Best seating die for conical JHP

[cracker57]

Both my CZ 75bd and my PCR like the Precision Delta 124 JHP, what's the best seating die for JHP's? My OAL is all over the place and I would like to get some consistency out of the Dillon 650. I use mixed range brass which I know will cause a variance, and the shell plate is tight. Looking to keep OAL variance to a minimum.
 
Thanks

[George16]

I’m using a Redding Competition Seater Die.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018047052

[SoCal]

Are you seating and crimping in two different stages?

[Togmaster]

I’m using a Redding Competition Seater Die.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018047052

Same here.

[Fuzzy Sights]

Cracker57,

Depends on the bullet you are using.  As all the profiles are different you need the seating stem to match your bullet.  I use XTP bullets and have a Hornady seating die. Does not work worth garbage on CCI Gold Dots or Berry's hollow point bullets.  Hornady does offer a custom service and they will make you one based on the bullet you are using.

Best of luck.

JW

[tdogg]

While the Redding is a super die (I have one in 40S&W), it may not be a solution to your problem.  I'm guessing your OAL is "all over the place" because of an inconsistent handle pull or an unstable reloading bench or inconsistent/missing case lube.  If this isn't your first rodeo and you have a rock solid reloading bench/process, then you may benefit from a better seating anvil.

If you sort your brass by headstamp and load a batch, how much does your OAL variance improve?  Different headstamp brass requires subtle different forces to resize and that can contribute to different handle pulls and different bullet seating.  This is where case lube comes into play as a significant benefit.

What are you currently using for dies?
What is "all over the place" in numbers?

Cheers,
Toby

[Wobbly]

1) I use a Dillon seating die with a homemade seating anvil.





Also works on XTP and HAP bullets.

My OAL is all over the place and I would like to get some consistency out of the Dillon 650.

2) Variations in OAL can be the seating anvil, but on a progressive press these typically involve issues at the Sizing Station which is occurring concurrently. Generally the issue is related to lack of lubrication. While it is true that with carbide dies you won't need lubrication, but that doesn't mean that lubrication won't help eliminate your problem.

What I do is knock all the cases (100 to 500) to be loaded over onto their side on a towel used only for spray lube. Then I give the group 2 shots of Dillon Case Lube from 3 feet away, and roll them up in the towel and use the towel to jostle them around. Then I immediately pour the contents of the towel into the case feeder. This adds a whopping 1 minute onto my loading time. Been doing it this way for about 5 years and I've used up a 1/4 of a bottle. [Hornady One Shot will do the same thing, but you'll need to pour the brass into a zip lock bag and wait 24 hours.]

It's quick, it's easy, it's inexpensive, and it makes all the difference in the world.


Hope this helps

[lewmed]

  I think tdogg and Wobbly gave some good advise.  Make sure your press is mounted rock solid and use a good case lube and your OAL variance will improve. My choice of case lube is Hornady One Shot it is non petroleum based and won't contaminate powder or primers and you can use the brass right away no need to wait. Dillons lube is also great but it has a lanolin like base and if you use too much it will build up in your  case feeder.

[cracker57]

Thanks for the replies,
 so I am getting an OAL from 1.118 to 1.132, I am shooting for 1.125
i seat and crimp in two stations, I am using Hornady one shot case lube, and my press is rock solid.
 Is +/- .0.007 nothing to worry about? As a long time long gunner this to me is huge.
 I must say I was only lubing about 30% of my cases, I will try giving them a good lube job next.

[SI VIS PACEM PARRABELLUM]

I must say I was only lubing about 30% of my cases, I will try giving them a good lube job next.

Yes lube them all and as tdogg suggested above separate some by headstamp and see what the oal's come out to be.

[Wobbly]

Dillon's [case] lube is also great, but it has a lanolin like base and if you use too much it will build up in your  case feeder.

Lanolin, unlike most of the all-natural oils, is a high-pressure lubricant still used in modern industry. It has a lubricity that is almost unmatched. If you can get a tiny bit of Dillon Case Lube on every 4th or 5th case you're going to be OK because the lubricity clings to the Sizing Die and goes on to lubricate the next several cases.

This is why you can spray from 3 feet away and use only 2 squirts. The lubrication effect is so great, you don't need to get it on every single case. True, you may not want to get it inside the case... which is why I knock them all over onto their sides.


And it's also a great humidity barrier. I spray my Hornady dies with it and they don't show any rust.

[Wobbly]

Thanks for the replies, so I am getting an OAL from 1.118 to 1.132", I am shooting for 1.125". Is +/-0.007" nothing to worry about?

IMHO, that's extremely excessive. You're not getting enough pressure difference to be "absolutely too dangerous", but you're getting enough to most proabably affect shot placement. I bet your SD numbers are all over the place. If you're not able to achieve Std Deviation numbers under 15, then that's most likely why.

Whereas, I see single digit SD numbers all the time.

[tdogg]

Thanks for the replies,
 so I am getting an OAL from 1.118 to 1.132, I am shooting for 1.125
i seat and crimp in two stations, I am using Hornady one shot case lube, and my press is rock solid.
 Is +/- .0.007 nothing to worry about? As a long time long gunner this to me is huge.
 I must say I was only lubing about 30% of my cases, I will try giving them a good lube job next.

Yeah that seems like a large extreme spread.

 I'd try lubing more cases, I use a large Ziploc and spray cases and shake the bag mixing the lube and cases.  Some folks use a pillow case or a towel to lube and mix.

I'd also work on a solid consistent handle pull every time.

Cheers,


Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

[Wobbly]

I seat and crimp in two stations, I am using Hornady OneShot case lube, and my press is rock solid.

• I have never used Hornady OneShot, but from my reading the biggest mistake made by most users is that they fail to allow the OneShot to cure. Apparently, there is a huge difference in the lubricity if you wait several hours. I don't know this, but I have seen this posted by numerous users so many times I've lost count.

• So was there a resolution to this question ?? What was the outcome ?

[sevt_chevelle]

I've used the same bullets along with the V2.  I found the V2 to be more consistent.  Noticed the V1 bullets don't engage the redding comp die the greatest, so I modified it.