OAL varies

Have a fired case in the size die when you set up the bullet seating die. this ensures the toolhead is lifted up fully, as it is when actually loading progressively.

Dillon

I did have a case in station 1 as well as every other station and all was well until I started cranking out the rounds and then the OAL started to vary I did notice that the toolhead moves ? is there a way to secure this or is there something I am missing

I am having a similar issue with 40 S&W with the target OAL at 1.120 

Using:

New unfired Remington .40 S&W Brass

Winchester 165 gn TMJ Bullet

I was getting from a 1.106 to 1.125 swing with about 40% on the low side and about 5%on the high side the rest ot 1.119 to 1.121. I followed the Dillon recommendation here and there was some improvement - 20% at 1.116 to 1.123 the rest at 1.119 to 1.122. seems still to be too big of a swing. Im hoping to get any recommendations to get the OAL more repeatable.

 

 

I have exactly the same problem as hookem3.Only difference is I'm using Montana Gold 180s. Is this normal?

Dillon where are you?

FWIW, I ran a few 40S&W last night and found my OAL only varied by about 0.004" total.  I was using 200gr flat point FMJ and used brass with 4 different headstamps, so I would guess there is something wrong with your setups or technique.  Do you have the seating insert oriented correctly for the bullet type you are using?  May not have an effect at all, but just something to verify.  Seems like you guys are getting way too much variation.

Also, I was reading somewhere that the contact point for round nose bullets can vary up to 0.025" due to things like bullet to bullet variation, so maybe your variation isn't really as far out of line as one would think.

Im going to load some more and recheck. Brass is the same with consistent length. Im loading truncated Cone Winchester and there is very lettle variation in length. 

 

Not sure how to orient the seating die any different than the setup.

If you remove the chrome e-clip from the top of the die, the die will fall out the bottom of the housing (place your free hand under the die to catch the die).  The die is composed of three pieces - an outer die housing, a bullet seating insert, and a pin that holds them together.  The pin can only be inserted one way and will fall out easily.  Remove the pin and the seating insert will slide right out.  The bullet seating insert is reversible and can be assembled with either end oriented downward.  One end has a large flat center section and is designed for flat nose bullets while the other end is a more conical shaped and is designed for round nose bullets.  Make sure you have the proper end oriented down for the type of bullet you are using then reassemble the die.

Ok,

I have read everything I could find as well as your suggestion and finally took everything down and following intructions in the die set. I checked the position of the seating stem of which I did have it in backwards for the type bullet I was loading. I was able to reduce the deviations to within reasonable tolerances for most; -.0005 to + .0015 with a few that went as much as -.009 (I guess. I have not been able to find what the acceptable deviation is) may have been caused by deviation in the bullet itself.

Im satisfied that Im now very close and I have shot about 50 rounds with 2 FTF's.

I also set up the 9mm dies per the instructions and found similar deviations with a few going to as much as -.008.

Certainly not what I was experiencing before.

I appreciate your suggestions.

I thought I might see more discussions about OAL here since I have found several in other forums in regard to the 550. Some now even going to the Redding Competition seating die. Hmmmmm.

 

 

Thanks,