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Seating Die Leaves Ring on Lead Bullets (.44 mag)


alexm
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Hi,

 

I've recently started loading for my .44 Marlin and LBR and have a rather strange problem with the bullet seating die. It is a Redding seating/roll crimp die and is basically leaving an embossed ring all the way around the ogive on round nose flat point hard cast lead bullets where the seating 'plug' contacts the bullet.

 

I'm putting a bit of flare on the cases and the bullet slides in without any lead being shaved off, but obviously there is still enough force required to push the bullet in that the die cuts into the bullet slightly.

 

Anyone got any suggestions? Has the seating plug got too sharp an edge on it? Or am I doing something wrong?

 

It doesn't appear to affect accuracy really, just looks a bit untidy! I'll try and get some pics of the problem when I get home.

 

thanks,

 

Alex

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It's just a light ring type mark around the ogive right... ?

 

Yep that's it, although it is a little bit more than a mark, more a slight dent/cut into the lead.

 

Strangely enough it doesn't happen with my .223 or .30-06 dies which are both Redding too <_<

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I carnt see that being a problem . Have you tried crimping some to see if the mark disapears ? if you are flaring the cases then maybe they are not returning to the proper overall size with the bullet seated and may need a slight crimp , any how any mark on the ogive from crimping or any thing else will have disapeared by the time it comes out of the barrel .

Harnser .

Harnser .

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I carnt see that being a problem . Have you tried crimping some to see if the mark disapears ? if you are flaring the cases then maybe they are not returning to the proper overall size with the bullet seated and may need a slight crimp , any how any mark on the ogive from crimping or any thing else will have disapeared by the time it comes out of the barrel .

Harnser .

Harnser .

 

I am putting virtually no crimp on these loads as they are very light target loads and I want to prolong the case life, literally just enough crimp to undo the flare. The ring is present no matter how much crimp I use, but it is slightly worse when I use more crimp, I guess because the seating die has to push harder on the bullet to complete the seating operation as it is working against the crimp as it is forming?

 

 

What you probably have is a seating die that is designed for semi wadcutter (swc) heads that have a smaller frontal diameter and steeper angle head in front of the .429" driving bands.

 

I think you could be right there. I have taken the seating plug out and the profile of it simply doesn't fit the shape of the bullet. Looking here:

 

http://www.redding-reloading.com/PDFfiles/seriesa.pdf

 

It seems to suggest the 44mag comes with a semi wadcutter plug "01074SWC"... no mention of a RNFP option either :sneaky2:

 

Bullet004.jpg

Bullet005.jpg

 

 

So I guess my only options are 1) live with it, 2) try to machine some material off the seater plug to make the bullet fit better or 3) try to find another plug (or whole die!) ? :lol:

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Right, after seeking some advice from the guys down the club I have removed some material from the end of the plug. I used a spherical grinding bit (like the type you use to reseat valves and taps) in a pillar drill to reduce the depth of the plug and also add a chamfer to the inside edge. I removed just enough material so the bullet sits in the plug and is supported at the sizes and the bottom of the plug.

 

Result: perfectly seated bullet and no ring! :yes:

 

Bullet002-1.jpg

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