Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

[glock24]

I've loaded 2-3k 77g Bergers (223 Remington) using my Redding Competition seating die.

I took it apart the other day to clean it and noticed the bullet seater plug wouldn't slide freely in the die. Upon further inspection, it seems the open end of the seater plug is flared and cracked.

A call to Redding confirmed that this problem exists (predominately in 223) when trying to long heavy bullets into compressed charges or extremely tight necks. They say the toleraces in the die are such that the bullet plug doesn't have the strengtht to widthstand the compression, and the the seater plug deforms.

Anyone else have this problem? Is there a better solution than replacing seater plugs? Does anyone else make a match-grade seater die that doesn't exhibit this problem?

 

[treebasher]

Re: Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

Fifteen bucks, problem solved...

Redding Competition Long VLD Seater Stems, 22 cal, SKU #:RD55742

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/sid=66...r_Stems__22_cal

 

[glock24]

Re: Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

Thanks, but I'm already using the VLD stem. Redding claims this problem is not specific to one type of seater stem.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

The "problem" is the excessive pressure needed to seat long bullets in a highly compressed load. I know of no seating plug that can take a lot of thst.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: glock24</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone else have this problem? Is there a better solution than replacing seater plugs? </div></div>

The solution (if you want to call it that) is to raise the ram very slowly and feel the seating pressure with your lever arm as the bullet seats itself in the neck. Do this SLOWly enough and the plug will last a long time. {I have 2000+ rounds in a highly compressed Varget load for 308.}

If you just crank down on the lever, you should not be using precision seater dies anyways.

 

[glock24]

Re: Redding Comp Seater - Can't use with my loads?

I think my problem was that I had the die installed in a progressive press. I can't feel anything like that.

I'll try using my single stage and going more slowly.

Thanks