Setting up your seating die.

[locked&loaded]

I read an article suggesting placing a sized and trimmed case in the shell holder, raising the ram and screwing the die down over the case until you feel it touch. Then back off the 1/8 turn.

Anyone used this method?

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

The bottom of my die touches the top of the shell holder. I then use the knob on top of the die for bullet seating adjustments.

Now if you are talking about a sizing die, I use a RCBS case micrometer to set the shoulder bump.

 

[PistonPete]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="color: #3333FF">NO !</span></span> </span> kinda confused about your query, i raise the ram to full height, screw the die in till it touches the shell holder, then back off till a "roll your own" cig. paper slides thru, then i insert a bullet, run the ram up to full stop, then i turn in the seating punch till the bullet is seated to the OAL is 2.250" the books call for 2.260", i have found that for an AR-15 magazine, 2.260 is a tiny bit long and will hang up in the mag.

 

[ryder198]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Piston Pete</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 17pt"><span style="color: #3333FF">NO !</span></span> </span> kinda confused about your query, i raise the ram to full height, screw the die in till it touches the shell holder, then back off till a "roll your own" cig. paper slides thru, then i insert a bullet, run the ram up to full stop, then i turn in the seating punch till the bullet is seated to the OAL is 2.250" the books call for 2.260", i have found that for an AR-15 magazine, 2.260 is a tiny bit long and will hang up in the mag. </div></div>

Pete,

Why do you back it off from the shellholder? i agree it allows the brass to "float" a bit?

 

[David300]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: locked&loaded</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I read an article suggesting placing a sized and trimmed case in the shell holder, raising the ram and screwing the die down over the case until you feel it touch. Then back off the 1/8 turn.

Anyone used this method? </div></div>
That is about what I do so I do not end up crimping my bullets in the shell...

 

[eleaf]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

I have read in multiple places that the best thing to do is take a factory load (FGMM for instance) and place it in the shell holder, raise the ram all the eay, screw the die in until it touches the tip of the loaded round you inserted.

Done.

Works too.

 

[ryder198]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

well that sets the bullet seater which is adjusted seperately from the die.

but how is the die itself best situated from the shellholder

 

[Thunder child]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

That is the correct way to set up a RCBS seating die so it will not crimp the case neck onto the bullet. I have only used RCBS dies so I do not know if this is also true for dies from another company. The threaded seating stem on top of the die is then adjusted to set the correct bullet seating depth.

 

[Winchester 69]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ryder198</div><div class="ubbcode-body">well that sets the bullet seater which is adjusted seperately from the die.

but how is the die itself best situated from the shellholder </div></div>
If the die is capable of crimping, then the die's height (distance from the shell holder or touching) is determined by the lack or amount of crimp desired.

If the die doesn't crimp, touching the shell holder gives consistent height to the seating process; it requires that all slack is taken out of the press's linkage.

 

[nicholst55]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

From RCBS: http://www.rcbs.com/guide/step19.aspx

From Chuck Hawks: http://www.chuckhawks.com/adjust_reloading_dies.htm

Chuck Hawks pretty well mirrors RCBS. I probably leave a tiny bit more gap between my shell holder and die bottom, but then I've crushed a few cases by setting the die lower.

 

[DocB]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

l&l,

Use a set of feeler gauges if you are going to back off the seating die. They will help keep the die body square with the shell holder.

HTH,
DocB

 

[PistonPete]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

well, well, well...., good ole Chuck screwed up here:
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This article assumes that you are using RCBS dies, but other die sets are generally similar. Essentially I am going to paraphrase the instruction sheet that comes with RCBS dies, with a tip or two based on my 40 years as a reloader thrown in. The RCBS instruction sheet covers everything you need to know, and RCBS deserves kudos for this. Thank you, RCBS!

First of all, it is important to understand what a set of reloading dies does. Here are the operations accomplished by any set of reloading dies:

decapping (remove the spent primer)
resize the case back to its original dimensions
<span style="color: #ff0000"><span style="font-weight: bold">expand the case mouth to accept a new bullet</span></span>
seat the new bullet in the case</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">my 40 years as a reloader</div></div>

looks like ole Chuck f#@ked up on this one.., damn rookie !!<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="color: #3333FF"> in my 50+ years of reloading</span></span> i have NEVER expanded the case mouth to accept a new bullet, my RCBS dies size the case mouth smaller, as when the cartridge is fired the case expands, therefore the case mouth is "REDUCED" in sizing, with pistol/revolver brass a very slight "bell" is required for bullet insertion. i use a Lee "Factory Crimp" die in my Dillon 650 for the crimp

any questions ??

 

[nicholst55]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

I'm betting Chuck 'cut and pasted' that part and neither he, nor his editor caught that.

Never loaded cast rifle bullets, eh Pete?

 

[PistonPete]

Re: Setting up your seating die.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nicholst55</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm betting Chuck 'cut and pasted' that part and neither he, nor his editor caught that.

Never loaded cast rifle bullets, eh Pete? </div></div>


naaaaah.., never !