Co-Ax and bullet seating question

[bowhuntr09]

Just got my Co-Ax press set up and loaded few rounds. I managed to completely crush a case while seating a bullet. I had the die adjusted very very high just starting the process of getting the die set up and I made a full motion of the handle and wham, flattened the shoulder of the case. Wow that thing has some leverage!

I managed to seat a few bullets but the handle never went past 90 degrees in the seating process. I was making full pulls of the handle on my sizing process. Am I wrong in assuming I should be able to set the seating dies to use a full throw of the handle?

 

[223ai]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

Your seating die sounds like it isn't adjusted properly, been there and done that early on in my loading journey.

You should take the arm of the press all the way down, making the shellplate as far up as it will go. Screw your seater down to touch the shellplate, and then back off a quarter or half turn, and lock it down. From there, you can adjust the seating depth to whatever your heart desires.

Good luck.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

Yep, this is my 3rd press so I'm not brand new to reloading, just new to the Co-Ax. I had the seating die backed almost all the way out of the lock ring when I did this.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

On my Co-Ax I have to back the die out most of the way and adjust the seater out almost as far as it will go.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

Just for our information...is the die set a Forster or another make?

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just for our information...is the die set a Forster or another make? </div></div>

The die is a Hornady New Dimension with micro seating stem, Hornady lock ring in 6.8SPC. I was seating 110g Sierra Pro-Hunters.

 

[Jerkface11]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

I've had trouble with the seater sticking in a Hornady die before maybe you should take it apart and make sure it's working correctly.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jerkface11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've had trouble with the seater sticking in a Hornady die before maybe you should take it apart and make sure it's working correctly. </div></div>

I'll take a look at it, but its pretty new and has been fine in my old Lee press. I guess when I try some more I will back the seater almost all the way out, drop the handle and see what I get.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

Other than having to remove the die from the press to make die lock ring adjustments, I've seen no difference in using the CoAx and any other press. ??

 

[fw707]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Other than having to remove the die from the press to make die lock ring adjustments, I've seen no difference in using the CoAx and any other press. ?? </div></div>

No difference at all for me either.
I set up the dies in the Co-ax the same as I did for Lee and Redding presses I owned before the Forster.
Did you only crush one case, and then load more rounds without any adjustments? How deep was the bullet seated into the neck of the crushed case? Maybe the case wasn't chamfered enough and the base of the bullet crushed the case.
The only depth adjustment necessary should be on the seating stem. The die should be adjusted as far down as needed to touch the shell plate when it's at its highest point, and then backed off just enough to disable the crimp function. That will give you the "full throw of the handle" you mentioned.

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

The press is not going to crush your case. The dies will. Even if you had the die bottom out on your lee press, it is not going to bottom out any further on your COAX. Check your dies.

Josh

 

[fncannon]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

You found the biggest difference: leverage. My other presses let me know when things are getting tight. By the time I feel substantial resistance in the Co-Ax, it's too late. FWIW, I replaced all the ring locking bolts with some Allen head bolts from the hardware store. This makes it simple to adjust the ring while it's in the press.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

@fw707,

Yes, I only crushed one. I was very careful after that one. For the remaining 9 I loaded, I seated the bullet but only got a 90 degree pull on the handle. The 9 I have seem fine, but I want to fire them before I do anymore just to be sure they chamber and eject well. I had no problem with the sizing operation, bumped the shoulders back .004 and had a full pull of the handle for the sizing. Same with the Lee FCD, full pull. I guess this micro seating stem might not have been backed off as much as I thought it was. I will load some more after I check these 9 for function. Hopefully I can get it worked out then.

I have been loading about 5 or 6 years and this is only the second case I have managed to crush.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MinorDamage</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The press is not going to crush your case. The dies will. Even if you had the die bottom out on your lee press, it is not going to bottom out any further on your COAX. Check your dies.

Josh </div></div>

The die was backed out a good half inch or more over where I had the lock ring set for use in My Lee. I think there were only 2 or 3 threads visible below the lock ring on the die when this happened.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bbqncigars</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You found the biggest difference: leverage. My other presses let me know when things are getting tight. By the time I feel substantial resistance in the Co-Ax, it's too late. FWIW, I replaced all the ring locking bolts with some Allen head bolts from the hardware store. This makes it simple to adjust the ring while it's in the press. </div></div>

You are correct, I didn't expect to see what I saw when I raised the press. The difference in force required on this compared to my Lee is crazy. I think an infant would have the arm strength to size brass with this press!

 

[fw707]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bowhuntr09</div><div class="ubbcode-body">@fw707,

I guess this micro seating stem might not have been backed off as much as I thought it was. </div></div>

That's my guess too.

Set your die up again according to instructions with the handle all the way down (against the stops on the frame) and the shell holder all the way up. Then back the seating <span style="text-decoration: underline">stem</span> all the way out and start over, gradually seating the bullet to your desired length.
Make sure you put a good chamfer on the case mouth, especially with flat-based bullets.
I'll bet you like the Co-ax after you get the bugs worked out.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

" have been loading about 5 or 6 years and this is only the second case I have managed to crush."

Okay, so this is the second time you had the seater die so far down the crimping ring pushed the case mouth and neck back.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">" have been loading about 5 or 6 years and this is only the second case I have managed to crush."

Okay, so this is the second time you had the seater die so far down the crimping ring pushed the case mouth and neck back. </div></div>

Tough crowd!

 

[BigJakeJ1s]

Re: Co-Ax and bullet seating question

The Hornady seating plug can get caught up above the sliding sleeve, in which case the sleeve (which is also the crimp ring) will not travel up into the die as far as normal.

There are two things that cause the plug to get caught above the top of the sleeve: if you turn the die upside down, it can come out of the top of the sleeve, and then get stuck up there and not fall down into it again.

The second way is most common if you have a micrometer stem. Unlike the standard screw stem, the micrometer stem does not have a vent hole. This can cause a vacuum in the top of the die, which keeps the seating plug from sliding down with the sleeve as the seated cartridge is withdrawn quickly.

If the latter is your problem, then you may need to be a little slower in withdrawing the case, or once your OAL is decided, put the standard screw back in (it has a vent hole in the top of it). If the former is your problem, just make sure you shake the die from side-side a little to get the plug down into the hole in the sleeve, before you put it in the press.

Hope this helps,

Andy