Seating 55gr bullets

[SDlocal]

Not new to reloading but new to loading rifle. All the case prep as been done but the 55gr don't sit in the case as steady as say a 75gr boat tail. On a dillon 650 do any of you have tricks to get the bullet to stay while you raise the ram? I trim in a Giraud so the case is chamfered.

Thanks for any tips

[maineshootah]

Not new to reloading but new to loading rifle. All the case prep as been done but the 55gr don't sit in the case as steady as say a 75gr boat tail. On a dillon 650 do any of you have tricks to get the bullet to stay while you raise the ram? I trim in a Giraud so the case is chamfered.

Thanks for any tips

I hold them, between first finger and thumb. I can't get them to stay straight either.

[Scout454]

+1 between the index and thumb. Boat tails are easier than flat base. Once you get a rhythm up you can load pretty fast and you wont smash your fingers. I ran 1,000 55's today and only dropped 8 or 9 bullets and no sore fingers.

[GentlemanJim]

+1 between the index and thumb. Boat tails are easier than flat base. Once you get a rhythm up you can load pretty fast and you wont smash your fingers. I ran 1,000 55's today and only dropped 8 or 9 bullets and no sore fingers.

Scout...you must be quite skilled

You can always tell I have been loading 223 ...by my purple thumb

I have to hold the bullet all the way up into the die...

Jim

[John Dunn]

When I use a Redding Compeition seating die, I don't worry about the bullet going in straight into the die, as the die will correct the crookedness. I notice fewer finger smashes since switching, it took a while for me to trust the die and stop trying to "preseat" the bullet straight. A little boattail is nice.

[Patrick Sweeney]

I've got a straightline bullet seater with a window on the side. No name on it, can't remember who made it. Drop the bullet in the window, and pull the press handle. Bullet is seated. I got it to use flatbase bullets, and immediately eliminated all case neck crunching form bullet seating. Then noticed the loads were more accurate, too.

[Chris]

RCBS has the competition seating die, but it says its not for use in a progressive press. Not sure if fits in a dillon or not.

[Patrick Sweeney]

That isn't it. I'll have to post a photo.

[rlong97150]

RCBS has the competition seating die, but it says its not for use in a progressive press. Not sure if fits in a dillon or not.

You are correct, the competition seat die wont work in the progressives without modifications. I use them on my single stage for 223, 308, and 06 match ammo. RCBS does however make the Gold Medal dies which are essentially the same as the comp dies but can be used on progressives. I have one on my 550 for plinking ammo and its like buttah.

Bob