Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

[KYpatriot]

Well, still cant seat bullets worth a $#$# with my Co-ax and micrometer die.
I bought the Ultra set with the mic-seater and it just will not seat a compressed load. Seats dummy rounds fine, but even then still seems to stick a little. But with any kind of powder compression the bullet sticks in the seater and pulls back out to some degree. Even had it pull one bullet clear out of the case. It makes a loud "pop" sound when I lower the round out of the die and leaves a ring on the ogive. If I take a bullet and push it into the seater cone with my thumb it will even stick- can that be right?

I called Forster and they replaced my die, saying it could be an old style seater...but the new one does the same thing!

This is with FGMM brass, 43 to 45 grains Varget, and 175SMKS or 165 Nosler accubonds.

Anyone have this problem? This is not a crazy load and these are supposed to be good dies. Cone seems smooth, but I could try to lap it I guess but seriously should I really need to lap the freakin seating cone on $90 dollar dies? Is everyone doing this?? My cousins $30 RCBS die sure doesnt seem to have this problem.

FL Resizer but with only .002 shoulder bump, trimmed, chamfered, tap case to settle powder. Neck tension seems fine, unless I got a SECOND defective sester die I cant figure this out.

 

[mattj]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

I don't have any answers for you, but I use the same die with 44.5 grains of Varget, 175 SMKs, and Lapua cases with no problems (~.002 neck tension). I set up the die just as indicated in the instructions.

Hope you get it figured out.

 

[JLM]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

I had an 'interesting' conversation with Forrester about the 175 SMK as I was seeing erratic seating depths and rings on my bullets. They suggested I buy their "VLD" seater stem for my die.

I was a bit nonplussed about that as to my way of think the 175SMK is going to be a VERY common bullet among users of these types of die. Told their CS guy my thoughts on the issue and he didn't seem to 'get it'. My argument if you will was that the die should work out of the box with a VERY common bullet like the SMK. Didn't seem to 'get' that either.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

I use a Co-Ax press, and Forster seater, I have never had this problem, and I run some comppressed loads, I suspect that you have too much neck tension.

 

[Hunt]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

I too run Forster mic dies with SMK 175s and nary a problem. Check to see if you have any burrs on the seater stem where it contacts the meplat. If so, get some polishing compound and polish.

 

[C.K]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

lap the seat stem with lapping compound and the bullets you want to use, it takes time but they wont stick any more. Unless your loads are so compressed that your deforming the jackets and thats why there sticking.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!


If you don't like Forster dies you aren't likely to be happy with ANY dies!

It sure sounds as if your "compressed" loads are so compressed you are defoming the bullet ogive by jamming it into the seater plug with the required seating pressure.

You may reduce the ogive scoring by chucking the seater stem in a drill and holding a bit of sand paper against the edges of the seater cup, radiusing and polishing it a little. But, if you're really compressing the powder charge a lot no die or seater stem change is going to stop it.

Perhaps you could use a smaller charge of a faster powder?

 

[EddieP]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

Is it the inside or outside of the stem that's grabbing the bullet?

If its the outside then you should be able to sort with a drill, if inside it seems an arse to fix. I had this problem with lee dies (grabbing the bullet at the top/inside of the stem). I have since replaced with hornady which apply pressure at the bottom / outside of the stem.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

So are you adjusting the seating stem or body of the die? I had a friend that was adjusting the body of the die and he was getting similar results as what the OP is eluding to. When seating the bullet, there should be little to no resistance on the lever if you have it set up correctly.

 

[JRose]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use a Co-Ax press, and Forster seater, I have never had this problem, and I run some comppressed loads, I suspect that you have too much neck tension. </div></div>

What he said...

 

[okiefired]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

Dont use a Forster press (I intend to in the near future though) but I did load 45grns of Varget in FGMM brass with 175 SMK's but a long time ago I switched to 178 Amax's all using the Forster Ultra seater, never any problem. Dont think thats anywhere near an extreemly compressed load.

okie

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I am going to check the neck tension, but again this seater cone will hold the bullet even if I push it in there with some thumb pressure . If it isnt too much trouble for those of you with Forster seaters - will your seat stem hold onto a bullet this way if you push one into it with just some thumb pressure?
The Forster tech seemed to think it was powder compression. 44 grains of Varget is not that compressed! At this point I'll go to the lap compound but to me that is unsat especially after two tries of getting one that will work.

