deserthntr Report post Posted August 2, 2013 I took my gf to the range the other day and noticed that my groups had opened up in my 6.5x284. I thought maybe I was gonna need to rebarell soon but I was checking my bullets when I got home and noticed that the bulleys were seated anywhere from .001-.01 off from each other and not uniform. I checked my die and everything is set solid nothing can move on it. So is my die going bad or am I doing something wrong? When I run the case up to seat the bullet I don't push harder or farther than I should. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benbrown Report post Posted August 2, 2013 You may need to take your dies apart and clean them. I clean mine in lighter fluid or white gasoline and lube them with Hornady dry lube spray (lightly). I can't imagine that your seating die would suddenly go bad. If you are measuring cartridge overall length (tip of the bullet to the base of the case), it will normally vary a bit because the ogive of the bullets varies a bit between individual bullets out of the same box. Get your instructions that came with the die set and make sure that your seating die is still set correctly according to the manufacturer's recommendation. You might also want to check the shell holder to make sure that it is clean and unobstructed. Sometimes bits of copper, brass or other detritus will collect in the gap that holds the case rim and base true, and cause misalignment. The same holds true for the ram on your press--make sure that it is clean, lightly lubed and moving freely up and down with no slack. If you don't have an RCBS Case Master lor similar tool, check for straight seating by rolling loaded cartridges across a smooth surface (I use a pane of leaded glass). If you see even a slight sign of "wobble" in the bullet tips, your seating die is not seating the bullets straight in the cases. Hope this helps. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted August 2, 2013 Do you measure each bullets OAL after seating? Normally, I initially seat the bullet slightly longer than I want, measure and then make minute changes to get to the seating depth I want for each bullet. This is easy with a micrometer type seating die like the Forster Bench Rest. You have to measure off the ogive and not the tip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rcdinaz Report post Posted August 2, 2013 I think it is probably one of the issues already mentioned. I have done most of those myself. - Shell holder has something in it - Seating stem is not clean - Primer not fully seated - Trying VLD bullets with a std stem, the bullet can bottom before the ogive touches out and then rock causing inconsistency - Measuring bullet to the tip instead of with a gauge at the ogive - Arm on the press not clearing or being run all the way through the cycle each and every time Desert Bull described what I do as well which a lot of people say is a waste of time. - Make a reference round - Measure with a gauge and Micrometer at the and then set calipers to "0" on the reference round - Seat all other bullets over length by backing of seating die ~1/8 of a turn, usually less with micrometer die. - Finalize seating so that each round is exactly "0" on the gauge You could do this with a standard die if you made some pretty precise reference marks for the over length rounds but it would be a much slower process as a very small turn is going to move the seating depth a lot. I have found that with the Berger HVLD's the last time all my measuring was almost for nothing as the bullets were almost exactly the same in weight and length at the ogive. But I have had a box in the past and some form other makers that were off. Buy the Defensive Edge DVD on reloading for long range and watch it 3-4 times adding to your notes what you missed the previous time. The DVD is worth every penny! I have a few others by Carlock does a really good job showing each and every step and then shows them taking game out to 1,500 yards with one shot. Not something I would try but this is what these guys do for a living. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pwrguy Report post Posted August 2, 2013 All good points on the previous posts. I promise you it will be one of the items mentioned. I think most of the time it ends up being the tips being different than the ogive, in which case it is probably more important to measure to the ogive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deserthntr Report post Posted August 2, 2013 Awesome thanks guys! Ill check all that stuff when I get home. And I was measuring oal and not to the ogive. I know all my primers are fully seated. I do have 850 rds down the barrel and my groups only opened from 1/4in to 1/2 in but when Im used to 1/4 in it seems like a lot haha. Thanks for the tips! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seek100plus Report post Posted August 2, 2013 Just a FYI , you might be opening up from temperature change , my gun sends lot of flyers at temperature or 100 f.Different powders will do that when it gets hot .. I shoot 1" groups at 75 f and below and during summer temps open up to 2 " groups at 90 f and above . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SO I HUNT Report post Posted August 3, 2013 Brake cleaner works too Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted August 3, 2013 Barrel Could Be Dirty. My Wby OpenEd Up To. Recently Took Jb Bore Paste It, Got It basically Bare Metal (BoreScoPe Verified) And Will Try Shooting for Groups Again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deserthntr Report post Posted August 5, 2013 Well I found the problem. I checked and did everything mentioned and all that was perfect. Found my scale was off and my powder varied from .1-.4 gr off from each other by conparing it with anothee scale. Time for a new scale then... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted August 5, 2013 If it is beam scale, you probably just need to clean the pivot / bearing and possibly rub it some anti-static sheets. Unless you dropped it, there is very little that go wrong on a balance scale. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
deserthntr Report post Posted August 5, 2013 It is an electronic scale. I recalibrate everything everytime I use it but idk what's wrong with it. The scale I borrowed was accurate and consistent but mine isn't Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
