Collet Bullet

Reloadind 222 ammo … can’t seem to get bullet seated deep enough useing my LEE dies?

First attempt @ reloading. I have LEE Collet dies & a ROCK CHUCKER press. Figured I’d start small- Rem 222 for my sako… I’m useing HORNADY 22 cal .224 50 Grain V-Max bullets. But I can’t get the over-all length of the cartdrige below 2.18 inches. the maximun length is supposed to be 2.13 inches. I’m useing REMINGTON prefabed new unprimed shells- so they don’t need to be re-sized. Anyone know why I can’t get the over all length right?????

Bound’s hubby here:

I have been reloading for almost 32 years … and I have seen your problem before. Unfortunately, I can say that the brand of dies you are using is not the culprit (personally, I have never liked Lee reloading tools, the quality and precision is just not there). There are two factors that are contributing to your problem. And your powder charge most likely is not the problem!

First … never, ever accept the claim that new, unprimed brass is properly sized, you need to resize the brass to SAAMI specifications. (Reminder: Remember to lube the cases before you attempt to re-size the shells!) You must make certain your resizing die is properly adjusted. Do this by first fully extending the “ram”. With the “ram” fully up, screw the sizing die fully into your press so the bottom of the die touches the top of the shellholder on the ram. The back the sizing die off 1/4 turn. Then, set the lock nut on the sizing die body to mate against the top of your reloading press.

Second … you must properly adjust your seating die. Do this by taking a factory loaded round, placed in the shellholder. Back the lock nut off of the seating die body, and back the bullet seating stem out. With the shell in the shellholder on the fully extended ram, slowly screw the seating die into the press. Whe the seating die starts to mate against the shell (with light resistance), lower the ram, screw the seating die 1/8 turn into the press. Then seat the lock nut onto the seating die, against the top of the press.

At this point, re-insert the live round into the press and lift the ram so the shell lifts into the die with some resistance when the ram is fully extended. Do not lower the ram, but screw in the bullet seating stem until it just touces the bullet tip. Set the lock screw on the bullet seating stem.

Hint! At this point in the process, you should have a tool that you can set the resized shell into to confirm the re-sized dimensions of the shell.

Before you throw your powder charge, make certain that your powder scale is properly zeroed, then throw your charge. Make certain your first reloads use a powder charge at least 10% below the maximum listed powder charge in a respected reloading manual!

If you take any short-cuts, you a inviting a disaster! A shell that is resized too small will create excessive headspace (the cartridge shoulder is set back), a very dangerous situation! If the shoulder is not set back enough, you will have insufficient headspace, and the bolt will not close properly … if you attempt to fire a shell this way, you have a dangerous explosive situation! If your powder charge exceeds maximum recommended levels, again, you have a potentially explosive situation. If the bullet is seated too deeply, again, you have a potentially explosive situation.

If this sounds too complex, or you want to see this done right, Sierra has a “how to video” that I suggest you purchase and watch (see link below). When you reload, you can not afford to be distracted or take shortcuts!

Good luck and be careful!

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