Lee seating die & 40g vmax

3.5mag

Well-Known Member
Little problem for a relative novice.
I've loaded some test loads for my .223 using lapua cases, 40gr. Vmax and Lee dies. My Hornady manual shows a max col of 2.200 but my seating die will only max out( Min ) to 2.255. Whilst I realise the ballistic tips may be a possible problem for measuring purposes, is this a common result?
I tried them through my rifle chamber, and the bolt was free and no land marks on the bullet ogive so am I worrying about nothing?
Incidentally I did try a Fiocchi factory 55gr. round in the die, screwed it down until I could feel it touch and there was only fractional movement left to bottom ou the die. I've never had any of this with my .222 die so I'm curious.

Cheers
Mike
 
If you really want to solve the non issue, get another shell holder (£5?) and grind the face incrementally, making sure it remains flat.

Waiting for someone to chime in saying you need a more expensive 'match' seater :cuckoo:
 
Not at all, just surprised the die wouldn't seat any deeper. I don't chase the lands, I just use the book col etc and use only Lee for simplicity & economy and I'm obviously not as experienced as your good self. As mentioned I had no problems with my .222 die and the same with my .243.
 
I load 40g VMax in 22 hornet using a Lee seater die and can easily get them down below SAAMI col (1.723)
Mind you, they look horrible at that length so I seat them to 1.850 - at which depth they work very well

Cheers

Bruce
 
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