Rings / Gouging on bullet tips using LE WILSON chamber type seating die.

[jamesey]

I have run into problems seating 250gn Hornady A-TIPS for 300PRC cal ammo

I am using Lapua brass
Neck sizing
And running a mandrel through my brass
Chamfer and debur to prep case neck
Before priming / dosing with powder and
Finally treating neck with dry neck lube

Regardless off how much dry case lube I use
Either by carefully applying with a Q-TIP or by dunking the round into the dry lube I am getting resistance when seating bullet tips
And the resistance results in gouged rings
In the bullet tips.

Does anyone have experience of this and can anyone offer any advice on how I might eliminate this.

It’s causing seating depth inconsistency
And I’m using a chamber die with micrometer and arbor press for the sake of ensuring consistent seating depth everytime and despite my best efforts it’s not happening,

 

[Lateral]

Not uncommon on some of the modern hi BC bullets. I’ve solved this in two different ways.

1) the die manufacturer has the option of an alternative part, designed for seating this type of bullet.

2) I removed the die part, and modified the shape of the opening/taper, using a bullet, wrapped in some suitable sand paper, with the die part held in a drill chuck.

 

[2Ll’s]

I had the same with my ABLR’s changed my bushing size and lubed, all good now, if that had not worked I was going to get the VLD seater for my die.

 

[Jax]

I’ve had similar results in the past. It’s most likely excessive neck tension. You may need a bigger mandrel. I’ve also resorted to bedding the seating stem with devcon to stop of the indent.

How many times have you reloaded the brass? It may need annealing

 

[shoppe]

Could be at first look,your neck tension is far too high.
As above,you need a different size mandrel.
I have never seen damage like that before.
Seen plenty of very slight marks on the jacket but that is a new level of damage to me.
However,
I am just waiting to get my 300prc. Should get it in about 3 weeks. I have been doing research as i will be using the same bullet as you.
I am expecting my ammo to have the bullet seated much further out than your picture shows.

Looking at your picture.it
looks like the bullet is seated very deep for a 300prc.
Maybe it's seated too deep and it jammed against the powder?
Some of my loads are compressed and when seating the bullet, I can hear a very slight crunch but only when seating the bullet the final few thou.
I think this could be your problem, bullet seated too deep.
Cheers
Shoppe

 

[hw101]

I had exactly the same problem with 150 grain eldx in 7-08.
My rifle seemed to like the neck tension with a .310 bushing and I didn’t want to change.
Solved the problem by buying the vld seater as others describe. Good luck!

 

[shoppe]

This is a photo of a 230 a tip .
My rifle will have the same chamber

 

[Jamsie]

I have had a similar ... though not quite as drastic effect when using Hornady 130 ELDM's. I'm using a Forster Micrometer seating die and I'm going to modify the seating stem slightly and carefully using a bullet wrapped in very fine abrasive paper. Neck tension is very consistent.

Jamsie

 

[kenbro]

Agree with much of the above.
Interested in how much neck tension you are using?
I think the instructions with Wilson chamber seaters state that you might get marks around the bullet tip. Will have to check my instructions to confirm that.
Ken.

 

[Utectok]

Does it happen with an empty case? If not your seating too deep and crushing powder

 

[shoppe]

1 thou to 2 thou is normally enough tension.
That's a good idea above to test with empty case.

 

[jamesey]

Guys - first up thank you for the amazing response to this question -‘lots of great suggestions and I’m gonna first eliminate this potential issue of crushing

I’m at 79.8gr powder
I don’t think my seating depth is all that extreme and to put this in perspective
I started by using the hornady gauge to find the lands and back off from there

I established max mag and COAL
And then seated “just” sufficient to get the nose of the bullet to clear the inside of my mag

Some of the rounds I had issue with in those photos the worst of the damage is evident on the longest rounds where they had to be fed over top of mag and I couldn’t mag load them so I don’t “think” it’s crushing powder

I am going to follow same process as without powder and see how I go

I have experienced this issue with my starting load of 70grn so even with more room in case I’ve hit this issue

I have seen a thread on snipers hide
That specifically mentions the issue of the LE Wilson chamber die and Lapua brass

My neck tension is set to 2 thou
I’m using a bushing die and mandrel

I also mandrel and then almost immediately dose the cartridge with powder and seat the bullet to avoid any spring back

I’ll report back once I’ve tested a dry round

 

[shoppe]

It still looks to me very deep seated.
Now a stupid question, is you magazine the one that takes loaded rounds at 3.850 col?

 

[jamesey]

It still looks to me very deep seated.
Now a stupid question, is you magazine the one that takes loaded rounds at 3.850 col?

The mag takes longer rounds but my COAL is a fag paper under the max mag length

I’ve tested an empty case today and it created a ring and seating force was horrible still

LE Wilson support recommended I check neck tension and swap my stem for the VLD
Version

 

[jcampbellsmith]

What is your mandrel diameter?
Regards
JCS

 

[shoppe]

Ok, must be a neck tension issue.
Cheers
Shoppe

 

[jamesey]

What is your mandrel diameter?
Regards
JCS

ARC titanium 306 mandrel
To give me 2 thou neck tension

Thank you

 

[jcampbellsmith]

ARC titanium 306 mandrel
To give me 2 thou neck tension

Thank you

Much too small. Try 0.3075.
Regards
JCS

 

[jamesey]

Much too small. Try 0.3075.
Regards
JCS

I’ll that a go
Thank you

 

[shoppe]

It's 307 mandrel I use on my 308.
It's plenty tension with that.
Shoppe