MikeJ Posted October 29, 2018 Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 Something is not quite right...…. the 142gr MK is long and slender, and although the tip doesn't "bottom out" in the seating die the bullet doesn't sit snugly and wobbles somewhat as though the surface of the seating plug isn't well-matched to the shape of the bullet (does that make sense?). Consequently the bullets, when seated in the case, do not appear to be concentric and have visible run-out at the tip. Is the Lee die just completely unsuitable? I would be surprised (my Lee .308 die coped perfectly well with 175TMK) but perhaps there's a modification that can be made? Any thoughts please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triffid Posted October 29, 2018 Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 You can drill out the seating plug easily enough. Use a 3 or 4mm bit to increase the depth of the hole so that the bullet sits on the ogive rather than the tip. There's discussion on the technique here: http://www.65creedmoor.com/index.php?topic=8519.0 Triffid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJ Posted October 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 Thanks Triffid. After I posted my query I put the seater plug in the lathe, drilled the hole deeper and reprofiled it to approximate the shape of the bullet. It now seems OK. The plug is now pushing on a larger diameter part of the ogive. Thanks for the link - the epoxy "bedding" idea that was suggested there might be worth trying too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triffid Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 Lathe? Gosh, that's sophisticated . . . I did mine with a cordless drill! Having just built a concentricity gauge and starting to measure run-out, I find the (modified) Lee seating die to give only marginally more runout than the much more expensive Forster benchrest micrometer one (3.9 vs 3.4 thou averaged across 30 rounds). But I'm only just starting on this particular journey with my reloading. Triffid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VarmLR Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 I wouldn't use the Lee die with my 6.5 and unless certain that I could drill absolutely concentrically wouldn't go down that route either when there's alternative more suitable seaters available. I use the Redding seater with the VLD plug and that works fine with slender pointy bullet designs. The Lee one didn't nor did the standard Redding seater plug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triffid Posted October 30, 2018 Report Share Posted October 30, 2018 13 minutes ago, VarmLR said: I wouldn't use the Lee die with my 6.5 and unless certain that I could drill absolutely concentrically wouldn't go down that route either when there's alternative more suitable seaters available. I use the Redding seater with the VLD plug and that works fine with slender pointy bullet designs. The Lee one didn't nor did the standard Redding seater plug. That's what I thought and had retired the Lee dies in favour of the Forster ones . Then I ran out of time making up hi-grade ammo doing each operation separately and weighing out each powder charge individually, so I set up the old Lee dies in my Dillon 550 press, along with an auto-drum powder measure and churned out a batch of ammo to shoot later that day. I was surprised that it performed identically at 1000X to the ammo I'd spent (much) more time producing, so I've started measuring things. With the drilling out, I don't think the extra depth needs to be absolutely 1000 percent concentric. I'm making a space for the bullet's tip to fit in, allowing the concentric part of the seating plug to push on the bullet's ogive. Apparently Lee do a service machining seating plugs to bullets, but I suspect the cost of posting the new plug to the UK would be prohibitive. Anyway, I'm going to do some experimenting now I've go a concentricity gauge, trying to minimise run-out. Triffid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJ Posted October 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 17 hours ago, VarmLR said: I wouldn't use the Lee die with my 6.5 and unless certain that I could drill absolutely concentrically wouldn't go down that route either when there's alternative more suitable seaters available. I use the Redding seater with the VLD plug and that works fine with slender pointy bullet designs. The Lee one didn't nor did the standard Redding seater plug. Understandable. I shall see how the rounds produced with the modified Lee plug perform at the weekend. Assurance of concentricity was why I used the lathe to extend the depth of the hole in the Lee plug, but I do wonder why I bothered when the plug itself rattles around in the screw-in cap, and the projectile itself is a very sloppy fit in the body of the seating die; all potential sources of misalignment but the Lee system generally appears to work satisfactorily. I could make up a plug which was a better fit overall, but when the hole in the die body through which the bullet passes is so sloppy I don't think it will be worth it. It's useful to know that Redding produces a VLD plug though, thank you. I'll look out for one but would be interested to know whether the Redding is manufactured in a way which holds the case and bullet in better initial alignment than the Lee item? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VarmLR Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 Yes, that's a very fair point Mike. I like the Redding seating dies. I have the micrometer head on mine which is surprisingly useful and bob-on once set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJ Posted October 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 6 hours ago, VarmLR said: Yes, that's a very fair point Mike. I like the Redding seating dies. I have the micrometer head on mine which is surprisingly useful and bob-on once set. I have given the interior of the modified Lee plug some extra polishing and it now holds the bullet quite snugly. Loaded rounds now appear to be fine insofar as tip run-out is concerned, so I shall load up a few more tonight and give them a tryout at S'Side on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VarmLR Posted November 1, 2018 Report Share Posted November 1, 2018 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJ Posted December 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Sorry, I missed your "?" but my modified Lee die is working fine on both the SMKs and on recently-purchased Lapua Scenar 139s. No marks on the bullet and, as far as I can make out, no "wobbles" when rolling the finished cartridge on a flat glass surface. Having forgotten to pack my bipod, I shot off a rather loose bag this morning at S/side - 5 shots 1/2MOA. I think I could do much better if I had a more stable shooting position, but the Bergara BMP seems to be doing OK for me. It likes the Lapua Scenars….. the vertical stringing can only be caused by me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VarmLR Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Have you had a chance to measure run-out Mike? Looks like a reasonable outcome. Scenars are my favourite (inexpensive) bullet for the 6.5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeJ Posted December 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 No, I've not measured it, but I drilled out and chamfered the seating plug in my lathe so I'm satisfied enough that it's all well-aligned. I shall visit HPS and stock up with the Scenars I think, and try some different loads around the 42 to 42.6gr RS62. The Hornady ELD Match went well through the rifle, but the cheap Sellier & Bellot was not so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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