6BR - Seating SMK's and VLD's

[Ghansen]

I have just started using my 6BR, and all is not perfect, so I thought I would ask your experiences.

Q1- Seating SMK 107's in a Wilson seater; I have been using Berger 105 VLD's and due to out of stock I got some SMK 107's. Do I need to change out the VLD seater stem I have been using or can I use it also for the SMK's?

Q2- It seems the chamber on this is "full dimension", not sure what reamer spec as was a used item but it is a 274 neck. I have a Speedy FL die and a Wilson neck die. Using the Wilson neck die and after only 1 firing, when I seat my projectile the case fit in the seater is tight enough that I have to use a spoon tip to release the case. Usually would indicate I need to FLS, but also not a big drama to spoon the case out. I feel the brass might be overworked if I FL sizing every time. FL sizing does requires a bit of force (a lot more than bumping .001 or .002 on a PPC) and reduces the measurement at the shoulder/body by .002 which seems quite a bit to me. Am I preserving the brass and not affecting accuracy by neck sizing only here, or should I anneal and FLS every time?

 

[spclark]

Q1) - unless you're seeing a ring on your bullets from the seater exerting more force than desired, that VLD insert ought to be OK for the time being. You didn't mention neck tension; too much will aggravate deformation of both contact surfaces (bullet AND seater insert) so is to be avoided.

What brand of seater? I wouldn't tolerate having to pop every loaded round out with a tool.

Q2) - 0.002" case dia. reduction at shoulder does seem a bit excessive, but not knowing how you selected that combo of dies & chamber profile (who chambered this barrel?) you may want to FL size new brass before firing & see what happens. Brass is a consumable in that it won't last forever despite our best care & attention. It's up to us to find a balance between accuracy, case longevity and case processing protocols to get the performance we desire. If your chamber is "full dimension" while your dies are intended for something more 'refined' you may need something different die-wise.

 

[Ghansen]

The seater is just a Wilson hand tool. There doesn't seem to be anything unusual about a seated SMK, I was wondering mostly on concentricity issues. With the tight fit in the seater, the only dimension I can see that is at the extreme is the shoulder/wall which is at. 460 neck sized, and around. 458 - .459 FLSized.

Might be I should try a different lube.? The effort on the press is a bit more than I thought I would need for 001. 002
Neck sizing only is a cinch by comparison.

 

[mikecr]

I wouldn't change a thing, nor worry about it.
Don't make brass fit your dies. Make it fit your chamber.