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

[jamesey]

I’ll give it a whirl with the 307 mandrel
I’ve got 306 and 307 so I’ll swap it out and see if that helps.

Also ordered the VLD stem which LE Wilson recommends for this bullet type

Thanks again for all your responses very much appreciated

I’ll report back and hopefully let you know I’ve solved this.

 

[kenbro]

I’ve read the thread but can’t remember seeing whether you anneal the cases, do you?
Thanks, Ken.

 

[jamesey]

I’ve read the thread but can’t remember seeing whether you anneal the cases, do you?
Thanks, Ken.

First fired so no annealing yet
Will be next time around

 

[jamesey]

Ok so I’ve tested the VLD seating stem
From LE Wilson per advice I got here and echoed in the response I got (quickly I should add) from LE Wilson tech support

The VLD drift / stem is the answer

Bullet seated to correct dept
Normal amount of pressure on press
No rings despite several seatings as I got to
Target seating depth with newly fitted stem

Thank you all for your help
I hope this assists others

I do note significant suction now
When seating in the chamber die but as I’ve not got consistency and no bullet damage
I’m happy.

 

[paul o']

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,

I had get the same so I made my own seating stem. Oversize any one of the stems you have wax a bullet completely clean and mix up some JB weld place this inside you stem press in the bullet of choice with perfection and let dry clean off flash once it's 99% dry remove the lubed bullet and Bingo you have a perfect seating stem.
All that said i switched to an LE wilson arbor seating and collect dies for my target shooting.

 

[75]

I had get the same so I made my own seating stem. Oversize any one of the stems you have wax a bullet completely clean and mix up some JB weld place this inside you stem press in the bullet of choice with perfection and let dry clean off flash once it's 99% dry remove the lubed bullet and Bingo you have a perfect seating stem.
All that said i switched to an LE wilson arbor seating and collect dies for my target shooting.

I know this is a widely suggested option but how do you ensure you're creating the new seater hole completely concentric? If you don't get it quite right then every bullet you seat will be a touch out. I just bought the VLD stem as I couldn't convince myself it'd not bug me later if my groups weren't good enough!

 

[jamesey]

Im gonna stick with the VLD as is
And no mods
I can’t ensure accuracy so don’t want to interfere with an other wise accurate and repeatable process

 

[kenbro]

Nice to hear, when things work out.
Cheers, Ken.

 

[hw101]

Ok so I’ve tested the VLD seating stem
From LE Wilson per advice I got here and echoed in the response I got (quickly I should add) from LE Wilson tech support

The VLD drift / stem is the answer

Bullet seated to correct dept
Normal amount of pressure on press
No rings despite several seatings as I got to
Target seating depth with newly fitted stem

Thank you all for your help
I hope this assists others

I do note significant suction now
When seating in the chamber die but as I’ve not got consistency and no bullet damage
I’m happy.

My experience mirrors yours.
Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Demetrius]

I solved the same problem by switching to a Lee collet die.....

D

 

[jamesey]

I solved the same problem by switching to a Lee collet die.....

D

I don’t want to move away from the LE WILSON chamber die. With the new stem its problem solved and it cost me £35 so I’m happy and I know my seating is dialled in right with the micrometer top and VLD stem.

 

[kenbro]

I don’t want to move away from the LE WILSON chamber die. With the new stem its problem solved and it cost me £35 so I’m happy and I know my seating is dialled in right with the micrometer top and VLD stem.

I love those Wilson chamber dies.
Ken.

 

[jamesey]

I love those Wilson chamber dies.
Ken.

Yeah - I love that the bullet can only go in one way. It’s consistent it’s totally repeatable and for the the rounds I’m making everything I can control and make consistent helps my cause especially when we’re trying to ring steel at 1mile plus.

 

[paul o']

I know this is a widely suggested option but how do you ensure you're creating the new seater hole completely concentric? If you don't get it quite right then every bullet you seat will be a touch out. I just bought the VLD stem as I couldn't convince myself it'd not bug me later if my groups weren't good enough!

You make sure the level and the bullet matches it with a scope level tool or just a bubble its very easy if your in any doubt draw a center line at two points and match them up.

 

[jamesey]

Chaos just wanted to report back the new VLD drift/ stem is the answer to the rings
Shot 100 rounds on weekend sd 4.9
And posting bullets through a target the size of an orange at 1200 yards so we’re all good

Thank you for all the suggestions and help
Le Wilson assistance have also been great