Need help due to shoulder buckling...

[TNBillyEarl]

For context: I have been reloading for a total of one month.

I just finished dialing in my 7mm rem mag (62.5g R-22 w/ 175 NP). I have moved onto my main deer rifle, a 7mm-08 Rem 700. This afternoon I was unable to chamber my first reloads.

When I resize the case it comes out perfect. But when I seat the bullet the very bottom of the shoulder buckles. I am not using too much lube. I"m putting just a tad of lube inside the neck with a Q-tip. The neck size is about .002 smaller than the .284 bullet. Alas, this very small buckle keeps the cartridge from chambering.

What is causing this buckle? Tonight I tried Federal Brass as opposed to Hornady. Same thing.

When I start to seat the bullet everything is good for a mm or 1.5mm, then it takes force to seat it - thus the buckling.

Please advise, and thanks in advance.

Bill

 

[mr.big]

sounds like the case is bottoming out in the seater die try backing the die up out of the press and adjust the seat depth with the screw in top of the die

 

[EastTNHunter]

What Mr. Big said.

Try starting out with your seating die out of the press, and make sure that the seating stem is run WAY up to the top of its limit. Put a fully prepped casing into the shell holder and lower the handle all the way, which will raise the ram to the top of its stroke. Leave it there while you insert your sizing die, and slowly screw it down until you JUST feel it contact the case mouth, then back it out a quarter to half of a turn (unless you want to crimp it in one step, which I recommend AGAINST doing). Run the lock ring down to the top of the press and set your set screw. Your die is now set to use the seater stem to set your bullet depth without affecting your casing.

If this doesn't make sense then I'll be happy to call, FaceTime, or meet face to face to show you if you aren't too far from Dayton

 

[kamml]

Chamfer the case mouth too.

 

[fairchaser]

You might check your die depth by running a case up without a bullet to see if you have any resistance at the top of the stroke. It shouldn't unless you are crimping your bullets.

 

[Snowwolfe]

What brand brass are you using? Could be the brass is to thick in the neck area.
I would also mike the expander ball and make sure it is the proper size.

 

[DaveB]

Your seating die is set improperly. I can make this happen, it is the seating die.

 

[TNBillyEarl]

Many thanks to you all, and to MUP and others who chimed in privately. I did as Mr. Big and ETN Hunter said. It was a seating die issue on my end. I swear I set it up correctly three or four times previously when trying to diagnose my issue, but apparently not. I need to pay better attention.

Again, many thanks to TNdeer folks.

Bill