Shot the first cylinder out of a clean gun into just over 2" from an improvised bench and sandbags.
My Lee seating die is barely long enough to seat the bullets to the correct depth and crimp at the same time.
Maybe this winter I get into the cast bullet thing a little more now that I see the accuracy potential.
2" group out of blackhawk is great for new reloads. WAY TO GO!! :wink:
Don't seat and crimp at same time. You will get lots of folks here who will disagree because "the dies were made to do this". Hmmmph. You are trying to push the bullet down and roll or taper crimp the brass at the same time. The operations work against each other.
I have a dillon with 4 stations. I seat the bullet in one step and crimp in another.
Make up a dummy round. Same brass, same bullet. No primer. No powder. Make it perfect.
Screw up the seating die so it doesn't crimp. Screw the seating stem down a little at a time until you can just see a line between the top of the brass and the crimp groove or cannelure of the bullet you are using. Just a little line. If you go too far, start over.
Now screw the seating stem up, pull the press to full stroke, and screw the die down until you can feel the die body touch the brass. lock the die down, then slowly 1/16th to 1/8th turn at a time, adjust that die down until they brass rolls into the crimp groove/cannelure. Lock the die lock ring tight.
Most die manufacturers sell spacers for use with 38/357, 44spec/44mag, and other dies sets. You may also be able to find a washer at the local hardware store.
Now when it comes time to load your ammo, do your sizing, priming, belling, powder, etc. When it comes time to seat the bullets, set the seating die into the press with a washer between the lock ring and press. This will keep the die from crimping. Screw the seating stem all the way up, put in your dummy round, and pull the press to full stroke. Then screw the seating stem down until it touches the bullet in your dummy round. You are ready to start seating bullets. Check the first few, you may need fine adjustment to match the dummy round. Once all the your bullets are seated in your loaded rounds, screw the seating stem back up, pull out the die and remove the washer, put the die back in, tighten, and you are ready to run them all thru and crimp. With a single stage press, I would crimp, halfstroke, spin round, crimp again, and then go to next round. Just seemed to work a little better if dies weren't perfect.
You will find out your accuracy improves greatly doing this. Some ammo also like more or less crimp than other ammo. Just takes a little practice and trial/error to see what your gun likes. My blackhawks will put most, it not all 6 shots into inch or less at 25 yards with the majority of my handloads. If they don't, it is my shooter error.
Good luck,
Steve
