Ok I loaded up some 22-250 60 gr. Hollow points last night and I noticed a lot of bullet runout. I have a Co-Ax press but use lee dies. I saw a lot of runout when I used the Lee press and was hoping when I bought the Co-Ax press the runout would go away. Now the cases or new Winchesters and they were resized in the Co-Ax press with Lee resizing die. Is the runout coming from press or dies? Rick
Bullet Runout
- Thread starter rickyb
- Start date
Sandhills yote
New member
Guys I'm new to this but, could you explain what you are referring to with bullet runout. Thanks,Wade
runout = shoot all day long....pretty soon you "run out" of bullets
seriously the term runout refers to how far out of perfect alignement the bullet is with the centerline of the case (how crooked the bullet is in the neck of the case)
If you roll a finished round of ammo on a mirror you can see the runout quite easily. They also make different devices to measure this and there is a company that makes a deal to straightened out crooked rounds. I figure its best to just learn to load them straight to begin with and be done with it.
seriously the term runout refers to how far out of perfect alignement the bullet is with the centerline of the case (how crooked the bullet is in the neck of the case)
If you roll a finished round of ammo on a mirror you can see the runout quite easily. They also make different devices to measure this and there is a company that makes a deal to straightened out crooked rounds. I figure its best to just learn to load them straight to begin with and be done with it.
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
Originally Posted By: rickybOk I loaded up some 22-250 60 gr. Hollow points last night and I noticed a lot of bullet runout. I have a Co-Ax press but use lee dies. I saw a lot of runout when I used the Lee press and was hoping when I bought the Co-Ax press the runout would go away. Now the cases or new Winchesters and they were resized in the Co-Ax press with Lee resizing die. Is the runout coming from press or dies? Rick
The runout could very likely be caused by the lock rings. Set screw lock rings are notorious for causing runout. Make sure you are using clamp style lock rings. They stay much squarer to the die than the set screw ones.
Jack
The runout could very likely be caused by the lock rings. Set screw lock rings are notorious for causing runout. Make sure you are using clamp style lock rings. They stay much squarer to the die than the set screw ones.
Jack
EddieHarren
New member
Expander balls have been known to pull necks crooked.
RNO
New member
Originally Posted By: rickyb I do tighten up a screw to clamp the ring on the die so which do I have?
I seat the bullet about half way raise the arm and turn the case about half and then finish seating, works for me.
This is the Clamp style.
There is also this article about using "O" rings. Article link, trying this is up to you, I'll stick with a half turn.
.
I seat the bullet about half way raise the arm and turn the case about half and then finish seating, works for me.
This is the Clamp style.
There is also this article about using "O" rings. Article link, trying this is up to you, I'll stick with a half turn.
.
Half cripple
New member
Myself I use full length sizing dies. I gave up on neck sizers. But at any rate you do need to full length size every so often, maybe every 3rd or 4th reload.
The bullets with the crimp band are better for semi-automatics as the recoil can loosen the bullet and change the overall length. They also work better in rifles with a magazine cause the bullet is tighter it won't move when putting them in your mag.
The bullets with the crimp band are better for semi-automatics as the recoil can loosen the bullet and change the overall length. They also work better in rifles with a magazine cause the bullet is tighter it won't move when putting them in your mag.
Roadrunner
New member
I use the o-ring under the lock ring trick and have had very low if any run-out. I also take the shell holder snap ring out and use an o-ring in its place. The shell holder can sort of float and center itself to the die.
RR
hickerx2
Member
Firs of all...you really can't eliminate runout unless you turn the case necks. If the case neck isnt a uniform thickness, it's virtually impossible to seat a bullet squarely.
Secondly, I'd suspect Lee dies above any other piece of equipment. Lee stuff is simply cheap and I've seen many, many issues with them over the years.
You also really need a good seating die that inserts the bullet squarely into the neck.
