Thread: STRAIGHTENING A CROOKED BULLET

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When seating, seat it half way then retract the case, turn it 180deg and run it to full depth. Seems to fix most of this issue.

Another cause is a mismatch between the tip of the bullet and the profile of the seating stem - usually this is the issue with the VLD long pointy bullets not being seated straight as the point of the bullet hits a flat spot in the seating stem so doesn't self align. The opposite can happen with the blunt tip profile on the lead bullets...

If it were me i wouldn't shoot that as is. I reckon pull it, and harvest the components. Either way thats gonna be a flier most likely

But save save that case. I would make sure the neck was a consistant thickness before repairing it. If its lopsided i would bin that one

A couple of little bits of tube - one a neat fit over the pill and the other sized for the case could work.

Another option is set up a little stand so the extractor groove and the pill are supported and everything else in the middle is floating. A little bit of wood to act as a punch and another bit of kindling and a light tap on the high side of the neck should straighten things up. It doesn't take much to move things, it's not a hammer job just a light tap... I've done this with a couple of v blocks and a tack hammer when some reloads a guy made up were well on the piss, that was a setup issue of the reloading press that created that problem.

You don't want to use anything like a press or a vice with an arm or a thread that supplies the clamping as they have too much power and not enough feel and you'll make the situation worse out the other side.

Ok. After doing quite a bit of research last night in regards to runout I found out its not always bullet seating issues. Can be a case neck runout issues due to FL or neck sizing die issues, which after rolling some already sized cases on a table I could clearly see some wobbly case necks. Bullet and neck runout issues can be due to movement in the presses ram, case holders and/or dies, as in not tightening down firm. I just did a good look over my press and found there's noticeable movement in the ram, gave it a bit of lube which reduced the play. The breech lock doesn't tighten down firmly when in its lock position so the dies can move a little, I tightened it past its locking pin and no more movement. Plus the cases have a lot of movement in the case holder, I fixed this by slipping a thin Oring over the case above the case holder which centers the case in the collet die. I neck sized a dozen cases and they were looking a lot straighter, tried to straighten out the crooked cases but to no avail. One thing I did notice when rolling cases on the table was some were showing runout at the shoulder.

That's quite true, if your case starts on the piss it's not easy to fix it. On the other hand, if the case is straight having everything tight and not able to move and align itself you can pull the case out of straight. Horses for courses...

Originally Posted by No.3

That's quite true, if your case starts on the piss it's not easy to fix it. On the other hand, if the case is straight having everything tight and not able to move and align itself you can pull the case out of straight. Horses for courses...

Yeah. I was just reading a post in another forum in regards to lee putting a flare to all new collet dies and the subject of bullet runout came up. One member was talking about modifying his die to reduce runout by making everything all more ridged and other members questioned him on it. Its made me re-think everything.

Being cast lead and in a 303 of probably generous chamber dimensions I would have no hesitation in firing it if it will chamber which im certain it will. I doubt you will notice any change in accuracy.
It's easy to overthink these things.
I sometimes use my lee "wack a mole" loaders for 3030 and 45/70 they dont look as flash as the full die set ones but work just as well.

thats a problem for the rifling to sort out

shoot 3 before it and finish with that one, Id put a friendly bet on it bieng just fine

A little bit off-topic, but I've been wondering how the cam lock bullet pullers go with cast bullets, given the cast bullets are fairly soft and often crimped?

As Marty Henry said, it’s easy to overthink things. We used to cut the tips off fmj 303 ammo at times and shoot out of fucked old barrels, still shot a lot of animals.

Originally Posted by Three O'Three

Ok. After doing quite a bit of research last night in regards to runout I found out its not always bullet seating issues. Can be a case neck runout issues due to FL or neck sizing die issues, which after rolling some already sized cases on a table I could clearly see some wobbly case necks. Bullet and neck runout issues can be due to movement in the presses ram, case holders and/or dies, as in not tightening down firm. I just did a good look over my press and found there's noticeable movement in the ram, gave it a bit of lube which reduced the play. The breech lock doesn't tighten down firmly when in its lock position so the dies can move a little, I tightened it past its locking pin and no more movement. Plus the cases have a lot of movement in the case holder, I fixed this by slipping a thin Oring over the case above the case holder which centers the case in the collet die. I neck sized a dozen cases and they were looking a lot straighter, tried to straighten out the crooked cases but to no avail. One thing I did notice when rolling cases on the table was some were showing runout at the shoulder.

Unless this brass is super rare/expensive, I'd chuck it and use new brass, it does not last forever despite what the AMP people want you to believe!

Originally Posted by caberslash

Unless this brass is super rare/expensive, I'd chuck it and use new brass, it does not last forever despite what the AMP people want you to believe!

These days all brass is super rare/expensive

Originally Posted by Cigar

A little bit off-topic, but I've been wondering how the cam lock bullet pullers go with cast bullets, given the cast bullets are fairly soft and often crimped?

Same hear

if you worried about run out....start your projectile with seating die as normal and then stop and turn it half way around in the die and continue stroke..it SHOULD all things being equal improve your run out no end...everyone Ive suggested this to who actually measures shit confirms it does work.