Seating Consistency

[cdschoonie]

Someone tell me why I can’t get seating consistency? Brand new Starline, across the board, trim, shoulder, bullet, everything is within .001, yet more often than not I get the setting dead on, try rolling through, but on the second one I’m .02 or worse, and have to dial every one in. Is this normal, do I need to expect to dial them all in when going for consistency, or am I doing something wrong? I know people get better consistency than I’m getting.

I’ve also cleaned the die, case head, and case holder.

 

[sklfco]

Are you measuring to the bullet tip or ogive?

 

[rocketman]

You need the Hornady Bullet Comparator kit.

 

[Shadowrider]

You need the Hornady Bullet Comparator kit.

^^^ This. The bullet nose will vary some from bullet to bullet. If you check it with a comparator I bet you are at .002" or less variance if your die is set properly.

 

[red442joe]

What they said^^^, and....
I have seen more seating/col problems with seating stems that don't fit the bullet.
I make all my own.

Joe

 

[rocketman]

The other consideration is how your die is installed in the press. If you don't feel any resistance when the press toggles over then you may need to lower the die. Most die manufacturers recommend to screw in to touch the shell holder and then add another 1/4 turn or so to get that resistance. This problem really shows up worse on a turret press.

 

[cdschoonie]

Are you measuring to the bullet tip or ogive?

Yep

 

[Cowcatcher]

The other consideration is how your die is installed in the press. If you don't feel any resistance when the press toggles over then you may need to lower the die. Most die manufacturers recommend to screw in to touch the shell holder and then add another 1/4 turn or so to get that resistance. This problem really shows up worse on a turret press.

Yessir I set all my presses/dies to cam over on sizing die. This takes operator feel out of the equation and makes everything mechanical.

 

[cdschoonie]

You need the Hornady Bullet Comparator kit.

View attachment 355186

That was it thank you!

 

[rockchalk06]

That was it thank you!

For what it's worth, I have some Hornady A-Tips with machined alunimium tips that are about a buck a piece. Each one of them still vary COAL even at that price.