Thread: Trouble with seating die

So I ended up buying new dies and they actually arrived. Lyman 8mm mauser dies.

Everything was going great until I went to seat. It got tighter than normal and after checking 3 cases it was blowing the shoulders out or imploding. What causes this?



I put a empty case in just to see and this is what it came out like



When I look into the die I can see the lip that is causing this. Why is it there?

I ended up solving the problem with a budget fix so I could do up 50rounds so I have ammo to shoot off by winding the die right out like so



With it being wound out like that I couldn't push the case in too far making it get crimped in by that lip but I would like to know why the lip is there? I thought it'd be a crimp maybe but then it shouldn't crush my cases or blow out shoulders if that was the case right?

2nd pic isn't showing for me so here it is again

Got your seating die set too low with the locking nut, raise it up a few more turns in the press.
Also, maybe give your cases a trim if you haven't already.

I tried moving it back slowly but as long as the shell holder touches the die it'll do that thing to the neck

Screw the seating die out of the press a few turns.
seat a bullet to the correct length while the die is backed out.
check that the case looks ok and put back in.
unscrew the bullet seating plug.
screw the die back down untill it just touches the case.
lower the case and screw the die 1/8 turn in and set the lock ring.
raise the case fully and screw in the seating plug to touch the bullet.
load another round and see if its ok.

Die to low, trim all brass to same length, put a case right up in the press and wind down the die intill the crimp contacts neck. Now wind up half a turn and set lock nut,done.

Die should not contact shell holder or even get close.

Ahh righto. Thats what I ended up doing. My lee dies dont work like that

Originally Posted by Toby

Ahh righto. Thats what I ended up doing. My lee dies dont work like that

The lyman are seat and crimp dies, to crimp your bullets must have a cannilure and all your brass must be the same length but you know that already from reading the instructions eh

In-wat??? You mean that bit of paper with some pictures and small print

Teach me for not reading it

I thought as much

Originally Posted by Toby

In-wat??? You mean that bit of paper with some pictures and small print

Teach me for not reading it

R
T
F
M


as we say in the trade ( and seldom do ourselves )

OK, So, once again i will put my $.50.
I do understand that "many" of us here do reload our own ammo and we "do have" different ways to do our jobs, however kit should be the same way to all.
I do have Lyman reloading dies too and i do crimp my bullets sometimes too.
The dies who seat and crimp most of the times require 2 steps to do so, first you need to seat the projectile and after then setup the die to crimp.
Now, how i do(or would do) assuming my Brass(cases) are all trimmed to the correct length,
First, seat your die as usual till touch the shell holder, then turn back 3/4-1 full "rotation", make sure your bullet seat "spindle" is fully backed off, so then put a "empty brass(case) in and lift it till touch the top of the brass, do it slowly, check if you can do it till the full length of your press is extended and the case is not crunching in to the die.
Now, if everything is going good you can restart putting a projectile in the press and slowly rise the press till you feel the pressure of the projectile against the brass, IF you can't feel it you can now start slowly screw down the seating "spindle" till it touch the projectile, as it touch the projectile retrieve the press to the initial position and give 1-1.5 turn in the bullet seating "spindle", rise the press once again and check if the projectile is seating as you want it, also check if the crunching is not showing again.
Please, try it and if still not working drop me a PM and i will work out a video or a series of photos that may can help.
I had the same problem with my 7mm Rem Mag, the problem is/was the die was to low in the press.

All the best and good luck!

In time, I do understand what few in here are saying about the "MANUAL" how to set a die, but don't worry, however it has a lot of information not always has the information WE NEED.

Mac

Die too low.Anneal all your brass. Trim to length. Spend some dough and get the M Die i.e. to flare your mouth before you seat. It really is a great die from Lyman.

@Toby your lee seating die does not have a crimper built in as they normally supply a crimp die as a separate process from seating, your lyman die and same for RCBS, Redding and hornady have the crimpers included in the seating die. As VC said stick an empty case into the press fully raise the ram and screw the die down with seater fully screwed out till it contacts case neck and screw back half a turn then set the die to your desired seating depth, your 8x57 will not require crimping anyway with it being a bolt action. Semis, lever actions and pistol rounds require crimping.