Author Topic: Reloading Die Seating Stems for Cast Bullets (Read 730 times)

ShortStake · « **on:** April 29, 2003, 09:18:13 AM »

Gents and Madams,

We've all sized and lubed bullets and then during the seating process found the existing seating stem to be a poor match to the bullet nose.

Some use Hot Glue, Dremel Tools, modeling clay or whatever to try and make the seating stem cavity match the bullet nose. Usually the result is less than was desired.

Wouldn't it be nice if someone would make a seating die, with a seating stem that would accept the Top Punch from the Lube sizer?

Depending on the manufacturer of the seating die it may or may not be a challenge. Have made an inquiry to Dave Davison at Ch4D to consider such an item.

Perhaps if enough of us were to contact him in support of such a concept, he would make something available?

www.ch4d.com

Thanks,

Castaway · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2003, 05:49:22 AM »

You forgot to mention JB Weld. I agree with you. It's frustrating to take the time to cast the perfect bullet only to have it distort in the loading process.

445supermag · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2003, 02:42:09 AM »

You are better off useing epoxie or liquid steel to from your seating stem profile it will match you bullet profile exactley and center it to the die better. Mold #1 nose might be different than mold #1264. The die might be off a few thou and the nose press of a few thou and you get a bend in the bullit nose or the nose might fatten up from the seating and that would rub on the lands or make hard chambering.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2003, 02:51:44 AM »

If your loading for Black Powder Cartridge loads, you don't need the seating stem, because you normally seat your bullets by hand just pushing them in up against the powder after compression.

You can run the risk of deforming your bullets (soft cast) using a seating stem.

Seat them by hand and then run a taper crimp up into the sizer die to get a snug fit ONLY.

ShortStake · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2003, 04:26:31 AM »

Montanan,

Not everyone utilizes the same methods to arrive at the finished product.

Some folks resize cases, neck or full length.

Others prefer some slight bullet (.001/.002) grip rather than none at all or a heavy grip.

Many use seating stems on soft bullets without deformation.

Like driving from point A to Point B. Not every one uses the same route.

No such thing as the "Only" way to do things.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2003, 04:40:27 AM »

Windcutter, SWNM

I know what your saying. Many who get into BPCR don't follow through with the recomended way of reloading for BPCR as most of the experienced BPCR shooters do.

Such things as drop tubes vs. vibration method of settling powder for instance.

I was just trying to give advice that I have followed from the begining, that was given to me from those that have far more experience than myself.

dozer · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2003, 05:21:35 AM »

I was talking to Bob at GMW about this several weeks ago. We talked about making an optional seating die, for his inline dies, with a thin edged tube. The user would then fill it with epoxy and put a piece of saran wrap over a lightly greased bullet, run the press up and leave it for the epoxy to set. This should produce a perfect nose. The nose punch is cheap and you could have one for each bullet design.

I have found the same thing on my lube/sizer. Custom moulds are hard to get nose punches that fit correctly. At least that one I can do on my lathe.
Dozer

EDG · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2003, 03:12:06 PM »

I would not buy CH dies to get a good nose punch. I anneal the case neck dead soft so it does not spring back when it is expanded. This leaves the neck tension low enough to minimize nose damage. The CH dies I have measured have a smaller neck ID than the dies I use.
Ed