.45ACP Wadcutter seating with Swaged SWC's vs. Hard Cast

Hello folks,
I saw the link to this RRPMI DILLON SWC lead bullet SHOULDER-SEATING DIE, and purchased one. It arrived quickly and is of fine quality. It fit my Dillon seating die like the factory part. Tried it out today with my first batch of Magnus 185gr Swaged LSWC. Out of 100 loaded rounds, I lost 14 to the die cutting a slice off of the soft lead bullet nose. I use Dillon's new dies, so it is easy to remove the cotter-pin and dump out the die, clean the lead ring out and get back in business. I typically use Oregon Trail hard cast LSWC bullets, and don't have this issue with them. The swaged lead Magnus are quite a bit softer, and I hate to lose so many new bullets just to load 100 rounds, so any ideas on how to keep the swaged bullets from getting shaved would be most helpful. I have a decent bell on the case mouths, and it appears that if I slow down during the ram's seating stroke, the bullets don't get scraped or sliced, but I don't doubt that I am missing something.
One positive of trying the swaged Magnus is the consistent bullet weights. The Oregon Trails, being cast, are mostly 2 to 10 grains heavier or lighter, bullet-to-bullet. The 100 Magnus I weighed today were within 2 grains of each other, from 183 to 187 grains. I'll see how they group Monday. I appreciate any help on keeping my bullet seating failure rate down while using these bullets.
Thanks!
Amanda

I use the same seating die in my 550 without issue on the Magnus 185 swaged HPSWCs.  I also use his powder die that is similar to the M dies.. this helps seat the bullet straighter.. Also bell your cases more if you are getting lead scraped on the edges

I will look into the powder die. I have a decent bell, and the bullets don't shave lead on the sides. I didn't have any lead scrapes on the edges, it just seemed like the bullets were tilting and the noses were getting shaved. Thanks for the info!

there are a couple of folks on eBay selling the powder dies.

Are you talking about a different type of die or funnel than the one that Dillon provides with their powder measure? I have heard of oversized funnels, but I didn't find anything after looking around for an hour. Thank you.

I have the same seater. Hold the bullet in line with the case as the press ram goes up. Let the body of the seating die sweep away your fingers from the bullet. Not sure exactly why this works but it does.

Ghillieman wrote:I have the same seater. Hold the bullet in line with the case as the press ram goes up. Let the body of the seating die sweep away your fingers from the bullet. Not sure exactly why this works but it does.

Yes. Sounds like you are letting the bullet cock or not placing it squarely on the case.

Thus the advantage of the M style powder/belling die. It makes it easy to sit the bullet into the case straight.

davekp wrote:

Ghillieman wrote:I have the same seater. Hold the bullet in line with the case as the press ram goes up. Let the body of the seating die sweep away your fingers from the bullet. Not sure exactly why this works but it does.

Yes. Sounds like you are letting the bullet cock or not placing it squarely on the case.

Thats what I do to get the bullet seated straight. Works much better than setting the bullet in the case.

If the nose (meplat) is contacting the seating stem at all, the machining/design is wrong and needs to be sent back.
If the problem is trying to seat VERY crooked bullets and having issues, FLARE the cases more and push down lightly when you put the bullet on the case.

Redding Bullet seater dies never an issue and easy to adjust and clean pricey but worth every penny.

Anybody have a ordering # for that reloading die insert in .45 auto cal?

Gary Wells wrote:Anybody have a ordering # for that reloading die insert in .45 auto cal?

this ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dillon-45-Cal-seating-Insert-/142414279407?hash=item21288d72ef:m:m6CuIQZOw1ulTftxlV6oL1g

Yes, that. Many thanks, Chris.
I searched the internet under RRPMI but to no avail.
Are most BE reloaders using that now?
I just received 1K of the Magnus 185 gr SLWCHP but hadn't tried reloading them yet.

here is the M style Dillon powder funnel I use if you care to go that way..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/45-ACP-M-style-powder-funnel-powder-die-for-Dillon-RL550-XL-650-RL-1050-/322338909190?hash=item4b0ce56c06:g:M4oAAOSwZJlXMrEF

Many thanks for the additional info.
I take it that the factory Dillon 550B set-up does not work well?

The Dillon dies and their setup work well for jacketed, plated and hard cast for action shooting.  The other makes were defined in the 1950s for single stage and turret operations and were biased towards making accurate ammunition for Bullseye and other precision sports.  There are a good many people who make accurate ammo on Dillon equipment so it can be done.

it's simply that some aftermarket folks have made some improvements to the Dillon..

lot's of upgrades out there.. Check out http://www.uniquetek.com/

jglenn21 wrote:it's simply that some aftermarket folks have made some improvements to the Dillon..

lot's of upgrades out there.. Check out http://www.uniquetek.com/

Many thanks, Sir. I already have their in-line plate & it works wonders. I don't remember missing a primer since i installed it.

jglenn21 wrote:here is the M style Dillon powder funnel I use if you care to go that way..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/45-ACP-M-style-powder-funnel-powder-die-for-Dillon-RL550-XL-650-RL-1050-/322338909190?hash=item4b0ce56c06:g:M4oAAOSwZJlXMrEF

I have this on order and am patiently waiting for it's delivery.
How exactly will this help when loading swaged or hard cast bullets?
I just received the seater & installed it & it's easy to see how that will improve the lead shaving of soft lead bullets.

the M style die swags the case a bit further down than a normal belling die.. It allow you to insert the bullet deeper initially and keep it straight when you seat it.

In other words, I could not avoid shaving lead with the standard Dillon 550B die when seating the soft swagged lead HP?

believe you could if you bell the case enough and guide the bullet manually

Many thanks for the info, John. Between my eyesight & my coordinationit sounds like I had better install the new tube when it comes in.

I'll add make sure the shell plate is indexed properly. I shaved two today because the plate wasn't quite there after I thumbed it.