I have a RCBS single stage press and a set of 308 dies. I am using virgin brass that has been resized. I am on the bullet seating step now and I have noticed a ring around the top of the bullet once it is seated (my guess is it took to much force to seat it, though it felt like it slipped right in). I called rcbs about this and they stated that I needed to send them 3 a-max bullets and 21.45 and they will send me a seater plug that is made for my bullets since theirs are designed around speer bullets. Does this sound right? a common problem? any other fixes? thx.
308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
- Thread starter Buckeye Scott
- Start date
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
Sacrifice one or two of your bullets...chuck them (one at a time) into a drill motor. Coat the nose and seating stem cavity with valve grinding compound. Rotate each bullet in the seating stem a few dozen times and then check the fit. Be sure that you get all of the grit out of the die set. Bet you saved the postage. JMHO
Sacrifice one or two of your bullets...chuck them (one at a time) into a drill motor. Coat the nose and seating stem cavity with valve grinding compound. Rotate each bullet in the seating stem a few dozen times and then check the fit. Be sure that you get all of the grit out of the die set. Bet you saved the postage. JMHO
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
Do you have the crimp on the die turned down way too low? On my RCBS dies I don't have it crimp at all and just use the screw on top to adjust the seating depth. I had issues with the RCBS seating/crimping die at first until I figured out how to use it.
Do you have the crimp on the die turned down way too low? On my RCBS dies I don't have it crimp at all and just use the screw on top to adjust the seating depth. I had issues with the RCBS seating/crimping die at first until I figured out how to use it.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
Have you shot them? A slight ring is nothing to worry about usually. My 115 DTACs get one on them and it's the most accurate rifle I own. Shoot them before you spend any money or fix something that might only be a cosmetic problem.
Have you shot them? A slight ring is nothing to worry about usually. My 115 DTACs get one on them and it's the most accurate rifle I own. Shoot them before you spend any money or fix something that might only be a cosmetic problem.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
Listen to Rob01. My dies do the same thing to 178 AMAX bullets but they shoot fine. Don't make a problem that doesn't exist.
Listen to Rob01. My dies do the same thing to 178 AMAX bullets but they shoot fine. Don't make a problem that doesn't exist.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
I don't believe I have the crimp down too low, but I might be wrong. I rammed an unloaded case to the top, inserted the seat/crimp die, screwed it down until it touched the top of the case, then unscrewed it 1 full turn and set the lock nut; then I used the screw on top to adjust my bullet depth until I got an overall length between 2.8-2.81 inches.
I don't believe I have the crimp down too low, but I might be wrong. I rammed an unloaded case to the top, inserted the seat/crimp die, screwed it down until it touched the top of the case, then unscrewed it 1 full turn and set the lock nut; then I used the screw on top to adjust my bullet depth until I got an overall length between 2.8-2.81 inches.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
no crimp, that is why I backed the die body off 1 full turn after it touched the top of the case. I would post a pic if I knew how.
no crimp, that is why I backed the die body off 1 full turn after it touched the top of the case. I would post a pic if I knew how.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Buckeye Scott</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I would post a pic if I knew how. </div></div>
Photos are easy. Take pictures with camera, open an account on photobucket (or other similar site), upload photos, then post them here.
BTW is this the ring you are talking about. As I said my dies do this but it has no effect on accuracy.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Buckeye Scott</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I would post a pic if I knew how. </div></div>
Photos are easy. Take pictures with camera, open an account on photobucket (or other similar site), upload photos, then post them here.
BTW is this the ring you are talking about. As I said my dies do this but it has no effect on accuracy.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
well, thanks for telling me how to post a photo, but I don't need to since mine look just like that. If it don't affect accuracy that is all that matters. I was thinking that something was wrong with my reloading process, but looks to be just fine, thx guys.
well, thanks for telling me how to post a photo, but I don't need to since mine look just like that. If it don't affect accuracy that is all that matters. I was thinking that something was wrong with my reloading process, but looks to be just fine, thx guys.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
You can chuck the seating stem up in a drill and spin it with a gob of steel wool jammed into the end of it. This will cutdown/polish off the burr/sharp edge thats making the mark on the bullets.
You can chuck the seating stem up in a drill and spin it with a gob of steel wool jammed into the end of it. This will cutdown/polish off the burr/sharp edge thats making the mark on the bullets.
Re: 308 Hornday A-Max Seating Question
Don't worry about it, I have sent many down range with no ill effects, I think Hornady uses a thinner copper jacket and/or softer core compared to SMK's, or maybe it's something else IDK, and IDC, Amax flat out work well and cost less.
Don't worry about it, I have sent many down range with no ill effects, I think Hornady uses a thinner copper jacket and/or softer core compared to SMK's, or maybe it's something else IDK, and IDC, Amax flat out work well and cost less.
