Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

[.50 Cal Cow]

Anyone out there with experience reloading A-maxes and Hornady seating dies.

I've got some 178 a-max's and 208 a-max's I'm going to be trying out in my 308 and 300wm. I currently use the Hornady seating die for them. I see they offer a special seating stem of which I'd have to buy one for the 178's and one for the 208's.

For those loading to the above specific's do you find that the regular stem that comes with the dies really doesn't cut it enough with seating consistency to warrant have to buy the new stem?

Any input is appreciated thanks.

 

[CanSniper]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

I am very interested in this as well. I love the AMAX and wonder if this would make it an even better bullet choice.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

Perhaps they've improved the stem that comes in the dies, or maybe my dies are newer and its gotten worse, I dunno, but the OE stem pressed/cut a ring around the ogive of every target or other not round nosed bullet I seated, that alone was I guess not such a big deal, but 178BTHPs would often hang up and pull out some while lowering the ram. I was kinda disappointed in Hornady's response that I could buy a different stem when the one that shipped seems to me to be unsuitable for typical bullets used in rimless .30cal rounds. RCBS ships their .308 dies with a stem that works why the hell can't Hornady? Especially considering they make one that does? The "special" Amax stem works perfectly with every projectile I have attempted.

I don't load the 208, I think there is yet another stem for it.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

I just counter drill the end of the seater stem, fill it with warm hot melt glue or Devcon and gently seat a loaded cartridge (just resize the neck of the case with enough tension to hold the bullet...seat and measure a few till you get one with zero runout) with a greased bullet tip into the lubricated die and screw the stem down into contact. When the material hardens, take the die apart and clean any excess off and you have an custom fit stem for your bullet.

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

I'm using the Custom Grade New Dimension Hornady dies for my .308 and 30-06 with no problems. A-Max bullets and even the Berger 185gr Juggernauts are handled with no problems, no dinged tips or rings at the ogive.

FWIW, these CG ND Dies seem to be every bit as good as the more expensive Forster BR seater or the RCBS Inline seating dies, for a lot less money.

I bought two sets recently. Using Hornady's "Get Loaded" promo, I paid $31 for the set, $6.95 for the shipping of my bullet rebate. Less than $40 total and I got back a box of 100 150 Gr bullets that would have cost me about $25. Good "06 Food".

Not a bad deal overall considering that the dies work as well as they do.

 

[.50 Cal Cow]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

Thank you all for the suggestions and input. Think I have some good answers to my question. Appreciate it.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Deadshot2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">FWIW, these CG ND Dies seem to be every bit as good as the more expensive Forster BR seater or the RCBS Inline seating dies, for a lot less money. </div></div>

I totally agree with you. Bought one set for a 300wm and 30-06 when I was just starting and saw the "Get Loaded" offer. I even started using the 30-06 seating for my 308 when I was having a harder time with the plain jane Redding die. With the microadjust seating plug they have I am pretty happy with the dies so far.

 

[ddavis]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

In my 6.5 Creedmoor, the original Hornady seating stem would leave a slight indentation where it contacted the bullet. I installed the A-max seating stem, and it still leaves a mark like a cut in the bullet, but really doesn't dent it like the original seating stem did. My Hornady .223 dies also leave a gnarly dent around the ogive of Hornady 75 BTHP's, but not on the 55 FMJ's. I tried polishing the seating stems to no avail. The rings/indentations do not seem to affect function.

 

[Gofaster23]

Re: Hornady Special Seater Stem Necessary for A-Max's?

I had no issues when I ran 140 AMAX's in my .260 using a Redding Type S seater die.

 

[.50 Cal Cow]

Update for reference. Decided to wing it before spending the money. Loaded some 208Amax's for the 300wm the other night with the stem that was included in the kit and all 28 bullets loaded spot on the money when I measured the head to Ogive length. Love it when I don't have to get nickle and dimed! Hope the 178's load the same way for the 308.

 

[GrantA]

Hey guys I've got a related dilemma. Lee RGB die set, seater stem fits just right on my 175 SMKs but I got some 208 A-MAX to try and it seems the tip of the bullet is hitting the stem before the diameter does, therefore it can wobble around. Anybody know if the Hornady stem will thread into a Lee die? As for drilling it out I assume clamp it on my drill press table and open her up a bit?

 

[JGorski]

Anyone out there with experience reloading A-maxes and Hornady seating dies.

I've got some 178 a-max's and 208 a-max's I'm going to be trying out in my 308 and 300wm. I currently use the Hornady seating die for them. I see they offer a special seating stem of which I'd have to buy one for the 178's and one for the 208's.

For those loading to the above specific's do you find that the regular stem that comes with the dies really doesn't cut it enough with seating consistency to warrant have to buy the new stem?

Any input is appreciated thanks.

I dont think youd have to buy one for the 178 & 208, pretty sure they only make one "match" plug for the .308 seating die, Ive got one for my 308 and my 308s shoot very well for factory rigs.

 

[JGorski]

Hey guys I've got a related dilemma. Lee RGB die set, seater stem fits just right on my 175 SMKs but I got some 208 A-MAX to try and it seems the tip of the bullet is hitting the stem before the diameter does, therefore it can wobble around. Anybody know if the Hornady stem will thread into a Lee die? As for drilling it out I assume clamp it on my drill press table and open her up a bit?

Dont think that would work, the Hornady plug is smaller than the Lee plug, you could buy a new Dimension seater by itself, theyre not that much. And the "match" seater is $14, might have to get that straight from Hornady, though.
Hornady Custom Grade New Dimension Bullet Seater Die 30-30 Winchester

 

[tiNdvenTFHwMdqKW]

I got inconsistent seating results with Lee dies and AMAX bullets. I just bought the Hornady dies and stems and everything works better. Never bothered to try the standard stems - I just got the AMAX stems since that was what I was using.

Hey guys I've got a related dilemma. Lee RGB die set, seater stem fits just right on my 175 SMKs but I got some 208 A-MAX to try and it seems the tip of the bullet is hitting the stem before the diameter does, therefore it can wobble around. Anybody know if the Hornady stem will thread into a Lee die? As for drilling it out I assume clamp it on my drill press table and open her up a bit?

 

[GrantA]

They do list a stem for AMAX "except 208" and a separate one for 208, so you know. Not that it means much or won't work mix-matched, just sayin...