Question for Reloaders out there?

[spud]

Have you ever thought off or given thought to the ammount off pressure you applying to your press handle when you are seating a bullet?


Is it consistant?
Is it repeatable?

Discuss!!!

[ShootingSight]

It does not matter.

Presses are over-the-center designs that have a maximum stroke length. The handle stop is set so you get to maximum stroke, and then go beyond it slightly, where the press actuallt starts withdrawing slightly. You change seating depth by changing the position of the shell holder relative to Top Dead Center of the stroke press. Net, the amount of pressure you put on the system is not relevant - it will always produce the same stroke.

[dromia]

Concur.

However if it bothers you, you could always get one of them consistent crimp thingies which is basically a torque wrench on your press handle.

[tikkathreebarrels]

But where it might be informative and possibly even matter is gauging the amount of resistance in the case necks. And you can re-size necks by differing amounts. The amount of neck tension will be higher if your loads are to withstand being magazine fed and can be lower if you're going to single feed. That's before we get into the merits of to crimp or not to crimp. Personally I never crimp but could be persuaded to try it on .303 Brit.
Discuss.

[Dangermouse]

I can not remember when but at some point it it does become an issue, I remember reading a thread on it in the Accurate shooter forum,
One guy replaced his handle with a torque wrench so that he would have more consistent results but the other forum members argued that you needed a lot more sensitivity than a torque wrench could give.

Personally I just make sure that I "bottom out" on each stroke to make sure that all cases are consistent,

DM

[spud]

But where it might be informative and possibly even matter is gauging the amount of resistance in the case necks. And you can re-size necks by differing amounts. The amount of neck tension will be higher if your loads are to withstand being magazine fed and can be lower if you're going to single feed. That's before we get into the merits of to crimp or not to crimp. Personally I never crimp but could be persuaded to try it on .303 Brit.
Discuss.

thats along the lines that was interesting me.

[Steve]

The only time i apply pressure is when im loading 357's which need crimping and i try to do all the same.

[ovenpaa]

I have often wondered about this myself, I sometimes feel a difference in seating pressure and consciously sort them, shooting what feels like the lower seating pressure ones first. It would be interesting to add a load cell one day to see what the real difference is.

[Dougan]

Have you ever thought off or given thought to the ammount off pressure you applying to your press handle when you are seating a bullet?


Is it consistant?
Is it repeatable?

Discuss!!!

I'm having to think about it...I still have a tiny little bit of give in my bench (although I've rienforced it the best I can). And I know someone said on another thread that a 'rock chucker' won't have any give - but the one I've got, has seen a lot of use, and I don't know if it's 'worn pins' or what (not much of an engineer), but there is a little flex at the bottom of the stroke, that takes hardly any extra pressure - It transfers right to the shell holder, which moves up and forward by the tiniest amount. So I think I will have to practice to be consistant and repeatable.

However with a new, quality press, mounted on an absolutely solid bench...I can' see the problem...

Anyway...you started this :) ...what do you think :?:

[Dougan]

But where it might be informative and possibly even matter is gauging the amount of resistance in the case necks. And you can re-size necks by differing amounts. The amount of neck tension will be higher if your loads are to withstand being magazine fed and can be lower if you're going to single feed. That's before we get into the merits of to crimp or not to crimp. Personally I never crimp but could be persuaded to try it on .303 Brit.
Discuss.

This issue concernes me - I've just done my first .303 reloads - They seemed to seat very easily, and although they felt firm (by hand) I tested the neck tension of a few by comparing them with factory rounds in a bullet puller. The home loads came apart much easier. I'm looking at possible reasons for this at the moment (Ovenpaa - will be giving you the neck measurements next week...), but would still be happy to use the rounds for slow fire, as they performed very well.

However, I would not be confident using them right now for 'the mad minute' - and wondered if it would be better to put a light crimp on (even though it can affect the accuracy) for such a course of fire. What would be the effects of this (other than accuracy)? Would you need to decrease the powder? How light? Or just find a way to increase the general neck tension?