Re: Seating Depth
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shot In The Dark</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jpistolero02</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was hoping one of you guys could help me out. How do I better control my seating depth? I was checking some loads the other day and the base to ogive measurements varied by as much as .007". The reason I am asking is because I am trying to fine tune some loads and would like to tinker with the seating depth in .005" increments. I am just using a standard RCBS seating die at the moment. </div></div>
Get yourself an RCBS Competition seating die. </div></div> You don't need one to be consistent....I'll tell you right now it sounds like your press is not setup correctly...
I don't care what dies you have, it should never vary more than ONE thou.
First question is, is your press cam'ing over? If you take the die out of the press completely, slowly raise the ram until it maxes out, watch closely and you'll see where the ram raises up to it's maximum height, and actually drops some before the handle hits and stops. The act of the ram cam'ing over is when it reaches it's maximum height and lowers slightly. Now every time you seat a bullet, size a piece of brass, etc. you should be cam'ing over. Now, start threading in your seating die, turn it 1/8th of a turn at a time and seat your round. Keep turning your die in 1/8th turn in until your round is the correct length. Now that you have it set, lock your ring in place. Now your rounds should never exceed more than one thou from each other (mind you this measurement is off the ogive).
If your varying more than 2-3 thou there is a couple things to check, one the joints on your press, sometimes the pins wear out and get grooves in them and as they rotate it hits high spots and sometimes the worn spots. I've had this issue and it took me forever to figure it out.
The only other thing would be you have the worst caste bullets known to man... So in short there is no reason you shouldn't be incredibly consistent. Also remember that although you maybe measuring a slight variance in base to tip measurements, (OAL) it's just the difference in the projectiles, but your base to ogive measurement will be right on.... Hope this helps, it's a common mistake to not have the press cam'ing over.....