Berger 7MM 180 grain Hybrids - Do I need a VLD seater stem?

[Damfino]

I've resized the once fired, lightly neck-turned, Lapua brass. A resized (.002) case chambers nice and smooth, but put a bullet in and it becomes hard to chamber. Certainly, not sure, but this makes me think that something in the seating process is going wrong...I've been using a Wilson seater as well as a Redding with the same issue. I'm open to thoughts, suggestions and/or a solution(s)...

 

[Switchbarrel]

Based on your statements above, does the case go in & out (flush w/base) of the Wilson seater both before & after seating a bullet?

If so, are you sure of your chamber & neck dimensions? If your chamber has a tighter neck than what you’ve turned for, seating a bullet could expand the neck out causing some tightness.

Just a guess at this point, not being there.

-Rick

 

[Damfino]

Based on your statements above, does the case go in & out (flush w/base) of the Wilson seater both before & after seating a bullet?

If so, are you sure of your chamber & neck dimensions? If your chamber has a tighter neck than what you’ve turned for, seating a bullet could expand the neck out causing some tightness.

Just a guess at this point, not being there.

-Rick

Thanks Rick. You're right about a case sticking once it's seated. A fired case measures about .322+- at the neck. A case drops out easily in the Wilson seater die before a bullet is seated. Afterwards sticks slightly...

 

[Immike]

Thanks Rick. You're right about a case sticking once it's seated. A fired case measures about .322+- at the neck. A case drops out easily in the Wilson seater die before a bullet is seated. Afterwards sticks slightly...

Are you able to put a bullet into a fired case with your hands? If not then stop and investigate. You may need to turn more.

 

[Damfino]

Good question Mike, but no.

 

[Immike]

Good question Mike, but no.

Not good. Won’t shoot consistently and dangerous for you. You need a minimum of 2 thousands release.

 

[Damfino]

Not good. Won’t shoot consistently and dangerous for you. You need a minimum of 2 thousands release.

Mike, I apologize. I misunderstood your question. Yes, I can place a bullet in a fired case with plenty of clearance and absolutely no bullet tension. It's loose and will fall to the bottom of the case if I let it go.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Switchbarrel]

Hmmm, at this point I would take a bunch of measurements on an empty, sized case that goes in/out of the die easily. Seat the bullet, if you get the same sticky feel, measure everything again (I mean everything, ie, headspace, neck diameter, shoulder diameter, etc.) & see what’s changing.

Kinetic pull the bullet (as gently as possible - I stuffed a foam earplug in the bottom of mine), measure it too. Retry the case as-is in the die and/or chamber. Smooth again?

Assuming simple things like die is clean, no old lube, dirt making things stick.
Since you said it happens in the chamber as well, also assuming it’s truly sticking & not the suction/vacuum you feel with Wilson dies when removing loaded rounds sometimes.

-Rick

 

[#40Fan]

How far off or into the lands are you seating the bullet?

 

[Damfino]

Just touching. Same COAL/bullet jump I've used successfully in the past. Group size is approximately .300+- at 100 yards. Just concerned with the pressure needed to close the bolt, it's not extreme, but it seems to have increased for no apparent reason...? Action's clean, same of lot bullets/brass.

 

[#40Fan]

Maybe a carbon ring that is coming into contact with the bullet? Do you have a bore scope? If not, you can pull a brush back through the bore while feeling for more drag at the throat area.

 

[Damfino]

That makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

 

[Switchbarrel]

Maybe a carbon ring that is coming into contact with the bullet? Do you have a bore scope? If not, you can pull a brush back through the bore while feeling for more drag at the throat area.

Trouble is, that wouldn't explain the stickiness in the seater die after seating a bullet (that wasn't there previously). No carbon ring in the seater die.

Thanks Rick. You're right about a case sticking once it's seated. A fired case measures about .322+- at the neck. A case drops out easily in the Wilson seater die before a bullet is seated. Afterwards sticks slightly...

-Rick

 

[#40Fan]

Trouble is, that wouldn't explain the stickiness in the seater die after seating a bullet (that wasn't there previously). No carbon ring in the seater die.



-Rick

Yeah, mine does the same. Everyone seems to talk about it sticking slightly in the Wilson's. But, if it wasn't doing it before, then I agree, won't be carbon fouling.

 

[barefooter56]

I've resized the once fired, lightly neck-turned, Lapua brass. A resized (.002) case chambers nice and smooth, but put a bullet in and it becomes hard to chamber. Certainly, not sure, but this makes me think that something in the seating process is going wrong...I've been using a Wilson seater as well as a Redding with the same issue. I'm open to thoughts, suggestions and/or a solution(s)...

Check an make sure the tip of the bullet is NOT bottoming out in your bullet seating stem. If its not and the first lot of bullets was ( assuming there was a previous/different lot used) bottoming out the CBTO and COAL will be different. Lot that tips bottoming out in the stem will be shorter in COAL and CBTO. Lot that the bullet tips were NOT bottoming out in seater stem will be longer in COAL and CBTO so the bullet MAY be contacting the lands causing the stiff chambering. Switch to a VLD bullet seating stem when using our VLD or HYBRID bullets due to the bullet nose shape and length if you can. Or get the stem drilled deeper. Hope this helps!

 

[Damfino]

Check an make sure the tip of the bullet is NOT bottoming out in your bullet seating stem. If its not and the first lot of bullets was ( assuming there was a previous/different lot used) bottoming out the CBTO and COAL will be different. Lot that tips bottoming out in the stem will be shorter in COAL and CBTO. Lot that the bullet tips were NOT bottoming out in seater stem will be longer in COAL and CBTO so the bullet MAY be contacting the lands causing the stiff chambering. Switch to a VLD bullet seating stem when using our VLD or HYBRID bullets due to the bullet nose shape and length if you can. Or get the stem drilled deeper. Hope this helps!

Phillip,

Very helpful. Thank you for your very knowledgeable response. This kind of "stealthy" customer service is very impressive. I should have simply asked Berger Bullets. I still have emails from Walt from years ago when I was asking about the best .308 bullet for F-TR. He was extremely generous with his knowledge and technical expertise as you were.

I think you're assessment is correct as it appears that the tip of the bullet IS bottoming out in my seating stem. VLD seating stem is on the way.

Best,
Bill Allbritton

 

[barefooter56]

Phillip,

Very helpful. Thank you for your very knowledgeable response. This kind of "stealthy" customer service is very impressive. I should have simply asked Berger Bullets. I still have emails from Walt from years ago when I was asking about the best .308 bullet for F-TR. He was extremely generous with his knowledge and technical expertise as you were.

I think you're assessment is correct as it appears that the tip of the bullet IS bottoming out in my seating stem. VLD seating stem is on the way.

Best,
Bill Allbritton

Thanks Bill! Glad to help! Please let us know if you need anything else.