I'm new to loading .243.......

The pic shows a Hornady 105gr HP Match bullet with the seating stem from my RCBS .243 FL die kit.

I'm getting marks on the bullet from seating using this stem. (And there was not another stem in the box.) These marks are not smooth - I can feel them (slightly) with my fingernail.

Although they're match bullets - I'm not a match shooter. I am trying to see what I can get my loads and gun to do. My objective is paper and steel.

Should I care about these? I can understand this might fall into the category of "Those marks will have less impact than your shooting skills." On the other hand, I don't want to be chasing my tail trying to figure out why things aren't improving at the range and realize I should have fixed this long ago. (I haven't shot these enough to know if I have an issue....I'm just saying I don't want to learn later that I should have fixed it earlier.)

If it is an issue that should be resolved - what is the recommended solution? Can I put something in the stem? Or might RCBS have another stem with a different profile? Or even beyond those - might these marks be defect in the stem?

Thanks!

OR

I ran into the same issue with rcbs dies in 357. The problem is the seater punch is incorrect for the bullet nose shape. I basically got rid of the dies and use another brand with a different style seater punch. Or you can grind of the offending area that contacting the bullet.

Did just take your chances with another die brand to see if it would mar the bullet? Or is there some way to determine definitively if a different brand of dies will not mar it.

I may have to search/approach the issue from the bullet side - e.g. "For those loading 105gr Hornady Match .243 bullets - what brand of dies are you using?"

Thanks.

OR

P.S.: I may have found at least one answer: Apparently custom seating plugs can be ordered from RCBS. You send in 5 sample bullets and they make a plug to fit that bullet.

They can cut you a custom seater plug.Check out their website.

I've never noticed that slight marking to affect my .30-06 loads. There are probably clips on YouTube that show how to make molds for your seating stem to custom fit to your bullets.

But then if you change bullets...

I've had similar issue with 327 seating die from RCBS - it would even cut through PC coating. I've just wrapped a bullet with sand paper chucked it in a drill and "opened" up seater - no more cut coating. Full disclosure: I haven't noticed any difference shooting bullets with damaged coating from my revolver. It might be different for a rifle at long range.

Sounds like the seater is pretty rough. As above, polish the seater until it no longer leaves the marks. Dremel tool will work. Use mothers mag polish.

Common problem with old seating stems designed for tangent ogives when using the newer hybrid secant ogive found on a lot of bullets.

Mostly the marks are cosmetic and should not be a real problem. Had the same issue with my .222 when loading the 50 grain hornady v-max bullet. Problem was resolved by getting a VLD seating stem. I am using Redding dies for my .222 but most makers now offer a VLD seating stem.

I realized I hadn't followed up......

Thanks all. I got some 800 grit emery cloth. I haven't used it yet - my plan is to polish the inside of the seater a little and see how it goes.

Thanks again!

OR

I have a simple solution that will solve your problem. Make a small wad of paper towel and insert it into to die so that the nose of the bullet hits the paper. You will have to readjust the seating stem. This sounds simple, but it works and is free. I have done this for years, believe me, it works.

Personal preference -- a small wad of aluminum foil.

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Pisgah

Try a Forester Bench rest die, they're easy to adjust and makes life much simpler.