Reloading headache with bullet seating issues

[Rileyz]

This is my first post here. Been browsing for a while. I'm about at my wits end. I'm not an advanced Reloader but have never had major issues reloading either. I'm loading a 6.5prc with adg brass and 139 Lapua scenars. I have a Forster seating micrometer and a Redding bushing die. I used my rcbs die to full length size brass and the bullets just had a very faint ring. I decided later to get a Redding bushing die with a .291 bushing and also decided to get a .262 expander mandrel to have more consistent neck tension. The first load had pretty strong tension and left a very noticeable indentation in the bullet. The diameter of the brass neck with the bullet seated is now .294. It was .293 after running the mandrel through it. Obviously I'm doing something wrong and is probably simple. First time going this route and would appreciate any info. Thanks.

Sorry so long winded.

 

[Koda_]

Forster seating dies need to be custom ground to your bullets ogive profile.

 

[Rileyz]

Forster seating dies need to be custom ground to your bullets ogive profile.

Ok. Thanks. I've seated vld bullets with Forster 7mm and it worked great. Maybe I'll just have to deal with my basic rcbs seater. I'd just screw something up trying to mess with their dies.

 

[Rileyz]

Forster seating dies need to be custom ground to your bullets ogive profile.

I've also found Forster impossible to get a hold of after no response to e mails and not getting through by calling. Too bad. I had great luck with their 7mm micrometer die.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Forster seating dies need to be custom ground to your bullets ogive profile.

What? I have not had to do that to load berger 215s, 195s, or hornady 143 elds on various calibers using forester micrometer seating dies.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

@Rileyz what's your neck thickness? inside diameter before and after the mandrel? Is the bullet getting marked on the ogive or where the neck grips it?

 

[PddPdd]

This is my first post here. Been browsing for a while. I'm about at my wits end. I'm not an advanced Reloader but have never had major issues reloading either. I'm loading a 6.5prc with adg brass and 139 Lapua scenars. I have a Forster seating micrometer and a Redding bushing die. I used my rcbs die to full length size brass and the bullets just had a very faint ring. I decided later to get a Redding bushing die with a .291 bushing and also decided to get a .262 expander mandrel to have more consistent neck tension. The first load had pretty strong tension and left a very noticeable indentation in the bullet. The diameter of the brass neck with the bullet seated is now .294. It was .293 after running the mandrel through it. Obviously I'm doing something wrong and is probably simple. First time going this route and would appreciate any info. Thanks.

Sorry so long winded.

So the indentation (problem) is created by the seating die on the bullet ogive when seating bullets?

 

[Rileyz]

@Rileyz what's your neck thickness? inside diameter before and after the mandrel? Is the bullet getting marked on the ogive or where the neck grips it?

Here's a picture. I double checked the few rounds I loaded and brass I'd prepped. The neck was actually .291 after the mandrel and .293 with the bullet seated.Brass thickness in the neck stayed about the same at .014. I just seated a round with my rcbs seater, and it still felt like I had to push harder than I should, it didn't leave that indentation and just a faint ring.

 

[Rileyz]

So the indentation (problem) is created by the seating die on the bullet ogive when seating bullets?

Yes

 

[Koda_]

Ok. Thanks. I've seated vld bullets with Forster 7mm and it worked great. Maybe I'll just have to deal with my basic rcbs seater. I'd just screw something up trying to mess with their dies.

I think some bullet profiles get lucky but it was a frustrating lesson for me too. None of my other seating dies leave a mark but for some reason Forster decided theirs should be fitted to each bullet.
Mine left a huge ring and thats what I was told, i just went back to my old dies.

 

[Rileyz]

I think some bullet profiles get lucky but it was a frustrating lesson for me too. None of my other seating dies leave a mark but for some reason Forster decided theirs should be fitted to each bullet.
Mine left a huge ring and thats what I was told, i just went back to my old dies.

Thanks. There seems to still be more tension than normal with my rcbs die too, but the numbers seem to match up giving me around .002 neck tension. Not sure what to think. The faint ring from the rcbs doesn't bother me, but still feels tight.

 

[Koda_]

What? I have not had to do that to load berger 215s, 195s, or hornady 143 elds on various calibers using forester micrometer seating dies.

I had the same issue as the OP and other reloaders told me i needed to sent it in with a bullet sample or grind it myself.
Its possible these are rare cases and most dont need this but i thought Forsters needed to be fit to the exact bullet. I thought there was an order page on their website for sending them in but havnt looked in a while.

I just want back to my other dies and forgot about it for now.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Guess I've been lucky so far.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Thanks. There seems to still be more tension than normal with my rcbs die too, but the numbers seem to match up giving me around .002 neck tension. Not sure what to think. The faint ring from the rcbs doesn't bother me, but still feels tight.

Some of the resistance you're feeling is compressing the spring on the sliding sleeve. Also, there's a difference between a shiny ring and a dent, are you sure the bullet is dented?

It does seem to be a seating stem fitment issue, your other neck numbers all look good.