Seating die acceptable tolerance?

[phil384]

Just wondered.....reloading my .223 I found that leaving the seating die alone and not adjusting the knurled knob I was getting discrepancies in COAL for each round I made.

I'm using a Lee RGB seating die and not crimping. The measurements were made using a Mitotoyu digital caliper but not using an ogive nut (Not that this would make any difference to the overall length anyway).

The measurements I'm getting are:

2.2580"
2.2590"
2.2595"
2.2610"
2.2620"

They weren't getting longer and longer btw, it was pretty random. I just put them in length order.

Are these acceptable or do I have a problem?

Cheers

[aris]

Doesn't the seating die seat from the ogive? If you are measuring full length but seating by ogive, then it could be variances in your bullets.

[phil384]

Doesn't the seating die seat from the ogive? If you are measuring full length but seating by ogive, then it could be variances in your bullets.

It was measured without an ogive nut so this is base of the case (Isn't that a band?) to the tip of the bullet.

I've done the maths, its a difference of .004" shortest to longest. Maybe I'm worrying about nothing?

[phil384]

Doesn't the seating die seat from the ogive? If you are measuring full length but seating by ogive, then it could be variances in your bullets.

And yes, I believe it does. These are Hornady v-max. I would hope the bullets are pretty consistent?

It might be .004" is pretty good?

[sarge4318]

Measure to the ogive and then see. I wouldn't think you'd notice any difference on paper.

[pothunter]

Have you measured the bullets to find out how consistent they are?

[phil384]

Measure to the ogive and then see. I wouldn't think you'd notice any difference on paper.

I don't have an ogive comparator. I know I should and all that but there we are!

[phil384]

Have you measured the bullets to find out how consistent they are?

No, not thought of that. Would they really be that different?

[pothunter]

No, not thought of that. Would they really be that different?

I only use V max in my .204 and there can be differences in length and weight, Berger and Nosler bullets in my other calibres seem to be more consistent, at a price.
Measure a few, .004" isn't much in the scheme of things.
Consistency of case prep, primer pocket uniforming, flash hole deburring, consistent neck tension, amount of residue in the neck etc will probably effect the group size more than .004" length difference.

[pothunter]

I don't have an ogive comparator. I know I should and all that but there we are!

I've made DIY comparators by sizing a case, dremelling off the base and cutting slots to fit on the jaws of the caliper.

[phil384]

Thanks, that's what I wanted to know.

[big rich]

Measure your bullets, you'll be surprised by the variance in hornady vmax. Seen it in the vmax in a few calibres

Rich

[phil384]

Measure your bullets, you'll be surprised by the variance in hornady vmax. Seen it in the vmax in a few calibres

Rich

I will but that shouldn't affect the COAL as the die "should" seat the bullet the same each time. I'm assuming you mean the length of the bullet?

[pothunter]

I will but that shouldn't affect the COAL as the die "should" seat the bullet the same each time. I'm assuming you mean the length of the bullet?

It will though, the seater stem will engage with the bullet at a set diameter on any bullet, any differences in length forward of that engagement point will lead to differences in length.

[Swarmboss]

Have you aligned the seating die in your press before seating the bullets as this can make these kinds of measurement issues?
Cheers....Ivor....