Seating stem

[RetiredArmy]

I'm using a micro adjust Redding seating die with long stem. Will I need to use a VLD stem to seat Hornady ELD X 6.5 bullets?die
Thanks Bill

 

[rwj]

Does the stem contact the end of the bullet or the flank?

 

[RetiredArmy]

Does the stem contact the end of the bullet or the flank?

I have not purchased them yet. Was trying to head off any issues i might run into.
Thanks Bill

 

[mikecr]

If there is a seating die maker today, who's stems are not suitable for VLDs,, they suck.
Go to another brand..

 

[rwj]

I have not purchased them yet. Was trying to head off any issues i might run into.
Thanks Bill

I’ve been pleased with Redding’s customer service, they can likely answer your question...

 

[dstoenner]

I’ve been pleased with Redding’s customer service, they can likely answer your question...

I agree they have helped me.

To your original question, I replaced all of Redding competition seater stems with the vid versions. That guarantees what ever bullet I choose to seat it will be seated by the side of the bullet and not the point. I sort of agree that in this age of high by bullets why the die vendors don’t go to vid style and be done with it. It wouldn’t cost them anything more than the standard sleeve

David

 

[Richard Coody]

i hear a lot of talk about seating stems. been shooting berger vld's for years with forster, redding, wilson, whiddon and Neil jones seating dies. why have i not had this issue

 

[243Lapua]

I have seated Berger VLD bullets with the stem that Redding provides on the Competition Seater Dies
And I have never had an issue seating them. Never have had a damaged point. Contact was made on the ogive part.
I changed them anyway for the VLD style stem. But I never had an issue with the regular stem.
Purchase the die and disassemble it. Remove stem and verify with your bullet.

 

[jds holler]

And then there is always the Okie modification. If ya need to ask, you're not a very good Okie. jd

 

[grovey]

My Redding comp seaters in 223 ( berger 55gr) and 243 ( 105 AMAX) both would put a ring on the bullets. I replaced the .223 with the vld stem and the ring went away. More neck tension and or compressed loads were the worst.