HELP! What am I doing wrong?

[Muddy1967]

Hi Guys, I need help.

I am attempting my first reloading effort.
I am seating the projectile and I can't seem to get it to work.
I believe I have set the die to the correct hight.
Maybe the die is stuffed or I am just stupid as I can't figure it out.

[SendIt]

Hey mate,

You've got the seating die to set too low for sure.

Process should be something along the lines of:

1) No die inserted in press.
2) Put empty brass in press.
3) Raise press fully.
4) Screw seating die in until it touches empty brass.
5) Screw seating die out 3/4 of a turn.
6) Secure seating die at that height.

Then you should be good to go.

[Lorgar]

You've got the seating die to set too low for sure.

IMO this is it too.

I did the exact same thing once, with the exact same result you've posted pictures of.

Like Sendit said, you turn the die out 3/4 (or however far your brand recommends) to life the die off the bras.

If you wanted to crimp your loads, you would do the same process as above except after you lower the die onto the brass, you would lower the press and turn it in a quarter turn. Just low enough to crimp 1mm of the brass.

You look like you've got it 3-4mm too low.

[Lorgar]

Forgot to say, see how the tops of the neck curl into the bullet?

Definitely crimping issue from low seating die. You're squashing the whole brass down via the neck.

[VICHunter]

Check also, you die will have two basic parts.

The body which is what's crimping the brass, and the adjustable rod which is seating the bullets.

Best to wind the bullet seating rod out a bit when setting the die for the first time too just in case it's contacting the brass.

[Muddy1967]

Wahoo!!!!
Success,
Thanks SendIt all fixed, you were correct it was user error
Thanks for the great fast advise.

[SendIt]

No worries mate.

It's a pretty common mistake. Easy one to recognise once you've seen it.

[Noisydad]

Once you get the seating depth about right it's time for a trip to range.

Seating depth will need to be fiddled with a bit as it can alter POI and what is a suitable depth for one rifle may not suit another - depends on throat length and the vagaries of the individual gun. Some rifles will like their bullets touching the rifling and others will prefer and short jump before contact is made.

Trial and error is the only way to find out.

[Muddy1967]

Just at the starting stage.

I am setting the OAL to the set spec from Nosler for the 40gr pills.

When I get the charge weight right then I will look at the COAL.

[Bourt]

I am setting the OAL to the set spec from Nosler for the 40gr pills.

Is this max length btw? Or a little shorter?

[Norton]

As I'm sure you know, typically having the bullet seated right off the lands is best.

The 'standard' seating depths in some of the manuals often fall a little short of this.

As a bit of a rough test, you could seat one to max coal and chamber it. If it's too long you'll see marks from the lands imprinted in the bullet, and you can wind it down a little.

Do that with a few clean bullets and go down step by step, and that will put you roughly at the right height. Then just put the 'taller' test rounds you seated first through the press again to level them all, and you're away.

[Muddy1967]

I am setting the OAL to the set spec from Nosler for the 40gr pills.

Is this max length btw? Or a little shorter?

I believe it is a bit short of the max length.

I will sort out my max coal when I get my hands on the correct gauge tool.

[Atter]

I will sort out my max coal when I get my hands on the correct gauge tool.

That shouldn't cause you any issues anyway.

Testing your different powder ways it should still be pretty obvious which ones the winners are.

Then fine tune that loads and your seating depth and you're in business.