I've got two issues with bullet seating that I would like your input on. I'm using Lee dies and am not satisfied with the consistency and, with respect to one particular caliber, the way it deforms cast bullets
Inconsistent seating depth.
I load .270 with 135 gr Sierra Matchkings HPBT. Being target ammo, the bullet is very long in the nose with an almost non-existent meplat. Although difficult to see, the shape on some of the meplats is inconsistent resulting in varying overall bullet lengths. When the lee bullet seating die is used, I often get varying seating depths and, consequently, varying OAL. I'm thinking about drilling a hole in the bullet seating stem so that the stem contacts the ogive rather than the bullet tip. I'm hoping that seating the bullet on the ogive rather than the meplat will lead to more consistent OAL when measured from the case head to the point of contact on the ogive. Will this modification alleviate my problem or am I running in the wrong direction?
Bullet Crush
I just started casting 77 gr. SWC .32 ACP, using wheel weights. The mold has been throwing bullets of .315 diameter which I think is fairly large for .32 ACP. When I place the bullet on the case and run the bullet up into the seating die with the bullet seating stem backed all the way out, the bullet often gets stuck in the die. When I seat the bullet, the crown of the meplat is deformed and the sides of the bullet is shiny as though the bullet has been resized. My thoughts are that the die is tapered which causes the bullet to get stuck in the die. Other reloaders have experienced similar problems and have suggesed honing the die as a solution but I'd like to eliminate reloader error before resorting to hogging out the die. As far as the side skirts been squeezed, my thinking is that the first step is to resize the bullet before loading and re-verify that the problem still exists before trying something else. The bore on my .32 ACP runs .313 so I'm shooting for a resized diameter of .314.
Sorry for the confusing description. I'll try to post some pics if I can to make it easier to understand.
Thanks in advance for your input.