Top pouches but not seating stems

[AJC1]

The process of casting and then traditional lubing has been made seamless with mold makers producing top punches to match their molds. Why have we not also included seating stems. I have one factory stem for the 358-180-sil but I havent seen any other dedicated stems. I know rcbs makes them to order but they are way more expensive. Did just in time manufacturing kill this service???

 

[lightman]

It would be great to be able to get seating stems that matched the mold. I would be willing to pay a reasonable amount for them.

 

[Swampman]

It'd be nice if fitted seating stems were available from the mold maker for a reasonable price, but I wouldn't want them included for "free" with the mold (nothing is free).

I've got a number of MP Molds that came with "free" top punches that I've never used since I prefer to powder coat and use Lee style push through sizing dies.

I'd rather have any "extras" like seating stems and top punches as extra cost options and have the molds themselves a little cheaper.

 

[Cheesemaker]

Do all seating dies have the same threads for the stem? How would the Redding (and others) with their fancy "micrometer" adjustments work?
Maybe too many variables to for a commercially viable solution?

 

[cfullgraf]

There are more reloading dies made from a greater variety of manufacturers than cast bullet lubricator/sizer dies.

It would not be cost effective for mould makers to try to make seater stems for each manufacturer plus all the previous versions of the dies.

There are two primary makers of lubricator/sizer dies. Most bullet casters use one or the other these days so mould makers only have two basic installation designs to match.

Many of the reloading die manufacturers will make a custom seater if you send them a few bullets to match.

Folks have made quick custom seater stems with hot glue or JB Weld. These need to be re-done periodically.

At least for handgun cast bullets, I've been able to make do with seater stems I have on hand. For flat nose bullets, seater stems for SWC or WC bullets do a pretty good job.

 

[AJC1]

There are more reloading dies made from a greater variety of manufacturers than cast bullet lubricator/sizer dies.

It would not be cost effective for mould makers to ty to make seater stems for each manufacturer plus all the previous versions of the dies.

There are two primary makers of lubricator/sizer dies. Most bullet casters use one or the other these days so mould makers do not have two basic installation designs to match.

Many of the reloading die manufacturers will make a custom seater if you send them a few bullets to match.

Folks have made quick custom seater stems with hot glue or JB Weld. These need to be re-done periodically.

At least for handgun cast bullets, I've been able to make do with seater stems I have on hand. For flat nose bullets, seater stems for SWC or WC bullets do a pretty good job.

Agreed, now rcbs and lyman have zero excuses.

 

[Bazoo]

I've been able to make do with handgun bullets, mostly with the SWC seat plug. Sometimes I've had to use a RN plug, polished bright, so the bullet will center.

It's an issue for those of us that aren't machinists. Certainly a market. I'd gladly give $10 each for seater plugs to fit my bullets.

 

[AJC1]

I've been able to make do with handgun bullets, mostly with the SWC seat plug. Sometimes I've had to use a RN plug, polished bright, so the bullet will center.

It's an issue for those of us that aren't machinists. Certainly a market. I'd gladly give $10 each for seater plugs to fit my bullets.

I started buying swc and flat nose bullet molds for that exact reason. One stem to rule them all.

 

[Bazoo]

I have found that if you take a seating stem for SWC, and make it just a flat plug with no rim, it'll work well with all flat nosed bullets. Not having a lathe, i turn them in a drill and use the dremel on them.

 

[AJC1]

Did rcbs ever make a good seating stem for a hg68 style bullet. It's one I would like to find.

 

[Bazoo]

I don’t know. I have the RCBS 45-201-SWC mould, and i don’t have any problems seating it with the supplied swc stem in my RCBS set. I don’t think it fits perfect, but it’s been a while since I checked it.

I went and checked, and it’s just a flat punch with a little ridge around it, it fits sloppy. But it works well.

For the record, that bullet shoots great. It cloverleafs when I can. I am loading 4.6 bullseye with it, in 45 acp.

