Where should the seating die contact the bullet

[Deleted member 46119]

For years we've all been taking "base to ogive" measurements. Seating bullets ti ogive measurements instead of COAL.

My factory seating dies all contact the bullet at about %50 of diameter, maybe less.

Where should it contact?
What is the optimal contact location?

I don't mean where does it. I know that. Across brands it's at %50 ish of diameter. Is that "best" if we are not measuring seating depth to that location?

 

[Buttermilk]

My opinion (and it's just that...) would be closer to bullet diameter than what my current dies contact - it's less than 50% bullet diameter.

I think if it was 75%-80% or even more, it would likely decrease bullet runout caused by seating the bullet.

 

[243winxb]

Redding

The seating stem is precision ground to exactly match the bullet diameter.

??? I dont have one. Competition Bullet Seating Die - Redding Reloading Equipment: reloading equipment for rifles, handguns, pistols, revolvers and SAECO bullet casting equipment

 

[Mikecr]

My reply about lapping stem advice in the current VLD thread:
Be careful with a fit too perfect. This can lead to excess wedging contact up & down the nose, with varying seating forces. This is also the reason you don't want seater stem datums near land contact datums. The angles would be too shallow for the stem to dig into grip.
Either causing inconsistent CBTOs.

Believe me, there is a very good reason seater stems contact low on the nose and at angles differing from most ogive profiles.
Just look at the angles & reason through it.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

My reply about lapping stem advice in the current VLD thread:
Be careful with a fit too perfect. This can lead to excess wedging contact up & down the nose, with varying seating forces. This is also the reason you don't want seater stem datums near land contact datums. The angles would be too shallow for the stem to dig into grip.
Either causing inconsistent CBTOs.

Believe me, there is a very good reason seater stems contact low on the nose and at angles differing from most ogive profiles.
Just look at the angles & reason through it.

That makes sense. I did stick a bullet in the seating stem while seating a wildcat with a VLD bullet, was using a large die so I was sure the case would clear. Easy fix, use a smaller die/stem until the proper seater was made up.