Thread: Bullet Seater Stem

Hi all. I've been having issues with seating stems not fitting the profile of my cast bullets causing inconsistent COAL and leaving nasty rings on my bullets. After watching a few youtube vids were guys use wet and dry sand paper wrapped around or some lapping compound on a bullet in a drill to sand/grind and polish the inside of the stem to suit the bullet. So I gave it a go with sand paper, after 2 hours I didn't get very far. I do need to remove quite a bit of material. Has anyone had to do something like this and know a way to speed up the process? Thanks

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

Hi all. I've been having issues with seating stems not fitting the profile of my cast bullets causing inconsistent COAL and leaving nasty rings on my bullets. After watching a few youtube vids were guys use wet and dry sand paper wrapped around or some lapping compound on a bullet in a drill to sand/grind and polish the inside of the stem to suit the bullet. So I gave it a go with sand paper, after 2 hours I didn't get very far. I do need to remove quite a bit of material. Has anyone had to do something like this and know a way to speed up the process? Thanks

Try a different shaped stem or buy a cheap
Lee one as they are alloy

Yeah, find a mate with a lathe and make the bit you need...

http://www.uniquetek.com/store/69629...tomization.pdf

What profile seems to be suffering the worst? Got any pics?

Wax up the nose of a bullet, scuff up the seating stem seating face and clean it well. Get yourself some steel stick (epoxy putty that you knead together and it sets up hard) Put a little of the kneaded putty on the tip of the stem and try to lightly seat a bullet, then carefully pull the stem out and trim the excess material off it. You will have to work reasonably fast as the steelstik only has about 8-10mim of open time.
You end up with a stem that matches the projectile you are using perfectly. I have done a few like this and have done the same thing for stems to seat gaschecks so you don't deform the nose.

Here's what Lee says about theirs -

"The Bullet Seating Plug that comes with the die set is as close to generic as we can make it. If you find that the Bullet Seating Plug deforms the nose of the bullet, or will not seat it to the proper depth, we can make a Custom Bullet Seating Plug to fit your bullet. For this we would need a sample bullet and payment of $8.00 plus any applicable taxes and Shipping/Handling.

Please note, for a Custom Bullet Seating Plug for the 50 BMG, cost is $30.00 plus any applicable taxes and Shipping/Handling.

Many times, you can make this fix yourself through the use of a drill press. Secure the seating plug under a 3/32" bit and drill further into it. The distance should never be increased more than 1/4". If this does not solve the issue, we recommend sending it to us."

Originally Posted by Jhon

Here's what Lee says about theirs -

"The Bullet Seating Plug that comes with the die set is as close to generic as we can make it. If you find that the Bullet Seating Plug deforms the nose of the bullet, or will not seat it to the proper depth, we can make a Custom Bullet Seating Plug to fit your bullet. For this we would need a sample bullet and payment of $8.00 plus any applicable taxes and Shipping/Handling.

Please note, for a Custom Bullet Seating Plug for the 50 BMG, cost is $30.00 plus any applicable taxes and Shipping/Handling.

Many times, you can make this fix yourself through the use of a drill press. Secure the seating plug under a 3/32" bit and drill further into it. The distance should never be increased more than 1/4". If this does not solve the issue, we recommend sending it to us."

@Jhon "Many times, you can make this fix yourself through the use of a drill press. Secure the seating plug under a 3/32" bit and drill further into it. The distance should never be increased more than 1/4". If this does not solve the issue, we recommend sending it to us."
How would that improve anything?

Its amazing how more consistent bullet seating depth is, how lower run-out is and and no ugly ring marks when a seating stem is a better fit for a bullet. I sanded out one of my stems to better suit the profile of one of my bullet types and it worked a treat, even being a cheap, nasty Lee die. I did try @SixtyTen idea with putty with another stem but haven't done any reloading with it yet so I'll keep you all posted.

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

@Jhon "Many times, you can make this fix yourself through the use of a drill press. Secure the seating plug under a 3/32" bit and drill further into it. The distance should never be increased more than 1/4". If this does not solve the issue, we recommend sending it to us."
How would that improve anything?

No idea. Just what Lee says. I've always put up with the ring mark on the projectile nose. It was a topical topic way back when I first started reloading in 2005. Guess nothing changes. Never made any diff to my shooting. Maybe I'm just not a good enough shot to notice.