Bullet crooked after seating and crimp

[The Revenuer]

Today I was doing what many of us do when it is cold and snowy outside.  I was loading some 105gr .38 special bullets.  This is a standard load for my wife that he has shot thousands of.   Today I noticed the bullet slightly crooked after seating and crimping.  I have not noticed this before but did find some in a box I loaded earlier this year.   Any ideas on the cause or how to prevent?  

[SHOOTIN FOX]

Check inside your seat,crimp die. Might have something stuck in there.

[Phantom, SASS #54973]

Have you mic'd the bullet?  Looks kinda skewed. See no obvious deformation of the case...

 

Phantom

[The Revenuer]

2 minutes ago, Phantom, SASS #54973 said:

Have you mic'd the bullet?  Looks kinda skewed. See no obvious deformation of the case...

 

Phantom

Did not mic the bullet.  You can’t see it in the picture but there is a very slight bulge in the case.   It chambers fine in our Rugers and cowboy rifles but you can feel the drag and see a slight scuff on the brass if I load it in my Colt Viper.  

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Are you using a flat-nose bullet seater?

[The Revenuer]

Just now, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Are you using a flat-nose bullet seater?

No, standard Lee seating die 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Just now, The Revenuer said:

No, standard Lee seating die 

Are you saying a round nose seater? 

You want a flat nose seater for that bullet 

[The Revenuer]

Just now, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Are you saying a round nose seater? 

You want a flat nose seater for that bullet 

Yes just checked it is round nose.  Do you recommend a specific die for flat nose?

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Just now, The Revenuer said:

Yes just checked it is round nose.  Do you recommend a specific die for flat nose?

The seating stem should be removable. 

Suggest you look at the Lee Factory Crimp Die. 

[SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER]

Are you seating and crimping in one operation? I seat, then use crimp die.

[Shawnee Hills]

I’ve been loading that same bullet with Dillon dies and have never noticed one get seated crooked.  
 

OLG is correct that you should use a flat-nose seater for that bullet.  

[The Revenuer]

2 minutes ago, SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER said:

Are you seating and crimping in one operation? I seat, then use crimp die.

Seat then crimp. 

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

5 minutes ago, Shawnee Hills said:

I’ve been loading that same bullet with Dillon dies and have never noticed one get seated crooked.  
 

OLG is correct that you should use a flat-nose seater for that bullet.  

Dillon dies come with a reversible seating stem.

[Shawnee Hills]

16 minutes ago, The Original Lumpy Gritz said:

Dillon dies come with a reversible seating stem.

Correct.  Round nose or truncated.  The truncated should be used for that bullet. 

[The Revenuer]

Just now, Shawnee Hills said:

Correct.  Round nose or truncated.  The truncated should be used for that bullet. 

My Lee die only has the round nose option.  Just ordered a Dillon seating die.  Thanks all, you never stop learning doing this stuff. 

[Shawnee Hills]

33 minutes ago, The Revenuer said:

My Lee die only has the round nose option.  Just ordered a Dillon seating die.  Thanks all, you never stop learning doing this stuff. 

You’ll like it.  Removal for cleaning couldn’t be easier.  Just pull a spring clip and the seating assembly drops in your hand.  No readjustment to the die is necessary to maintain OAL. 

[SGT. ELI 35882 GUNFIGHTER]

1 hour ago, The Revenuer said:

My Lee die only has the round nose option.  Just ordered a Dillon seating die.  Thanks all, you never stop learning doing this stuff. 

You lucked out, dies just came back in stock last week.

[Cholla]

I removed my round-nose bullet seater and made it flat-nosed by filling the head with JB weld, placing plastic wrap over it, and carefully pushing the bullet nose straight in. When cured, it fits the bullet perfectly.

[Go West]

That's strange. I've used Lee dies for decades without that issue. Like someone said, you may have debris in your die(s).