 

[1911.it]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

That's a strange problem. I have a Co-ax press and Redding dies. My load is 45g Varget with the 175g SMK and no issues. I found best results with a .445 bushing in the neck sizing die.

 

[Witch_Doctor]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

That is strange, have been loading 45gr of varget in FGMM with 175 SMK's without any issue, and its pretty compressed. Using Forster Co-ax and RCBS dies.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We prepare so we don't end up at the Superdome.
-Unkown New Orleans resident-</div></div>
Seems to have been a pretty good place to be Monday night.

 

[Witch_Doctor]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

Yes it was, Who Dat

 

[JLM]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It makes a loud "pop" sound when I lower the round out of the die and leaves a ring on the ogive.</div></div>

Ya, how funny I was hearing that too. And it wasn't on a compressed load either.

 

[Clark]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

I have called and emailed Forster about this problem over the years.

There are girls that answer the phone, and there are two male owners I have never got through to.

The problem is the seating stem.
A female ogive like shape has machined into the stem mouth.
The burr left by the machining is de burred.
The problem is that the de-burring process leaves it's own smaller burr.
Even if there were not this tiny burr introduced, the sharp edge could dig into the slower tapered bullets.

What to do?
Look at the seating stem with a jeweler's loop, or a salvaged eye piece from an old pair of binoculars.
See the burr and sharp edge?
Put the seating stem into a lathe or drill.
Spin the stem while lightly touching the mouth of the seating stem with fine emery cloth or sand paper.
Clean the stem with a Q tip, vacuum cleaner, compressed air, or etc.
Look at the stem mouth again under magnification.
Is the burr and sharp edge gone, now replaced with a tiny male radius?
If so, you are done, and the stem will stop grabbing bullets by the ogive.

The Co-ax press is an innocent bystander in this, but I have some modifications for the press to make the jaw swap quick change, even while blind folded... or you can be like rich guys who have two co-ax presses side by side.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

Thanks Clark - I'll try that.
JLM - please check Pm...

 

[JLM]

Re: Need help- Unimpressed with Forster!!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have called and emailed Forster about this problem over the years.

There are girls that answer the phone, and there are two male owners I have never got through to.

The problem is the seating stem.
A female ogive like shape has machined into the stem mouth.
The burr left by the machining is de burred.
The problem is that the de-burring process leaves it's own smaller burr.
Even if there were not this tiny burr introduced, the sharp edge could dig into the slower tapered bullets.

What to do?
Look at the seating stem with a jeweler's loop, or a salvaged eye piece from an old pair of binoculars.
See the burr and sharp edge?
Put the seating stem into a lathe or drill.
Spin the stem while lightly touching the mouth of the seating stem with fine emery cloth or sand paper.
Clean the stem with a Q tip, vacuum cleaner, compressed air, or etc.
Look at the stem mouth again under magnification.
Is the burr and sharp edge gone, now replaced with a tiny male radius?
If so, you are done, and the stem will stop grabbing bullets by the ogive.

The Co-ax press is an innocent bystander in this, but I have some modifications for the press to make the jaw swap quick change, even while blind folded... or you can be like rich guys who have two co-ax presses side by side.
</div></div>

Clark, believe you me I spoke to them about this too and they didn't seem to 'get it'

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Ended up chucking the seater stem in a drill as suggested and rolled some 0000 steel wool in a cone shape and polished the inside of the seater awhile. Works fine now. The Hide scores for me again! Thanks everyone. Forster should put some of ya'll on the payroll.

BTW, Bob from Forster did call back to check on my progress which was great. I'm still not sure they believe they are shipping seaters with microscopic burrs on them but I got two in a row like that. After polishing it works awesome now.

 

[JLM]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

Good glad to hear it. There are some very knowledgeable and helpful cats on this site

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JLM ®</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are some very knowledgeable and helpful cats on this site

</div></div>
This is getting embarrassing.

 

[Swan]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

Hmm... sure am glad I went with Redding dies.

 

[JLM]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Winchester 69</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JLM ®</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are some very knowledgeable and helpful cats on this site

</div></div>
This is getting embarrassing. </div></div>

 

[wolfman]

Re: Thanks Clark, JLM & all Forster problem fixed

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Swan</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hmm... sure am glad I went with Redding dies. </div></div>

Don't worry, you can get bum stuff from everybody. I've got a Redding competition seater that imparts 5 thou runnout. Got a replacement, and all's well.

Everybody has a bad one once and a while.