Seating stems
Quote from Reloader on January 21, 2016, 2:17 amWondering which seating stems come with the 40 die set. I'm trying to seat Zero FMJ truncated cone. One side of the stem (the most open side with flat bottom) left a small indented ring on the top face of the bullet when using it. This is the side that seems to fit the bullet best but I have also heard to use the other side to seat the bullet. It seems to land only on the truncated cone part of the bullet, which would not allow the bullet to bottom out in the stem. I haven't used it yet, but it seems that less area would be touching the stem to seat the bullet, therefore I may get a ring around the bullet. All help welcomed, new to the hobby. Thanks!
Wondering which seating stems come with the 40 die set. I'm trying to seat Zero FMJ truncated cone. One side of the stem (the most open side with flat bottom) left a small indented ring on the top face of the bullet when using it. This is the side that seems to fit the bullet best but I have also heard to use the other side to seat the bullet. It seems to land only on the truncated cone part of the bullet, which would not allow the bullet to bottom out in the stem. I haven't used it yet, but it seems that less area would be touching the stem to seat the bullet, therefore I may get a ring around the bullet. All help welcomed, new to the hobby. Thanks!
Quote from Reloader on January 22, 2016, 1:19 pmSomewhere in the vast responses Dillon has responded before that the small indented ring on the top face of the bullet is only cosmetic and will not effect accuracy of the bullet.
I would try the other side of the seating stem. If it leaves a ring or you want to stay with the flat side of seating stem with no indent then you might try slightly drilling the top of the flat side of the seating stem to put a slight cup at the top thus removing the small indent on the bullet. I suggest you have a new/sharp drill. Use a drill press with the stem locked in vise with copper (or maybe a pistol case) used between the stem and vise. The softer metal is to prevent marking the outside of the stem will clamped in the vise. Typical twist drills have a 118 degree angle to them. Adding the angle to the seating stem might remove the indent. Drill a couple of thousands off, polish, test. This might work, might not. 🙂
Somewhere in the vast responses Dillon has responded before that the small indented ring on the top face of the bullet is only cosmetic and will not effect accuracy of the bullet.
I would try the other side of the seating stem. If it leaves a ring or you want to stay with the flat side of seating stem with no indent then you might try slightly drilling the top of the flat side of the seating stem to put a slight cup at the top thus removing the small indent on the bullet. I suggest you have a new/sharp drill. Use a drill press with the stem locked in vise with copper (or maybe a pistol case) used between the stem and vise. The softer metal is to prevent marking the outside of the stem will clamped in the vise. Typical twist drills have a 118 degree angle to them. Adding the angle to the seating stem might remove the indent. Drill a couple of thousands off, polish, test. This might work, might not. 🙂