing the case to travel up & down in a rocking motion also if your using once fired brass sometime brass is not consistent some is softer than other the plate needs all 5 stations to have a case in it push on station 4 downward see if is rocking it should feel a slight springing to it that is very slight if the shell plate rocks your rnds will be all over the oal range hope this helps
Quote from Reloader on February 18, 2014, 6:01 pmI'm having similar issues. I made 315 rounds last night of 9mm with Berry's 115 RN and getting a decent variance in COL. About 15 of these were what I'd call not acceptable in terms of variance (the book for the powder I am using says 1.140.
I am calling "unacceptable" -.005 (1.135) and +.008 (1.148) and loading at 5.4-5.5 gr in a 5.2-5.9 range. My COL's varied from 1.128 to 1.150.
First, is this the right approach to quality control? I really didn't think I'd have to check COL on every cartridge, but maybe I need to...I'd hate to have too much pressure on one shot and damage my gun (or me). I loaded in the low-mid range on powder for this reason.
Not trying to hijack your thread here, but perhaps some of the information in responses will be helpful to you as well.
I'm having similar issues. I made 315 rounds last night of 9mm with Berry's 115 RN and getting a decent variance in COL. About 15 of these were what I'd call not acceptable in terms of variance (the book for the powder I am using says 1.140.
I am calling "unacceptable" -.005 (1.135) and +.008 (1.148) and loading at 5.4-5.5 gr in a 5.2-5.9 range. My COL's varied from 1.128 to 1.150.
First, is this the right approach to quality control? I really didn't think I'd have to check COL on every cartridge, but maybe I need to...I'd hate to have too much pressure on one shot and damage my gun (or me). I loaded in the low-mid range on powder for this reason.
Not trying to hijack your thread here, but perhaps some of the information in responses will be helpful to you as well.
Quote from Reloader on February 18, 2014, 7:46 pmI'm having similar issues. I made 315 rounds last night of 9mm with Berry's 115 RN and getting a decent variance in COL. About 15 of these were what I'd call not acceptable in terms of variance (the book for the powder I am using says 1.140.
I am calling "unacceptable" -.005 (1.135) and +.008 (1.148) and loading at 5.4-5.5 gr in a 5.2-5.9 range. My COL's varied from 1.128 to 1.150.
First, is this the right approach to quality control? I really didn't think I'd have to check COL on every cartridge, but maybe I need to...I'd hate to have too much pressure on one shot and damage my gun (or me). I loaded in the low-mid range on powder for this reason.
Not trying to hijack your thread here, but perhaps some of the information in responses will be helpful to you as well.
I'm having similar issues. I made 315 rounds last night of 9mm with Berry's 115 RN and getting a decent variance in COL. About 15 of these were what I'd call not acceptable in terms of variance (the book for the powder I am using says 1.140.
I am calling "unacceptable" -.005 (1.135) and +.008 (1.148) and loading at 5.4-5.5 gr in a 5.2-5.9 range. My COL's varied from 1.128 to 1.150.
First, is this the right approach to quality control? I really didn't think I'd have to check COL on every cartridge, but maybe I need to...I'd hate to have too much pressure on one shot and damage my gun (or me). I loaded in the low-mid range on powder for this reason.
Not trying to hijack your thread here, but perhaps some of the information in responses will be helpful to you as well.
Quote from Reloader on February 18, 2014, 9:06 pm9mm & 40 cal oal is 1.125 otherwise you will have feed issues if they vary that much in oal your shell plate has to much vertical movement tighten center bolt hand tight & lock set screw on left side of ram hand tight also tjis resolve your variance in oal hope it helps & no you do not case gage every round once it is good check about every 25 two or thee times then 1 every 50 they sould be good do not go below 1.120 on 9mm it will cause jamming good luck guys
9mm & 40 cal oal is 1.125 otherwise you will have feed issues if they vary that much in oal your shell plate has to much vertical movement tighten center bolt hand tight & lock set screw on left side of ram hand tight also tjis resolve your variance in oal hope it helps & no you do not case gage every round once it is good check about every 25 two or thee times then 1 every 50 they sould be good do not go below 1.120 on 9mm it will cause jamming good luck guys
Quote from Reloader on February 19, 2014, 12:25 amI have checked my shell plate and yes it was loose. I was able to toggle it back and forth just a little with no shell casing in it. I tighten it down just about a 1/8th of a turn and it doesn't seem to do it any more. I havent tried to load any more yet. I'm very new at this and am taking small steps into it. Just wanting it to be correct before reloading many rounds and trying to get the most of what powder I may have. I have loaded about 15 rounds and am waiting for weather to break to go out and try them. I am shooting them with a Glock and they all seem to chamber with no problem. Will let you all know what happens. Thanks for the advice.
I have checked my shell plate and yes it was loose. I was able to toggle it back and forth just a little with no shell casing in it. I tighten it down just about a 1/8th of a turn and it doesn't seem to do it any more. I havent tried to load any more yet. I'm very new at this and am taking small steps into it. Just wanting it to be correct before reloading many rounds and trying to get the most of what powder I may have. I have loaded about 15 rounds and am waiting for weather to break to go out and try them. I am shooting them with a Glock and they all seem to chamber with no problem. Will let you all know what happens. Thanks for the advice.
Quote from Reloader on February 22, 2014, 3:42 amno problem gene I started a year or so ago my self I just went all in and learned a lot by talking to Dillon and a few buddies who are into loading to look forward to hearing how it all works out for you good luck keep safe and keep loading .
rob
no problem gene I started a year or so ago my self I just went all in and learned a lot by talking to Dillon and a few buddies who are into loading to look forward to hearing how it all works out for you good luck keep safe and keep loading .
rob
Quote from Reloader on February 24, 2014, 4:47 pmAny total OAL variation under .020" is fine. It helps to have a fired piece of brass in station 1 when adjusting the seating die. This ensures consistant upward pressure on the toolhead, which will reduce the OAL variation.
Any total OAL variation under .020" is fine. It helps to have a fired piece of brass in station 1 when adjusting the seating die. This ensures consistant upward pressure on the toolhead, which will reduce the OAL variation.