Thread: Issues Seating Cast Bullets

Originally Posted by Beetroot

So tried to do some 300blk reloads with cast 151gr bullets today, didn't go so well......

Using Hornady "custom grade" die set with what I think is a universal 30cal seating die, the bullets have a huge step in the tip from the seating stem.
The die set came with two different seating stems (on for VLD type bullets) but both had the same effect.

The cases are unfired Hornady ones that I ran through the sizing dies.
There seemed to be a bit of resistance when seating the bullets, more than I am normally used to but ususally use a bushing die.

Is this a normal issue to have with cast bullets?
Am I doing something wrong?
Is the seating die rubbish?

Have attached an image, ignore the different seating depths.
Can see the furtherest Right bullet has a bigger step in the tip.

Attachment 179361

As long as I've been seating cast bullets, only about 12 years, i've found some sort of marking or swaging of the bullet tip a frequent occurrence. If the base of the bullet is a tight fit and shaving is occurring then the effect on the tip is greater. So, as others have said, it is important to adequately flare the case mouth to start the bullet. Even so, using a heavy for calibre cast bullet is always going to occasion more resistance in seating the bullet. You will see the neck brass bulge to the contour of the bullet. The only way I know of avoiding what happens to the tip of the bullet is to form a seating insert to specifically fit the nose of the bullet in question. Most of my dies come equipped to seat jacketed factory bullets with spire points down to rounded soft points. Sometimes the seating stem can be swapped end for end, one end having a larger nose cup than the other. For me, this just makes the ring indentation a little larger. Frankly I ignore such a ring that occurs. Particularly if it is reasonably uniform. For my level of range and hunting use it matters not in terms of accuracy. What is happening on yours it appears is due to a wide variation in ease of seating. Again, flaring the case mouth should give you more uniformity. Another consideration is the relative hardness of your neck brass between cases. If your cases have mixed numbers of firings then the more work-hardened will give more resistance to seating resulting in greater deformation of the bullet tip. Likewise if your bullets have a noticeable variation in hardness which is less likely unless you are mixing batches. Softer ones will deform more. Your options are reasonably straightforward. You could anneal all your cases to uniform the brass hardness. You can flare case mouths all to the same amount to ease starting the bullet. You can ensure the same batch of cast bullets are used anticipating a uniform level of hardness. You can check if you are using the larger cup if your seating stem is double ended. Finally you could probably make a seating stem without much ado to provide a cup that best suits your bullet's nose profile. Maybe a flat base stem would be ok given your projectile is flat nosed. Can only try. And if your seating stem is flat one end, cupped the other, then that is the first thing I would try all else being equal.