Bullet seating Help.

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  • midnightSGT

    Active Member
    Oct 17, 2013
    756
    Calvert County
    So I’m loading .223. I have the standard Redding 2 Die set. I’m having trouble setting up the bullet seating die.

    I have taken out the seating stem. Placed a case
    In the ram, moved the ram all the way up, then
    Screwed my die into the press until I can feel it touch the case. I then backed the die out a 1/4
    Turn and set the lock ring and set screw.

    I got one of my 53gr. Z max bullets and placed it on the case and started it and raised the ram. I then turned the seating stem in until I just started the
    Bullet into the case.

    I started turning the stem in and rechecking my cartridge over all length, and kept adjusting it down.

    My goal OAL was 2.250. The seating stem ran out
    Of adjustments and bottomed out at 2.266.

    I watched some videos, checked the instructions on line, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

    Any and all help would be appreciated.
     

    guzma393

    Active Member
    Jan 15, 2020
    736
    Severn, MD
    So I’m loading .223. I have the standard Redding 2 Die set. I’m having trouble setting up the bullet seating die.

    I have taken out the seating stem. Placed a case
    In the ram, moved the ram all the way up, then
    Screwed my die into the press until I can feel it touch the case. I then backed the die out a 1/4
    Turn and set the lock ring and set screw.

    I got one of my 53gr. Z max bullets and placed it on the case and started it and raised the ram. I then turned the seating stem in until I just started the
    Bullet into the case.

    I started turning the stem in and rechecking my cartridge over all length, and kept adjusting it down.

    My goal OAL was 2.250. The seating stem ran out
    Of adjustments and bottomed out at 2.266.

    I watched some videos, checked the instructions on line, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

    Any and all help would be appreciated.

    Pics? Perhaps we can better narrow down the problem when we see what's going on.

    Try taking a factory round and configure the seating die to that. If it is still bottoming out, then it's most likely the seating die.
     

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    "Placed a case
    In the ram"


    This is likely(?) the issue.

    Try:
    Do not place a case in the "ram" when setting up the die.
    Use the empty shellholder only. (< "the ram"???)
    Move the ram to the top position, index the die against the empty shellholder.
    Then back out 1/4 turn, or whatever amount you will be using.

    EDIT: Do not use this method with a seating die with a crimp ring.
     
    Last edited:

    larr

    Active Member
    Apr 1, 2011
    232
    Easternshore
    So I’m loading .223. I have the standard Redding 2 Die set. I’m having trouble setting up the bullet seating die.

    I have taken out the seating stem. Placed a case
    In the ram, moved the ram all the way up, then
    Screwed my die into the press until I can feel it touch the case. I then backed the die out a 1/4
    Turn and set the lock ring and set screw.

    I got one of my 53gr. Z max bullets and placed it on the case and started it and raised the ram. I then turned the seating stem in until I just started the
    Bullet into the case.

    I started turning the stem in and rechecking my cartridge over all length, and kept adjusting it down.

    My goal OAL was 2.250. The seating stem ran out
    Of adjustments and bottomed out at 2.266.

    I watched some videos, checked the instructions on line, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

    Any and all help would be appreciated.


    Try backing the die out an 1/8 instead of a 1/4
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,741
    Socialist State of Maryland
    So I’m loading .223. I have the standard Redding 2 Die set. I’m having trouble setting up the bullet seating die.

    I have taken out the seating stem. Placed a case
    In the ram, moved the ram all the way up, then
    Screwed my die into the press until I can feel it touch the case. I then backed the die out a 1/4
    Turn and set the lock ring and set screw.

    I got one of my 53gr. Z max bullets and placed it on the case and started it and raised the ram. I then turned the seating stem in until I just started the
    Bullet into the case.

    I started turning the stem in and rechecking my cartridge over all length, and kept adjusting it down.

    My goal OAL was 2.250. The seating stem ran out
    Of adjustments and bottomed out at 2.266.

    I watched some videos, checked the instructions on line, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

    Any and all help would be appreciated.


    It may be that your stem was made for one of the longer bullets or they put the wrong stem in the kit. If it has a number, make sure it is correct for the .223. Other than that, see if the label says something like for 77gn bullets or identifies the set for a certain bullet.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    "Placed a case
    In the ram"


    This is likely(?) the issue.

    Try:
    Do not place a case in the "ram" when setting up the die.
    Use the empty shellholder only. (< "the ram"???)
    Move the ram to the top position, index the die against the empty shellholder.
    Then back out 1/4 turn, or whatever amount you will be using.

    That is not how you set a seating/crimping die.

