Seating question

[Grizzgup]

Hello all,

I have a somewhat stupid question on bullet seating when seating into a compressed load. I’m noticing one bullets OG will be dead on, the next will be 8k longer, the next 4K longer and so on. I need to adjust the die to each specific round I seat. Is this due to the load being compressed slightly differently in each cartridge? Or am I missing something? All the brass is within .5k of spec, so I know it’s not that.

I used to stay away from compressed loads, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Everything I’m loading is well within SAAMI spec. specifically 223 with 23-24.5 of N140 under a 75g BTHP.

Any tips or tricks with dealing with compressed loads would be helpful!

 

[Maurygold]

Never compressed a load in my life. Shoot things very far away quite fine. Not sure I understand the need

 

[stello1001]

Yes that's the reason why. The powder does not let the bullet sit properly. A lot of times when compressing, the bullet will even grow or move out at a later time from the pressure the powder is exerting onto the bullet base.

Try loading longer in this case, or switch to n135/n133.

 

[wvfarrier]

I add a mild crimp to ensure they stay put

 

[Maurygold]

I add a mild crimp to ensure they stay put

Oh no. Please don’t crimp cases instead of reducing load or getting the correct powder

 

[roostercogburn98]

Oh no. Please don’t crimp cases instead of reducing load or getting the correct powder

Compressed loads been around for a long time

 

[DownhillFromHere]

Bottom line is, if you want to run compressed loads, you put up with inconsistent CBTO length. You wanna add crimp to try to keep bullet from moving, go ahead - and introduce another variable unless your case lengths are identical and even then... I tried compressed loads ONE time. Never again. That's just me.

 

[Maurygold]

Compressed loads been around for a long time

So has crimping. Doesn’t make it right

 

[diggler1833]

Man, I'm not a huge fan of compressing... but I do like my case fill closer to 100% than 80%. Doesn't mean that I have to discourage others from compressing a load if they're getting the velocity/accuracy they want (safely). Same with crimping. Every AR load I've ever made has had a light crimping on it. Maybe they don't need it... but my results downrange haven sucked for the 20 years I've been loading for ARs.

OP. Compressed loads can and frequently will have a negative effect on the variation of your bullet seating depth. I've found that you can adjust your micrometer seating die as you go and still get acceptable results. You can also try a drop tube and lightly vibrating the charged cases to try to get a more uniform fill.

 

[Wizard1183]

Hello all,

I have a somewhat stupid question on bullet seating when seating into a compressed load. I’m noticing one bullets OG will be dead on, the next will be 8k longer, the next 4K longer and so on. I need to adjust the die to each specific round I seat. Is this due to the load being compressed slightly differently in each cartridge? Or am I missing something? All the brass is within .5k of spec, so I know it’s not that.

I used to stay away from compressed loads, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Everything I’m loading is well within SAAMI spec. specifically 223 with 23-24.5 of N140 under a 75g BTHP.

Any tips or tricks with dealing with compressed loads would be helpful!

I’ve yet to have consistent seating depth…using IMR 4064 in 7.62 all consistently annealed and FLS’d I have to continuously adjust the micrometer every round and that’s with 41.5gr. So it’s not that compressed. I just make sure they’re all the same length at base to OG and that’s means I’m adjusting the micrometer back n forth

 

[ShtrRdy]

Have you tried slowly dropping the powder into the case? Or used a long drop tube? You might be able to get the powder to settle more.

If you're already doing that then the bullet is pushing on some firm

 

[Wizard1183]

Have you tried slowly dropping the powder into the case? Or used a long drop tube? You might be able to get the powder to settle more.

If you're already doing that then the bullet is pushing on some firm

I drop it from powder dispenser into pan, trickle it to desired charge weight and then funnel it into case. For all cases. I’m not volume dumping. They’re all exactly the same charge weight to the 1/10th of a grain

 

[Doom]

I drop it from powder dispenser into pan, trickle it to desired charge weight and then funnel it into case. For all cases. I’m not volume dumping. They’re all exactly the same charge weight to the 1/10th of a grain

Sounds like your bullet may be hitting the seating stem with the point and not the ogive.

 

[Holliday]

Never compressed a load in my life. Shoot things very far away quite fine. Not sure I understand the need

It’s like you live in a bubblegum world, where powder availability is never an issue.

Cutting back on your meth habit would be more important than compressed loads, in your case.

 

[Maurygold]

It’s like you live in a bubblegum world, where powder availability is never an issue.

Cutting back on your meth habit would be more important than compressed loads, in your case.

Powder has been very attainable the last 2 years - if you have to put so much powder in your case you can’t seat bullets down it’s pretty sound advice that you need to re-examine the load or just drop the powder down slightly.

I’m sorry you find that to be controversial advice?

 

[Wizard1183]

Sounds like your bullet may be hitting the seating stem with the point and not the ogive.

I don’t think so I’m using a Forster and strictly 168gr SMK and I’ve used lapping compound on a bullet in a drill and then polished it. The stem is pretty deep