New and having problems with bullet seating

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BigV316
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New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by BigV316 »

Hey guys, I have reloaded before but just started reloading blackout. I am cutting my cases using the Zep jig and I am using a set of Lee pacesetter dies for 300 blackout. My problem is that after full length sizing I get inconsistencies in OAL when I'm seating the bullet's. Any suggestions?
Sig220
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by Sig220 »

Is that with mixed or same headstamp cases and also did you measure/trim them after sizing?
BigV316
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by BigV316 »

The brass is mixed head stamped and I trimmed after sizing.
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dellet
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by dellet »

If it's within .005", it's probably not anything you are doing wrong( other than how you measure), it's the bullet.

First sort some bullets by length and you will see some variation.

Then you really should sort by measuring bullet base to ogive, that is the point on the bullet most seaters will push on. If that distance varies so will overall length.

What bullet are you using?
300 Blackout, not just for sub-sonics.
BigV316
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by BigV316 »

Hornaday 150gr SP interlock
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dellet
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by dellet »

This will get you close.

Take an unprimed sized case, insert a bulge and pull it. Ideally you want a .308” opening, but you won’t get that. Zero your caliper on the outside measurement of that case.

What you want to do is invert that case on the loaded rounds and check length. The red thing is a comparator, that’s what you will be using the empty case for.

Image

This should give you a much more uniform measurement. If you don’t, then it’s time to look at your loading process.

The place from where you take this measurement to the tip is where the manufacture manipulates length to make more consistent weight of the bullet, so the nose length and tip cart in length. If you want to match bullets, measure both base to ogive and overall length and sort them to match. Then weight them if you want the closest match, but honestly that is over doing it for most applications.
300 Blackout, not just for sub-sonics.
Saxon
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by Saxon »

also are you seating and crimping in two separate steps?

just did a ladder of 150 sp interlock and all were spot on RCBS SB dies
BigV316
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Re: New and having problems with bullet seating

Post by BigV316 »

Yes I'm seating and crimping separately. What OAL should I be shooting for? This is going into an AR pistol. I don't know if this matters but I'm using lock n load sleeves with my Lyman dies.
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