Little seating help

[drakeslayer]

Newbie here and could use some help.

I've loaded 45acp and 38spl with no major issues.
Took on 380Acp and Im stumped
RCBS Single stage with RCBS carbide dies
95 gr T&B bullet
I set my seating/crimp die by screwing it down until it touches case then backed it off a turn.
When go to seat the bullet, the stem never reaches the bullet. Actually it will but only if I really reef on the stem, but never allows me to reach OAL.
Stem profile seems to match bullet profile. What in the heck am I missing or overlooking?

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[bcp]

Ask RCBS. They have been good at answering questions and sending parts to make the dies work right.

Bruce

 

[nammac]

I'll go out on a limb here, but with my Lee Carbide for .380, it's raise the ram, hold it, thread the die until it touches the shell holder and then back out three turns. That's the rough adjustment then you need to fine tune for bullet depth seating and crimp…

 

[Local Loader]

Ok here's a simple solution I use for quick run die setup.
1)Begin with no die in press.
2)Place a factory round that matches your end goal in the holder.
3)Raise ram to highest point.
4)Insert seater die with stem set at max hight. (Removed if RCBS).
5)Lower seater die till you feel resistance and continue turn for 1/2 to 3/4 turn. (Don't over turn, can always adjust more later).
6)Insert seater stem till you feel resistance than a half turn after that, no more(Don't over turn, can adjust more later).
7)Remove factory round and insert an empty test case and unseated bullet(No primer or powder).
8)Seat bullet and compare, make adjusts as need to match.
All in total should take about 5-10min to setup.

 

[Mono1]

Ok here's a simple solution I use for quick run die setup.
1)Begin with no die in press.
2)Place a factory round that matches your end goal in the holder.
3)Raise ram to highest point.
4)Insert seater die with stem set at max hight. (Removed if RCBS).
5)Lower seater die till you feel resistance and continue turn for 1/2 to 3/4 turn. (Don't over turn, can always adjust more later).
6)Insert seater stem till you feel resistance than a half turn after that, no more(Don't over turn, can adjust more later).
7)Remove factory round and insert an empty test case and unseated bullet(No primer or powder).
8)Seat bullet and compare, make adjusts as need to match.
All in total should take about 5-10min to setup.

OK but assumes you're using identical projectiles, right?

 

[P7M13]

OK but assumes you're using identical projectiles, right?

Gets you very close.
When I start in on a new box of different pistol bullets (1 K bulk), I'll waste 4 or 5 bullets and casings getting the flare, seating and crimp just right.

 

[arrowshooter]

If you have the "stepped" lock nut on the seating stem, try flipping it over. This should allow you to thread the stem further into that stepped portion.

 

[Pepe-lepew]

You sure you are screwing down to the crimping step in the die? Some dies neck down a bit to align the case before the crimp taper. If there is a little more flare, it can feel like you are at the crimp taper. I am pretty sure I have RCBS dies like this. Try screwing the die down further and see if it will crimp the case. I suspect you will find the crimp is not close to where you are setting it.

 

[Local Loader]

OK but assumes you're using identical projectiles, right?

The specific bullet doesn't really matter as much as long as you match the bullet type, round nose or flat point with the right stem. You'll also make adjustments to get it exactly the way you want it as well.