Forster Micrometer...broke??

[KYpatriot]

Maybe someone here can help me figure this one out...got a new Forster "ULTRA" micrometer style seater from Midsouth that is totally not accurate.

On a dummy round it will seat exactly to what it is set. But then with 45 grain of Varget and a 165 Accubond it will tend to "catch" a little when I lower the press, and the round will be longer than it is supposed to be. I think it is pulling the bullet back out some. Does the same with SMKs. I notice a slight shiny ring on the ogive of the bullet, that doesnt seem right either. The dummy round doesnt have this so I think maybe the extra force to compressthe Varget might be enough to cause the "stick" if that is what it is at all...

Anybody else ever have this issue with this die? A forster tech is supposed to call and Ill let everyone know what he says. Annoyed since I am starting late anyway workingup a load for some upcoming deer hunting and this isnt helping!! Might just have to use some FGMM I have laying around here..

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

How much are you compressing the powder charge?

 

[EddieNFL]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

Start by polishing the seater plug. It is possible the compressed load is pushing the bullet back out.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

I know that the powder can push on the bullet but it seems more than that. This is a compressed charge but not that bad - 45 grains of Varget under a 175SMK is kind of universal, and
I saw this with the longer accubonds at 43.5 grains so I think something else is going on...the ring mark on the ogive cant be right? Haven't seen that with regular seating dies. Forster never called back, this is what I get for procrastinating I guess.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

"...the ring mark on the ogive cant be right? Haven't seen that with regular seating dies."

Well, lessee...you used the same seater to make up the dummy? And it was good? So, what changed on your loaded round... powder, right? Maybe a bit too much, requiring a LOT more seating pressure and that formed a seater plug ring on the ogive? AND, the powder pushed the bullets back up as soon as you released pressure?

Ain't no die gonna change all that. ??

No matter if it's a "kind of universal" load, it's too much powder to successfully compress. Such stuff happens.

 

[former naval person]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

Polishing it will help. You neet a tiny polished radius on the mouth of the plug to eliminate the ogival mark. Compressed loads will do that...the Accubond is longer so will compress more. Maybe a bit more neck tension is called for. One of the reloading manufacturers makes a die with a stem to "pre-compress" the load so this problem goes away. You may be able to get away with a long drop tube to settle the powder deeper in the case. Polish anyway. JMHO

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

Fuzz, I follow what you are thinking because I was thinking the same thing, but it doesnt make sense that just about everyone is using 44-45 with SMKs and I cant. If it was just the accubond I could see that.

Looking at the seater now I see a little ring of copper so I think that is the problem. This particular die has about 9 rounds on it soIthink it is going back to Forster. For 90 bucks I think I will let them polish it or go back to the cheaper dies.

FNP- sounds likeyou have run across something like this before - how much compression are we talking here? The powder is still below the neck, again only 43.5 started seeing this. I'll leteveryone know what Forster has to say when they chime in. Thanks all for weighing in.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Forster Micrometer...broke??

Forster tech called me back and said my seater was probably shipped with the "old style" seater stem and to send it back. The bullets were sticking in the cone and pulling back out partially. Bummer, but should get this worked out, seemed helpful enough over the phone.