bullets seated crooked in case?

goldeneagle76

Now that I just started reloading today, I have another question. I loaded 40 rounds on my Lee Classic Turret and 35 cam out perfect, 5 of them the bullet was a little crooked in the case (not extremely crooked but noticable). All of the dimensions still measure within the tolerances for 45ACP though. Will these rounds cause any trouble? Are they ok to fire? What would have caused this in only 5 rounds out of 40?

jonk

I've seen similar and never had problems. What caused it? Could be the bullet and seater stem combo isn't aligning well; could be the case needs more or less expanding. Could be crummy bullets. I wouldn't worry about it for plinking. If they chamber fine, no worries, though I would stay away from max loads.

perry shooter

Hello as you state you just stared reloading I will give you my opinion on what to look for as to correcting your problem . More then likely you have one or more of your dies out of adjustment . The sizeing decapping die should be adjusted so the bottom of the die almost bumps the shell holder head. then the next die should cause the mouth of the case to slightly flared, now when it comes to the seater die you need to understand that most 3 die sets dictate that this die does 2 things #1 at the end of the stroke it takes the flare and squeeses the case mouth back to straight or slightly tighter. but at the same time it pushes the bullet down in the case. This die should be adjusted by taking a empth case thru die #1 and #2 but with no bullet or powder adjust the seater plug all the way up now take the body of the die and turn it into the turret and work the handle continue to turn and work the handle until you see the flare start to squeeze in now take another case that has gone thru die #1 & #2 and with no powder place a bullet straight into the mouth of the case work the handle until you get the correct OAL remember if the case starts to squeeze the case past straight before the end of the stroke of the handle it will dg into the bullet at the same time the seating nose plug is trying to push the bullet down . I like to get a taper crimp die as the 4TH die to avoid this. Also remember a seating die will not straighten up a bullet you place on the case mouth crooked . "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN" I have loaded over 250,000 rounds of 45ACP.

goldeneagle76

Thanks guys. Perry, I have a Lee Classic Turret with the 4 die set-up. I think my problem was thinking the seating die would straighten a bullet that I put on the case a little crooked. I did 40 rounds and only 4 came out crooked, I shot them all today and they all were extremely accurate except for 1 of the 4 crooked ones. Know now to watch my bullet placement more carefully.

B17-P51

If they are lead bullets or bulk bullets a little more flare may be in order.By coincidence I also started reloading today, 35 years ago!!!

1911a1-fan

i can darn near stick them in sideways, and they get seated just fine, i would check and see if you have some debris in the die, or as mentioned make sure their tight