Is it ok to begin reloading w/ a progressive set up?

[Skip Sackett]

Think it through

Keith,
If the case is too small or the bullet too big but the belling is enough to get the bullet seated, what will happen to the nose when you are trying to seat it?

Seeing as that is the focal point of all the pressure to seat the bullet, it can deform. If it is soft lead this is very possible.

I'll find a picture and post it.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Is the base of this bullet deformed? No way to tell. I know the hand-loader that loaded these and I would have a problem believing that it is. Is the nose? Yes. This is what I am talking about.

I also have some pictures of my own stuff that is similar. I'll try to find them.

 

[Skip Sackett]

OK,
Here are some of mine. Not much deformation, but some. The only reason is that the cases are thicker than most, I like that.

First one is of three 40S&W. The one with the deformed nose on the bullet is just a normally sized case and load. It was loaded on a Dillon Square Deal. Notice the end of the bullet and the "ring" around the ogive.



The next one is a 45ACP. I cast the bullets myself and have since gotten rid of the mold. The bullets came out of it out of round and the widest part was .4545"! Because the ogive is of the same radius as the diameter, these caused some real problems trying to get a satisfactory OAL for my PT1911.



Notice the unequal sizing marks and the "ring" around the nose of the bullet.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I hope these convey my thoughts.

 

[Paul5388]

Skip,

The nose damage on those .45 ACP actually came from the sizing operation. I used a 421 nose punch instead of a 424.

I tried to rely on memory and that was proof that it was a bad policy.

I think the principle is still the same as what you've contended, whether it's a sizing die or a seating die. Too much force on the nose, from whatever issue, does deform the nose. I'm quite sure the base of those bullets are very acceptable, since I looked while I was loading them.

 

[Skip Sackett]

actually came from the sizing operation.

I have had the same type of thing only not for the same reason. I use a flat punch (homemade) for my H&G #68 type bullets. The Lee mold throws them at a pretty generous size and there is a lot of force used to size them. The nose gets "flattened" in the process. I know they make special top punches but I guess I am just too cheap to buy them.

A little flat nose between friends, no big deal!

In my 40 caliber picture, both pictures are thumbnails and can be clicked on to enlarge, if you look close enough to the HP section you will see some flattening as well. These are Berry's plated HP bullets. Tougher than most plated ones, much more than Ranier's.

At any rate, just trying to explain myself as well as I can. Sometimes it just takes a picture!

 

[Amici]

Originally posted by smith crazy:
First one is of three 40S&W. The one with the deformed nose on the bullet is just a normally sized case and load. It was loaded on a Dillon Square Deal. Notice the end of the bullet and the "ring" around the ogive.

Ah. Two observations:

1. Deformation during seating is hardly unique to progressive presses. Or turrets or any other press. It is a function of an error in the combination of seating die/bullet/case/operator. One can ruin cases on a Rock Chucker - ask me how I know.

2. What we have heah is FAYLYURE t'COMMUNICATE!

A mere ring from the seating plug is not exactly "deformation," which is what the issue was stated to be. I just loaded nigh on to a thousand .45 RNFP's myself; a new bullet (Bear Creek having imploded over a year and a half ago). The Dillon seating die puts a slight ring on the new bullet. However, it does not "deform" the bullet to any extent.

For real deformation, the effects of seating an oversized bullet, or seating a normal bullet with the wrong size/shape seating plug would be examples. Note that, whatever the effect on the actual bullet nose, it will be its base which generally suffers damage first and most. We all know what direction the feces flows, now don't we....

 

[Paul5388]

After getting a little over exuberant in seating gas checks on a 311291, I noticed the loaded bullets were not concentric. They actually were crooked in the case. There wasn't anything wrong with the base, since I looked when I was loading them, but there was certainly something wrong with the rest of the bullet!

Without something to provide resistance to the base, there is no way to deform it in the seating operation. OTOH, the friction furnished by the sides of a case can be sufficient to cause the seating punch/plug to deform the nose of the bullet. A ring around the nose is not a deformed bullet, flattened is deformed.

 

[Skip Sackett]

I just noticed my pictures are in the wrong place! OOPS!

The 40S&W are the bottom pictures and the 45ACP is the top!


Technology.