Topic: Lee bullet seating die versus .223 75gr bullet

[mjmcmahon]

Hi all -

I was trying to load up some 75gr AMAXs for my AR the other night and, unfortunately, I couldn't seat the bullets deeper than 2.32!  Since I don't have the same problem with 69gr Nosler Custom Competitions, I'm guessing it has to do with the bullet length or ogive position.  I haven't called Lee to inquire whether this is a known issue with the die.  For obvious reasons (mostly $$), I'd prefer to avoid going to the Competition seating/sizing dies for the time being.  Any other suggestions for dies?

Thx!

Mike

[RGinIdaho]

Did you just run out of adjustment on the seating stem?

If so, I can measure some other dies and see what the stem lengths are and post the info. I believe that I have Redding, RCBS and Dillon.

Going for ar15 mag length with that bullet could be problematic. You might find that the case mouth winds up ahead of the "driving band" on the bullet. Depending on the diameter of the seating plug, you might find that the seating plug is contacting the case mouth.

Hope that makes sense.

[mjmcmahon]

Thanks RG -

yes, the seating stem just wouldn't turn any farther and it was just a little too long to run through the magazine.  A friend who used to do a lot more reloading for his ARs said that his RCBS die would seat up to an 85gr bullet and still be short enough to run thru the magazine.  That said, my friend has been known to exagerate from time to time.

[RGinIdaho]

Thanks RG -

yes, the seating stem just wouldn't turn any farther and it was just a little too long to run through the magazine.  A friend who used to do a lot more reloading for his ARs said that his RCBS die would seat up to an 85gr bullet and still be short enough to run thru the magazine.  That said, my friend has been known to exagerate from time to time.

Wouldn't turn any farther as in hit a stop or ran out of length?

Maybe different ogive position on the 85gr bullet.

Most are single loading the AMAX. The Sierra 77gr on the other hand has a different design and is used at mag length.

[mjmcmahon]

Wouldn't turn any farther as in hit a stop or ran out of length?

felt to me like it ran out of length...certainly was low enough in the die that it could have.

Maybe different ogive position on the 85gr bullet.

Most are single loading the AMAX. The Sierra 77gr on the other hand has a different design and is used at mag length.

well there you go!  Might've been the wrong bullet for the job.

[RGinIdaho]

I just ran a little test on the three .223 seaters I could quickly locate, Redding, Dillon and RCBS.

All three dies were adjusted until the die touched the case mouth then back off 1/4 turn and locked. In each instance the seating stem could be turned down until the stem touched the case mouth. All three brands had adjustment available to crush the case mouth. RCBS had the most adjustment left due to the design of the stem, screw slot on a threaded stem with a jam nut.

If you want to borrow one, let me know.

[Grumblecakes]

Ive dedicated my Rcbs 223 seater to just 75gr amax (it locks down and a modified the stem alittle for the amax) and use my lee for everything else. Both will seat an amax to mag length. That said the min oal on 75gr amax for 223 is 2.39 I believe. There are a pretty long bullet with a long ogive. If you seat one to mag length you will notice that there is a gap at the case mouth. I did alot of reading when I first got these by mistake and some guys were loading them to may length but it was wrought be dangerous problems, mainly setback from recoil, but accuracy was poor and inconsistent as well. I think seating them to mag length would also create pressure problems as your putting alot of bullet into the case body. I don't nor would I seat them to mag length.

 I use amax and varget for my heavy load. Seating the bullet on the lands puts my length at 2.42. In an ar and some bolt guns it's strictly a single feed afair.  Alot of playing around, about 3-400 rounds I've found these guys to best with little to no jump, in 308 this has been even more true. If you want to shoot 75gr from a magazine the standard hornady bthp shoot very well and are jump tolorant.

[mjmcmahon]

Great feedback, Grumblecakes!  Sounds like this may be a non-issue, especially if seating them to mag length gives no accuracy improvement.  I'll take a look at the other bullets I got from bulletsamples.com and see what other options are available!