    You need to index the crimping portion to the case.

    When setting the die, you do like the OP says. Sized and trimmed case in the shell holder. Raise the ram. Turn the die body down until the crimp portion just touches the case, then back off 1/4 - 1/2 a turn.

    Then set the seating depth. Either by progressively seating the bullet or by using a dummy round.

    If you are not going to crimp, you are done.

    If you are going to crimp, you back off the seating stem, screw the die body in until it touches the case, then progressively move it in until you get the desired crimp. Lock the die, and then turn the seating stem in until it touches the bullet. The test.
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    It may be that your stem was made for one of the longer bullets or they put the wrong stem in the kit. If it has a number, make sure it is correct for the .223. Other than that, see if the label says something like for 77gn bullets or identifies the set for a certain bullet.

    This ^^^^^^^

    Also, call Redding. They will help you out.
     

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    OP does not mention crimping.
    Set-up indexing on an empty shellholder vs. on a case provides a more consistent COAL/seating depth. (Actually, the die should be indexed to the ram with the ram somewhat below full extension to provide maximum consistency due to inconsistency in full ram extension pressure/length.) And in the OP's situation, this set-up might provide the extra depth needed to seat to the desired COAL.

    Try it/don't try it. Doesn't matter to me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iKAxD_TIEs
     

    Pinecone

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 4, 2013
    28,175
    OP does not mention crimping.
    Set-up indexing on an empty shellholder vs. on a case provides a more consistent COAL/seating depth. (Actually, the die should be indexed to the ram with the ram somewhat below full extension to provide maximum consistency due to inconsistency in full ram extension pressure/length.) And in the OP's situation, this set-up might provide the extra depth needed to seat to the desired COAL.

    Try it/don't try it. Doesn't matter to me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iKAxD_TIEs

    That video is for setting up a seating die THAT DOES NOT CRIMP. He specifically states this in the first minute.

    If you set up a CRIMPING seating die this way, you are looking for trouble.
     

    E.Shell

    Ultimate Member
    Feb 5, 2007
    10,248
    Mid-Merlind
    OP does not mention crimping.
    The OP is correctly setting the die as NOT to crimp.
    Set-up indexing on an empty shellholder vs. on a case provides a more consistent COAL/seating depth. (Actually, the die should be indexed to the ram with the ram somewhat below full extension to provide maximum consistency due to inconsistency in full ram extension pressure/length.) And in the OP's situation, this set-up might provide the extra depth needed to seat to the desired COAL.
    Setting up a normal seating die using this method will result in the maximum crimp available with that particular die and will damage both cases and bullets.
    Try it/don't try it. Doesn't matter to me.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iKAxD_TIEs
    It would matter to the OP, who would begin damaging components as soon as he started seating bullets.

    You are not catching the difference between a (unique) Lee die set that includes a separate crimp die and the standard seat/crimp combo by RCBS, Redding and others. These seating dies will apply a crimp as a part of the seating process, using the same die, and this die must be adjusted to crimp properly or to not crimp by adjusting it's position in the press.

    This video and advice is not applicable to the OP's situation.

    OP:
    What is stopping the seating stem from penetrating deeper? Burr on the screw threads? An internal shoulder? All of my Redding sets are for calibers that exceed the seating stem thread diameter and the seating stem screws in from the bottom of the die.
     

    KRC

    Active Member
    Sep 30, 2018
    615
    Cecil County MD
    I stand corrected.
    I looked up that specific die set, which I should have done first. It does have a crimp ring, which, whether he wants to crimp or not, will preclude the set-up I mention and use.
    My apologies.
     

    GunBum

    Active Member
    Feb 21, 2018
    751
    SW Missouri
    Seriously. All you need to do is call/email Redding and they’ll send you a longer seating stem. It’s that simple. Nothing else you are/were doing is wrong.
     

    midnightSGT

    Active Member
    Oct 17, 2013
    756
    Calvert County
    Update:

    I called Redding. The stem I had is the correct one for .223. They determined that the the 53gr zmax’s
    Ogive is too thin and the bullet is going into the stem too far. They also are sending me out the correct one(no charge). They also walked me through the correct
    Set up procedure onthe phone.

    Thanks all for your help.
     

    midnightSGT

    Active Member
    Oct 17, 2013
    756
    Calvert County
    My New Redding Bullet Seating Die arrived in the mail. The opening of the original stem which was marked #23 measured .180. The new stem is marked #25 and measures .135.
    I was able to set up and load all my .223 53 Gr Z-Max's with no problems. Redding Customer service is awesome! Thanks for all the help!
     

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