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3/3/2016 6:26:32 PM EDT
Loading 55 gr Hornady's, I decided to switch from my trusty Lee dies and go to the Hornady seater.  

Everything trimmed to 1.75.   OAL set to 2.225 with 24.5 H335

With my Lee dies I'll get OAL from 2.223 - 2.226

With my Hornady dies I'm getting anywhere from 2.219 - 2.231

I've left everything else the same -  Hornady LNL AP press - Prime in station two, charge in station three, seat in station four and Lee FCD in station five.

So yeah, obviously I'm going back to my Lee dies, but why is this happening with the Hornady's?  Is this normal?

Thanks!
3/3/2016 6:41:10 PM EDT
[#1]
Same lot of bullets? If not load some with the Lee dies and see if you get the same variance. Could be looser tolerances in a new lot of bullets.
3/3/2016 6:57:40 PM EDT
[#2]
Same lot.
3/3/2016 7:39:28 PM EDT
[#3]
same brass?  All brass types have different tension / ID so it does vary. but not enough to worry about, just crank them out and burn them up!!
3/3/2016 7:39:35 PM EDT
[#4]
Run an empty casing into the seat die and make sure it isn't coming into contact with the built in roll crimping counter bore.

Motor
3/3/2016 8:44:59 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Loading 55 gr Hornady's, I decided to switch from my trusty Lee dies and go to the Hornady seater.  

Everything trimmed to 1.75.   OAL set to 2.225 with 24.5 H335

With my Lee dies I'll get OAL from 2.223 - 2.226

With my Hornady dies I'm getting anywhere from 2.219 - 2.231

I've left everything else the same -  Hornady LNL AP press - Prime in station two, charge in station three, seat in station four and Lee FCD in station five.

So yeah, obviously I'm going back to my Lee dies, but why is this happening with the Hornady's?  Is this normal?

Thanks!
View Quote



I've been loading the same bullet using Hornady dies.

I'm loading plinking rounds so it doesn't matter as much for me.

I'd suggest if you are loading match ish rounds to use Lee.

Other wise Hornady is fine.
3/3/2016 8:59:48 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:
Loading 55 gr Hornady's, I decided to switch from my trusty Lee dies and go to the Hornady seater.  

Everything trimmed to 1.75.   OAL set to 2.225 with 24.5 H335

With my Lee dies I'll get OAL from 2.223 - 2.226

With my Hornady dies I'm getting anywhere from 2.219 - 2.231

I've left everything else the same -  Hornady LNL AP press - Prime in station two, charge in station three, seat in station four and Lee FCD in station five.

So yeah, obviously I'm going back to my Lee dies, but why is this happening with the Hornady's?  Is this normal?

Thanks!
View Quote


Never did like them Hornady dies.

That said, have you checked the "Seating Stem" to "Bullet Ogive".  Some dies do not play nice with the secant ogive and/or the plastic tip.??
3/3/2016 11:38:00 PM EDT
[#7]
Not having any problems with my Hornady 223 dies, they work great with all 55 gr bullets I tried, and all other bullet weights.



One thing about them is they don't screw down into the press very far when properly adjusted.




Not near as far in as Lee or RCBS. Has to be that way with the floating seater.




Make sure your not hitting the crimp, as in die screwed in too far.




Could also be your bullets as they are seated off the ogive and if your bullets vary a lot, you will see OAL vary widely.
3/4/2016 12:41:51 AM EDT
[#8]
n/m
3/4/2016 8:06:29 AM EDT
[#9]
I had the opposite trouble using v-max bullets, Lee wouldn't seat them as deep as needed(thanks to the ogive). Hornady with its floating stem solved that.
3/4/2016 9:30:11 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote History
Quoted:
Not having any problems with my Hornady 223 dies, they work great with all 55 gr bullets I tried, and all other bullet weights.

One thing about them is they don't screw down into the press very far when properly adjusted.


Not near as far in as Lee or RCBS. Has to be that way with the floating seater.


Make sure your not hitting the crimp, as in die screwed in too far.


Could also be your bullets as they are seated off the ogive and if your bullets vary a lot, you will see OAL vary widely.
View Quote


Same experience with the Hornadys, very consistent.

If not crimping while seating, I only have two possible thoughts, bullets happen to vary more where the Hornadys contact them, or something came loose or didn't go together tight in the press at the same time as the die change.
3/4/2016 11:52:51 AM EDT
[#11]
I am also going to guess it is the seating stem, and where the bullet makes contact with the seating stem..... take both dies apart and do a visual "test" with the bullet and seating stem.

Maybe even try measuring with your Mic.
3/4/2016 6:19:54 PM EDT
[#12]
My AP and Hornady seater yield very consistent ammo. Have you tried cleaning the seater?
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