Secondly, I'd suspect Lee dies above any other piece of equipment. Lee stuff is simply cheap and I've seen many, many issues with them over the years.
You also really need a good seating die that inserts the bullet squarely into the neck.
define "a lot of runout".
Are we talking 4 thousands of an inch or 15?
Are we talking 4 thousands of an inch or 15?
rks1949
New member
Originally Posted By: hickerx2Firs of all...you really can't eliminate runout unless you turn the case necks. If the case neck isnt a uniform thickness, it's virtually impossible to seat a bullet squarely.
Secondly, I'd suspect Lee dies above any other piece of equipment. Lee stuff is simply cheap and I've seen many, many issues with them over the years.
You also really need a good seating die that inserts the bullet squarely into the neck. 1+ on that!
Secondly, I'd suspect Lee dies above any other piece of equipment. Lee stuff is simply cheap and I've seen many, many issues with them over the years.
You also really need a good seating die that inserts the bullet squarely into the neck. 1+ on that!
I think I will try and rotate the case to see if that helps. I think I will also get a set of Forster dies in the 22-250 and see if that makes a difference to. I really dont have a guage to measure runout I can see it. Also rolling them on my kitchen counter does show some wobble. Thanks Rick
Getting Forster Bench Rest dies will go a long way but I would encourage you to check how the bullet is engaging the seating stem in the dies you have. My guess is the bullet tip is bottoming out on the stem pocket instead of capturing the bullet on the ogive during the seating step. If it is bottoming out in the cup there is no way you can make concentric ammo because it will push the bullet to one side during the seating step. Just take the stem out of the die and fit a bullet in the cup to see how it is being captured.
The advice about O rings under the die & shellholder will not work with the Co Ax press. The Co Ax allows the die to float a bit, & the shellholder does the same - they are supposed to do this, which pretty well centers the round in the seating die. O rings will not fit in either place in a Co Ax, & would not help anything if they did. My Co Ax makes amazingly straight ammunition with Hornady, Forster, & RCBS dies. I use the Forster rings on all dies.
I would try a different die, or you might try sending yours back to Lee with one of your misaligned rounds to see if they can improve on the concentricity.
I would try a different die, or you might try sending yours back to Lee with one of your misaligned rounds to see if they can improve on the concentricity.
Originally Posted By: Jack RobertsOriginally Posted By: rickybOk I loaded up some 22-250 60 gr. Hollow points last night and I noticed a lot of bullet runout. I have a Co-Ax press but use lee dies. I saw a lot of runout when I used the Lee press and was hoping when I bought the Co-Ax press the runout would go away. Now the cases or new Winchesters and they were resized in the Co-Ax press with Lee resizing die. Is the runout coming from press or dies? Rick
The runout could very likely be caused by the lock rings. Set screw lock rings are notorious for causing runout. Make sure you are using clamp style lock rings. They stay much squarer to the die than the set screw ones.
Jack
+1
Also, when the expander ball goes through a dry neck, there is much resistance, yanks the neck crooked. Solution is to lube the inside of the neck till the expander ball goes though it slick as glass.
Better yet, as your budget allows, buy a set of Redding bushing dies. The bonanza benchrest dies are wonderful also
good luck
The runout could very likely be caused by the lock rings. Set screw lock rings are notorious for causing runout. Make sure you are using clamp style lock rings. They stay much squarer to the die than the set screw ones.
Jack
+1
Also, when the expander ball goes through a dry neck, there is much resistance, yanks the neck crooked. Solution is to lube the inside of the neck till the expander ball goes though it slick as glass.
Better yet, as your budget allows, buy a set of Redding bushing dies. The bonanza benchrest dies are wonderful also
good luck
kam582
New member
Another great thread for a novice like myself. After reading through this, I immediately went down and rolled some of my .223 rounds on the flat table. I didn't notice any drastic problem. I do lube the inside of the case neck, but I think I will start to turn the cartridge while I seat it like mentioned. Thanks for the info.