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Posted: 7/2/2011 3:28:59 PM EDT
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My press finally came in yesterday (Rock Chucker Supreme), and I got everything set up as per the instructions that came with each separate piece of equipment. I used the instructions that came with my RCBS dies to get the seating die set up, and I've made approximately 40 rounds so far (I've been making sets of 10, working my way up from the starting load).
I'm loading .40 S&W with 180 gr JHPs in Winchester brass, using Unique powder. I'm currently trying to load 5.6 gr of powder now, but my seating die is throwing me a curveball- my COALs aren't very consistent. Out of 10 rounds, I had three at 1.125", three at 1.128", three at 1.130", and one at 1.133" (the sets of three are all +/- .001"). I can live with the +/- .001" variation, but why does would 10 rounds come out with a range of 1.125" to 1.133"? I set the seater plug at the earlier stages (less grains of powder) and haven't touched it since, because it was pretty consistent (of course, +/- .001"). Should I have to adjust the seater plug down to compensate for more powder in the case? Or am I overlooking something here? Any tricks, tips, or help is greatly appreciated. ETA: Could it be that I'm being overly anal about this, and it really isn't a big deal? |
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Are you sure you're compressing the loads?
It's most likely the bullets not the die. Reloading .45 and 9mm, I've had some bullets that were very consistent and some that weren't. I've loaded Berry's, Zero, Rainer, Precision Delta, and Hornady XTPs and Zeros were the most consistent when seating. I've also noticed when seating into a tighter case (like nickel, or certain brands when loading mixed cases) the bullet doesn't always seat as far as it normally would. |
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Quoted:
Are you sure you're compressing the loads? It's most likely the bullets not the die. Reloading .45 and 9mm, I've had some bullets that were very consistent and some that weren't. I've loaded Berry's, Zero, Rainer, Precision Delta, and Hornady XTPs and Zeros were the most consistent when seating. I've also noticed when seating into a tighter case (like nickel, or certain brands when loading mixed cases) the bullet doesn't always seat as far as it normally would. What do you mean by "compressing the load"? I'm using Magtech 180gr JHPs. They're jacketed all around the outside (including the base of the bullet). Quoted:
What type of die are you using with JHP it easy to get the inconsistency, with my limited experience loading XTP's as long as your not loading close to max I wouldn't be overly anal about it. I'm using RCBS dies; taper crimp seating die. Also, I'm just curious if this kind of variation is enough to make a noticeable impact on how these rounds perform. I'm new to this, and I'd rather not fuck something up, you know? As suggested, I'm off to measure some bullet lengths and see if that could be the problem. Could this be caused by earlier steps (i.e., I'm not expanding the case mouth enough)? I set the expanding die to bell it out just enough that the bullet will set just inside the mouth without having to hold it. Would this cause such a problem? |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Are you sure you're compressing the loads? It's most likely the bullets not the die. Reloading .45 and 9mm, I've had some bullets that were very consistent and some that weren't. I've loaded Berry's, Zero, Rainer, Precision Delta, and Hornady XTPs and Zeros were the most consistent when seating. I've also noticed when seating into a tighter case (like nickel, or certain brands when loading mixed cases) the bullet doesn't always seat as far as it normally would. What do you mean by "compressing the load"? I'm using Magtech 180gr JHPs. They're jacketed all around the outside (including the base of the bullet). Quoted:
What type of die are you using with JHP it easy to get the inconsistency, with my limited experience loading XTP's as long as your not loading close to max I wouldn't be overly anal about it. I'm using RCBS dies; taper crimp seating die. Also, I'm just curious if this kind of variation is enough to make a noticeable impact on how these rounds perform. I'm new to this, and I'd rather not fuck something up, you know? As suggested, I'm off to measure some bullet lengths and see if that could be the problem. Could this be caused by earlier steps (i.e., I'm not expanding the case mouth enough)? I set the expanding die to bell it out just enough that the bullet will set just inside the mouth without having to hold it. Would this cause such a problem? I meant compressing the charge/powder. According to my Lee manual you're still under the listed starting load and shouldn't be compressing the charge. So forget that. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Are you sure you're compressing the loads? It's most likely the bullets not the die. Reloading .45 and 9mm, I've had some bullets that were very consistent and some that weren't. I've loaded Berry's, Zero, Rainer, Precision Delta, and Hornady XTPs and Zeros were the most consistent when seating. I've also noticed when seating into a tighter case (like nickel, or certain brands when loading mixed cases) the bullet doesn't always seat as far as it normally would. What do you mean by "compressing the load"? I'm using Magtech 180gr JHPs. They're jacketed all around the outside (including the base of the bullet). Quoted:
What type of die are you using with JHP it easy to get the inconsistency, with my limited experience loading XTP's as long as your not loading close to max I wouldn't be overly anal about it. I'm using RCBS dies; taper crimp seating die. Also, I'm just curious if this kind of variation is enough to make a noticeable impact on how these rounds perform. I'm new to this, and I'd rather not fuck something up, you know? As suggested, I'm off to measure some bullet lengths and see if that could be the problem. Could this be caused by earlier steps (i.e., I'm not expanding the case mouth enough)? I set the expanding die to bell it out just enough that the bullet will set just inside the mouth without having to hold it. Would this cause such a problem? I meant compressing the charge/powder. According to my Lee manual you're still under the listed starting load and shouldn't be compressing the charge. So forget that. I'm using data for Sierra 180gr JHPs, and the starting load for that was like 4.6gr. I've made 10-round batches of 4.6, 4.9, 5.3, and now I'm trying to make 5.6 |
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UPDATE: I made five "test" bullets (no primer or powder). All five came back 1.125" COAL.
I proceeded to make another 10 round with 5.6gr of Unique. Out of 10, 9 were +/- .001" of 1.127". The lone one was 1.125". That's not too bad, I think. I just marked it and threw it in with the other nine, and I'll see if there's any noticeable difference (I don't think there will be, but we'll see). |
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One possibility is your seater die has 2 functions, seating the bullet and then crimping the case mouth. Seating and crimping with one press stroke usually results in some variation. Separating the 2 functions, that is, seat all the bullets and then readjust the die to crimp only, will reduce cartridge length variation quite a bit at the
expense of another pass through the press. |
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Quoted:
One possibility is your seater die has 2 functions, seating the bullet and then crimping the case mouth. Seating and crimping with one press stroke usually results in some variation. Separating the 2 functions, that is, seat all the bullets and then readjust the die to crimp only, will reduce cartridge length variation quite a bit at the expense of another pass through the press. It's an RCBS seating die with taper crimp built in. I don't think I can adjust it to not crimp; I'd probably just have to buy two separate dies. |
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It's an RCBS seating die with taper crimp built in. I don't think I can adjust it to not crimp; I'd probably just have to buy two separate dies. Any seat/crimp die can be set to seat and not crimp... simply back the die out 1 turn, and lock it back down. Loosen the seat stem, and run a completed round, of the desired COAL, all the way up into the die. Now screw the seater plug down until it contacts the bullet. Lock the seat assembly in place. Your die will now seat to the desired COAL without crimping. To set the die up to crimp only, back the seater plug off several turns, and run a cartridge with a seated bullet up into the die. Screw the die body down until you feel it contact the case mouth, lower the ram slightly, and turn the die down a bit more (1/16th to 1/8th of a turn at a time), running the cartridge back up into the die, until you achieve the desired amount of crimp. |
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Could be something as simple as the way you lower the ram handle causing the difference.
Put just a little more pressure on it and the ram goes up a little bit more giving you a shorter OAL. You are talking about .008" difference between shortest and longest. That's not anything to worry about in a handgun round. |
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