Where does a die contact the bullet?

[longwinters]

Just wondering. . . When seating a bullet, what part of the bullet does the die contact?

Long

[John Traveler]

In normal seating dies, only the seating stem or plug touches the nose of the bullet as it is seated into the cartridge case.

In sleeve-type seating dies, a sliding collar that fits closely around the bullet guides it into the case neck during the entire seating operation.  You normally find these only in benchrest quality dies.

[skb2706]

Most rifle seating stems touch the ogive of the bullet at random points based on configuration. The standard seating stem on my .260 Rem dies touches a 85 gr. Sierra HP in a different spot than it touches a 95 gr. V max.  It does not however push the bullet from the nose.

[John Traveler]

skb2706,

You are correct, of course!  

I should have specified "ogive" instead of "nose".

[longwinters]

This is what I figured, but thought I would check.  Thanks guys.

Long

[skb2706]

On some rounds that typically use a flat nose bullet the seater may push on the flat nose part.....kinda depends on bullet shape. So really take your pick...