 

[forrest r]

Never really gave it much thought. I make my own swaging dies & nose profiles stems, some with removable hp pins. Make my own top punches when needed along with nose forming dies (taper). I also make my own seating stems or alter the factory stems in the reloading dies.

Starting the bullet strait and not deforming the cast bullet is huge when it comes to accuracy.

You can get away with jack of all trades commercial dies with hard cast & jacketed bullets. 90%+ of my shooting is done with 8/9bhn alloy cast bullets. Been using that same range scrap alloy since the 80's. Learned a lot of hard lessons along the way & thru necessity started making my own reloading equipment.

The simplest way to make your own is to get a spare seating stem (rcbs sends them out for free just call them) and drill it out larger then the bullet nose profile you want to use it on. Take a paste wax and coat the nose of a bullet on a loaded round (release agent). Take the drilled out seating stem and partially fill it with jb weld and put it in the seating die. Run the loaded nose coated round up into the die and adjust the seating stem down until it stops. Let everything sit overnight and remove the seating stem and see if there's any flashing that needs trimmed (too much jb weld) or if you need a 2nd application to fill out the nose profile completely or fill voids.

 

[noylj]

A near perfect seating stem contacts the bullet low on ogive or on the shoulder, witj NO contact to meplat/nose. This can be a near perfect stem for most similar bullets.
Lee makes fairly custom seaters for reasonable price--tell them what you want and send a few bullets.

 

[Bazoo]

A near perfect seating stem contacts the bullet low on ogive or on the shoulder, witj NO contact to meplat/nose. This can be a near perfect stem for most similar bullets.
Lee makes fairly custom seaters for reasonable price--tell them what you want and send a few bullets.

I didn't know that. Do they only do it for lee dies? I don't have any lee seat dies. I have a few of their specialty dies, but I don't care for their die sets so I buy other brands, mostly RCBS. Though I have Lyman, and Hornady currently too.

 

[AJC1]

I didn't know that. Do they only do it for lee dies? I don't have any lee seat dies. I have a few of their specialty dies, but I don't care for their die sets so I buy other brands, mostly RCBS. Though I have Lyman, and Hornady currently too.

Rcbs also has the same kind of service, contact them and they will email you a form. Hornaday has so many stems readily available, I'd be surprised if you could not find one readily available.

 

[noylj]

The thing is, I know Lee will make a seating stem per my request/drawing. Last one I ordered was $12.
I prefer Lee and Hornady dies myself. Both size down low on the case and each has a seating die with features I like for personal reasons.

 

[edwardware]

. . . top punches to match their molds. Why have we not also included seating stems.

Why would you want such a thing? The force of sizing would deform a bullet without a reasonably matched top punch, but the force of seating is no where near as high, unless something's wrong.

I don't see the need. All I want from a seating stem is concentric contact.

 

[AJC1]

The thing is, I know Lee will make a seating stem per my request/drawing. Last one I ordered was $12.
I prefer Lee and Hornady dies myself. Both size down low on the case and each has a seating die with features I like for personal reasons.

The availability of many seating stems for hornaday bullets is very good.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I have found that if you take a seating stem for SWC, and make it just a flat plug with no rim, it'll work well with all flat nosed bullets. Not having a lathe, i turn them in a drill and use the dremel on them.

I'm guessing if someone had a lathe, and wanted to do this for some reason, they could order a top punch and make it into a seating stem pretty easily. I've never tried it but it sure sounds do-able.

Heck, there's not a lot you CAN'T do with a lathe.

 

[AJC1]

I'm guessing if someone had a lathe, and wanted to do this for some reason, they could order a top punch and make it into a seating stem pretty easily. I've never tried it but it sure sounds do-able.

Heck, there's not a lot you CAN'T do with a lathe.

If I had access to my dads lathe I'd just make my.own stems....

 

[noylj]

The availability of many seating stems for hornaday bullets is very good.

If they meet your desire. If not, nice to have an inexpensive source that will try to give you what you want.