BringBackThe80s
FNG
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2023
- Messages
- 38
How much variation is typical when seating bullets?
I am using 2 Hornady Custom dies with micrometer top and 1 Redding Competition Seater die (also micrometer), all in a Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic press. If I set a seating depth and just load 10 or 25 rounds and only check them with the comparator afterward, then I find variations of 1-3 thousandths plus or minus. (More variation when seating compressed loads, less when there's ample space.) I have found those variations with 4 different .243/6mm bullets and at least 3 different .308 bullets. To deal with the variability, I often back the micrometer off by ~2 thousandths before first seating each bullet, then measure BTO and dial 1 to 4 thou more as needed to seat within a half-thousandth of my intended BTO.
So, how much variation is typical when seating a bunch of rounds without measuring every time a round leaves the die?
What +/- tolerance do you require for seating depth (BTO)?
+/- tolerance you accept
I am using 2 Hornady Custom dies with micrometer top and 1 Redding Competition Seater die (also micrometer), all in a Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic press. If I set a seating depth and just load 10 or 25 rounds and only check them with the comparator afterward, then I find variations of 1-3 thousandths plus or minus. (More variation when seating compressed loads, less when there's ample space.) I have found those variations with 4 different .243/6mm bullets and at least 3 different .308 bullets. To deal with the variability, I often back the micrometer off by ~2 thousandths before first seating each bullet, then measure BTO and dial 1 to 4 thou more as needed to seat within a half-thousandth of my intended BTO.
So, how much variation is typical when seating a bunch of rounds without measuring every time a round leaves the die?
What +/- tolerance do you require for seating depth (BTO)?
+/- tolerance you accept