tough seating bullets with arbor press

[pdice]

I am loading up my first batch of 260 ammo with new chamfered lapua brass, 140gn Hornady A-max, and a sinclair arbor press. I'm having a hard time seating the bullets, it seems to take way too much force. Is this normal for new lapua brass or the a-maxes? I've included a pic that shows the ring created by the seating die. This is with the correct vld seating stem in the wilson.

 

[230grRN]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

Did you run the brass through a resize die before loading? If so what type of die did you use, standard or bushing type?

 

[High Binder]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

What is your neck tension? It should be .002-.003"

 

[pdice]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 230grRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did you run the brass through a resize die before loading? If so what type of die did you use, standard or bushing type?</div></div>

Good point, I forgot to include those points. I ran all the new brass through the wilson neck die with both .291 and .292 bushings. Both felt roughly the same.

 

[hdbiker1]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

I use to get those rings on new brass, but now I run them through the neck sizing die with the expander ball on the decapping stem since some new brass is oversized.

 

[230grRN]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

Wilson neck dies don't have an expander correct? I'm guessing your having a combo of issues, first Lapua brass is generally known to be a bit thicker, 2nd the brass is new unfired so a neck bushing die is going to do little if anything to set proper neck tension at this point.

After this firing cycle I think you will see easier seating of the bullet due to being able to set the neck tension properly. On new brass I like to run it through a FL die with expander to even everything out for the first loading.

 

[DeSilva]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

I used to have that trouble with my Lapua brass. I cured it by running brass through neck sizer, then opened necks with K&M expander and then resized necks again with neck dies. Never had the problem again, all bullets seat with same force every time. Ok its working the brass a bit more but at least i get consistant brass every time.

 

[*greenhorn*]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

tot you caffer and debur the necks?

 

[Walt K]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

Had the same situation with Lapua brass when I loaded for 243. Seating the bullet in the Lapua brass straight out the the box with no prep I found the bullet seating pressure much too high when using a Sinclair arbor press and a Wilson bullet seater die. If I remember correctly I believe I ended up opening the inside neck dia. very slightly using a Sinclair mandrel tool.

 

[pdice]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: walt k</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Had the same situation with Lapua brass when I loaded for 243. Seating the bullet in the Lapua brass straight out the the box with no prep I found the bullet seating pressure much too high when using a Sinclair arbor press and a Wilson bullet seater die. If I remember correctly I believe I ended up opening the inside neck dia. very slightly using a Sinclair mandrel tool. </div></div>

I've got one on the way, hopefully I'll see a difference. Thanks for all the info.

 

[Suasponte]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: High Binder</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is your neck tension? It should be .002-.003" </div></div>

Bingo, excessive neck tension on your brass.

Terry

 

[pdice]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

If the brass is this "inflexible" new, wouldn't it affect my loads a whole bunch too? I've been building up some loads with these rounds and trying to determine which are the most accurate.

 

[memilanuk]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

Its not 'inflexible' per se; virgin Lapua brass in my experience (.223 Rem, 6mm BR, 6.5x47, .308 Win, 6.5-284, .338LM) tends to be under sized compared to the same brass after its been fired and resized.

Either run it through a F/L sizing die with an expander ball, or over an appropriately sized mandrel - or a Lee collet die - to open up the neck for the initial loading.

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: tough seating bullets with arbor press

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: memilanuk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Either run it through a F/L sizing die with an expander ball, or over an appropriately sized mandrel - or a Lee collet die - to open up the neck for the initial loading. </div></div>

Definitely!

All my new brass gets a trip through the Sinclair Expander die. Makes the case mouth nice and round as well as the proper diameter. After first firing, THEN I mess with the bushing dies.

 

[hbrant9]

Use a deburring tool and neck line and mine worked.