Lead Bullets Sticking in Seating Die

[Kirk Freeman]

Getting back into reloading with a Dillon 550. Purchased some .45acp 230 grain RN from the Indiana Bullet Company at the Indy1500 Saturday.

While loading Saturday night, bullets are sometimes sticking in station 3, the seating die. I have to field strip the die and knock the bullet out with a punch. Lubing the bullets (Hornady One Shot) does not seem to help.

This problem does not occur with plated bullets that I have used before.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[sbcman]

Getting back into reloading with a Dillon 550. Purchased some .45acp 230 grain RN from the Indiana Bullet Company at the Indy1500 Saturday.

While loading Saturday night, bullets are sometimes sticking in station 3, the seating die. I have to field strip the die and knock the bullet out with a punch. Lubing the bullets (Hornady One Shot) does not seem to help.

This problem does not occur with plated bullets that I have used before.

What am I doing wrong?

Bullets might be a shade oversized. Not want you want to hear, but it could help to size them down.

ETA: On second thought, it's probably the Dillon. Let me take it off your hands to help out

 

[Classic]

I have had this problem before but hard to day if you are experiencing the same cause. Bullet lube was transferring to the bullet seating punch and due to the shape of the punch was actually creating a suction on the nose of the bullet. This only happened with one brand of bullet and the fix for me was to stop and clean that bullet seating punch every 20-30 rounds.

The oversize bullet suggestion above also makes sense. Just wondering if you measured them yet to see. I love to reload but I don't love reloading non-plated lead bullets.

 

[SEIndSAM]

Check your die and see if is is full of that blue waxy lube. I had the same problem with some 9mm bullets and had to remove the dies and scrape the blue lube out every 150 rounds or so.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Thanks, men, I have much to learn.

Forgive the embarrassing ignorant question, but how does one "size down" a lead bullet?

 

[warthog]

Try cleaning the seater inside, the actual plug that pushes the bullet.

Sometimes excess lube can build up on those and cause this to happen. If this is the trouble clean it up and see if it happens again. If so them look at the bullets and see if there is excess lube on them and clean them up a bit. Also pull a bullet then take a caliper and see if the seating die is squeezing the bullets down and changing their diameter. Sometimes a lead bullet can come out softer than expected making it possible to squeeze them down. This would also squirt the lube out f the case and onto the seating plug. If this is found contact iN Bullet as they had some softer than usual media come in and before they found out about it, bullets went out. I found out some of my order was soft and they are sending me replacements now that they have found the problem and corrected it.

They are a young company and as they learn more about the business this sort of thing will stop happening.

 

[Leo]

Kirk, don't "down size" the bullets to fix a die problem. The bullet to barrel bore relationship is what gives you accuracy and dependability.

BTW a bullet sizing die is simply a slightly tapered hole that ends at a specific diameter. A press mounted punch pushes the bullet all the way through the die, so it ends up the final diameter. When I was a bullet caster, I used a Saeco sizer/luber. Too small of a bullet (only a couple of thousandths can make a big difference) is really a problem. A cast bullet requires a bigger diameter to properly seal as it enters the rifling so there can be the proper "squish" to build the pressure and velocity. A loose fitting cast bullet will lead the bore terribly as it skids across the rifling and blow by gases melt and deform the sides of the bullet.

When you have a bullet stick in the seater die, can you tell if the bullet is binding on the sides or is the tip sticking in wax build up? I used a Dillon with cast bullets for years and never once stuck one. Do you have another brand of seater die to try?

I have just loaded several hundred IBC bullets for the .45 using Lee Dies with no problems.

 

[Josh Ward]

Either you die is gunked up or its a bullet problem.

FWIW I tried some Ind Bullet Co projectiles once, never again. I can get a MUCH better product from Missouri Bullet for pretty much the same $$, or cast my own that are better quality for a LOT less $$$

 

[Water63]

I load alot of IN bullet co stuff. Sometimes the lube can build up on your punch and cause them to stick. What kind of die are you using? My 550 I run Dillon dies I just watch for the build up to start and the new dies a pin pull and quick clean and back in service. I doubt that you have oversize bullets if they have been lubed you would be having other issues in the crimp station if they were too big.

 

[indygunguy]

FWIW I tried some Ind Bullet Co projectiles once, never again. I can get a MUCH better product from Missouri Bullet for pretty much the same $$, or cast my own that are better quality for a LOT less $$$

I had the same experience. The IBC bullets I bought had blue lube all over the place and were so sticky it felt like they were coated in pancake syrup.

I'm using moly-coated bullets from Precision Bullets now. Low price, high quality.

 

[DownByTheTracks]

I use Missouri Bullets, Dillon 550, and RCBS Cowboy dies without problems. Never used IBC before.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

OK, home now. It was smurf vomit all up in the inside of the die. I cleaned it out with a bore brush and milsurp cotton swabs.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

What is the solution to this lube transfer problem?

Put the bullets in the freezer in the basement???

 

[MikeDVB]

What is the solution to this lube transfer problem?

Put the bullets in the freezer in the basement???

I wouldn't freeze them - the solution is probably just to clean the seating die every couple hundred rounds and then switch to a different brand of bullet.

 

[warthog]

The solution is to do what I said earlier, pull a couple bullets, unless you have a hardness tester and see if they are softer than advertised. If so they will replace them for free. Soft bullets can act as I said earlier.

This is a young company. I guess if you would rather drop them because you can't be bothered, do it. The guys are trying to make us bullets right here in IN and this happens to new companies. The test is if they take care of you when something goes wrong.

I don't get squat for defending them, just like to support the new guy in OUR state as they continue to better things. Imagine trying to do this for the first time in a run on every thing firearm? I think they're doing a great job considering...

 

[Kirk Freeman]

warthog, I'm with ya, sir.

I bought the bullets from "Big Mitch" at the Indy1500. I am always happy to help new companies, especially Indiana ones.

As a re-starting reloading newbie (used to reload in high school and undergrad), I want to ensure that I am not messing up, always a concern.

 

[chezuki]

Kirk. Try tossing a few hundred at a time in a large jar with some talcum or mica powder. It makes the the bullets much less tacky and easier to handle.

 

[Leo]

Kirk. Try tossing a few hundred at a time in a large jar with some talcum or mica powder. It makes the the bullets much less tacky and easier to handle.

+1

 

[billybob44]

+2 on Mica..

+1

I have a tub of mica that I use to coat all of my cast bullets that I have lubed with Lee Alox. I use mostly "Jakes Red", but the Alox lubed bullets are sticky..Mica helps...Bill

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Yet another stupid question, where does one procure mica?