Dillon seating die and Berrys bullets

[e-mishka]

When using Berrys 147gn bullet and dillon seating die, I get oal variations of +-.003 and seating die leaves a circle indent on the very tip of the bullet.

I talked to Dillon and they suggested pluging seating stem with some jb weld. That way oal should be more constant.

Has any one experienced same issue and tried to solve it? I need some help with getting oal variances tighter.

[ALBY]

If you are loading a HP bullet, that would explain the variations IMO

[e-mishka]

its a RN bullet

[lee blackman]

The OAL variation isn't bad, and not uncommon. More likely has to do with variation in brass than the seating die. Shouldn't effect your shooting at all.

The cirlce is from the seating die plug. Berry's are plated bullets and pretty soft, and the particular seating plug doesn't match the nose of the bullet. Unless its extreme and effecting your accuracy, I wouldn't worry about it. However if it is, my only recommendation is changing the seating die. I personally use a Lee seater in my RL 550 on my 9mm toolhead, and don't have any problems.

Also why are you buying berry's bullets? You know you can buy from Delta Precision actual jacketed bullets for cheaper right? Google Delta precision...

[macsdead]

Had the exact same problem. The OAL variation didn't really bother me, but the huge ugly dent in the bullet tip did. I switched to the Redding seater die. Problem solved.

Sam

[e-mishka]

Sam,

Did Redding seater die solved oal variances issue as well, or just got rid of those circle dents?

[codemonkey001]

Also why are you buying berry's bullets? You know you can buy from Delta Precision actual jacketed bullets for cheaper right? Google Delta precision...

but PD projectiles do have an exposed lead base. don't know if that matters or not though.

[macsdead]

I can't say that it was THE solution to the OAL variation, because I swapped to the Uniquetek CNC toolhead with Clamp at the same time, which is also supposed to help OAL consistency. However, I believe the majority of the solution was the die, judging by the amount of variation in the dent size and depth on the bullet tip, which would directly affect OAL.

Sam

[Pat Miles]

Don't get too concerned about a .003" OAL variation. You can spend quite a few $$$ trying to find the perfect fix and still come up with a .001"-.002"OAL variation as well as a raging headache from trying to get everything perfect. Been there, done that.

Pat

[e-mishka]

Is that just Berrys bullets like this or every brand of rn bullet?

[lee blackman]

Well lead or plated lead bullets are going to be softer than Jacketed bullets, so you would probably have the same problem with Ranier, Berry's, or any other plated bullet. Now you could probably switch to a plated HP bullet. You might find a slight improvement in accuracy and it would get rid of the circle on the nose problem.

[jeremy kemlo]

I use the same set up and get the same little ring on my bullets. Dillon said no big deal. I Just shoot them that way. I have no problems with them. It is just a minor cosmetic thing.

[mcracco]

+/-.003 OAL is no biggie.

As for the seating die mark, I assume it is a very slight impression. Compare that to another jacketed bullet's cannelure ring or a cast bullet's grease rings. Even if the die mark were more than slight as long as it is symmetric it is not going to adversely affect the flight of the bullet.

[mcracco]

Well lead or plated lead bullets are going to be softer than Jacketed bullets, so you would probably have the same problem with Ranier, Berry's, or any other plated bullet. Now you could probably switch to a plated HP bullet. You might find a slight improvement in accuracy and it would get rid of the circle on the nose problem.

Gotta disagree on that one. The mark is caused by seating die not matching the profile of the bullet. The leading edge of the die is contacting the ogive of the bullet. But copper is copper and making it thicker (jacketed bullet) will not prevent the mark as the forces applied are all still the same. But it is all cosmetic so who cares.

And I still don't see the benefit to Delta Precision bullets, at least not in a 9mm handgun. DP vs. Berry's is within a bucks or two per thousand cost wise. With Berry's you get a complete copper plate vs. exposed base. Thicker jacket in DP does not make it more accurate only gives you the option to load it to a higher velocity...but most of us aren't doing that. Both are good bullets, I just don't buy the thicker is better thing.