Another new guy question

dm3280 · July 28, 2008, 04:03:14 PM

I hav noticed that when loading these rather short bullets I am having a problem keeping them centered in the shell as I push them home. Normally the die keeps the bullet straight but in this case I think due to the shortness of the bullet it has a nack for tilting and not going in straight. How do others seat the bullet straight? Do you use an in-line seater and if so who makes it?

Thanks

R-71 · July 28, 2008, 05:42:26 PM

I am using a Lee turret press and the dies that Taylor sold when the Spencers first hit the scene. I am not sure who made them.
I have been loading from a supply of Starline virgin brass, which I prime and then charge(8.7Grns Unique) using a 45acp charge die from lee with the lee disk powder measure, the case will not enter the die I just raise the case until it meets the die and actuate the measure by hand. I then seat a bullet with the seating die. my bullets are as cast Lyman W/ lee alox lube. This was the first load I tried and it shot around 2-3" from a bench at 100yds.

I have not had any problems with the bullets tipping, however they are kind of sticky from the alox so they grip the case mouth. I have not been belling the case mouth at all. prehaps guiding the bullet until it just enters the die would help.

dm3280 · July 28, 2008, 07:02:17 PM

Thanks for the info. I will give it a try. I just measured my last loads for bullet runout and it is rather high, from .0010 - .0015 which is rather a large amount. I shoot a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70 and use a Meachum bullet seater and I checked those and the bullet runout is around .001 - .002.

Another thing I am going to try is not resizing my brass. Once fired I will deprime then clean and then load.

Thanks again

Sureshot · July 30, 2008, 03:06:04 PM

I use the Lyman dies which come with an "M" die for case mouth expanding that has two diameters on the expanding plug, 0.509 on the bottom part, and 0.517 on the top. I run it into the case far enough so that the 0.517 dia. goes into the case mouth about 3/32" or so. This leaves a short parallel section that the bullet can be started into by hand prior to being seated and crimped. Seems to keep things inline for me.
Steve

dm3280 · July 30, 2008, 04:03:31 PM

I just cleaned some cases I fired and did not resize. I tried to push a bullet into the case and it looks like it may go in with thumb pressure. If this works it may be a way for me to seat the bullets straighter. I can crimp in a seperate step. With my old method the bullets did go in a little off center and one side of the bullet after seating looked a little deformed. After shooting these loads I wiped after each shot and found a small sliver of lead about the size of the deformed piece I saw.
If using cases that have not been resized does not work I will be buying a set of dies like you mentioned.

I know these guns can shoot much better than I have seen so far. Just have to find the magic formula. Although I guess I can't complain. So far I am at 3/4 inch at 50 yards, I may have already found the magic formula. I just don't want to rest until I have exausted all variables. With the cost of lead, primers, brass, rifle, gas to get to the range, etc I want every shot to count. If I just want to hear a bang I could buy fireworks much cheaper

Plus this gives me excuses to buy more toys for reloading.

Thanks for the info.

Two Flints · July 30, 2008, 04:31:48 PM

Hi Dm3280,

So

, so far

, what is the magic formula you have arrived at? Share your information, please

Then, update when you change it

Two Flints

Sureshot · July 30, 2008, 08:42:13 PM

Dm3280,
Do you mean you're getting 3/4" groups at 50yds. or 3" to 4" groups?
If they are 3/4" I wouldn't change a thing. But I might go buy a lottery ticket

The best I have ever done with my 56-50 carbine at 50 yds. is 2 1/2", and I'm pretty happy with that, considering the lousy sights and horrendous trigger pull.
Steve

dm3280 · July 31, 2008, 06:17:27 AM

3/4 of an inch is my best so far. Most times it is 1 inch groups at 50 yards. I am typing up my methods for loading BP cartridges and will post a picture of one of my groups. I had it all type up but when I tried to Post due to the picture size I lost everything. I am typing it up in Word and will cut and past the info and put photo's on another site put the sites in the document. I am a bit wordy so it is a little long winded. Soon as I complete it I will post.

Keep in mind I am shooting from sandbags and cleaning after every shot. I want to find the best round. Once I do I will see how they do without cleaning after each round.