VLD Seating die?

[justinp61]

I purchased some Berger VLDs to load in my 260. Do I need a special seating die?

Thanks.

 

[trailrider121]

What dies do you have? You could take seater apart, and make sure bullet tip is not bottoming out in seater cup.

 

[justinp61]

I haven't purchased my dies yet, as I'm still gathering components, but I'm strongly considering a Lee collet die set. I also load for a 22-250 and have a RCBS micrometer seating die for it that I really like. The 260 is a hunting rifle with a 22" 1-8 twist pencil barrel so I'm not sure if it'll be accurate enough to justify an expensive die set.

Thanks.

 

[nhm16]

I purchased some Berger VLDs to load in my 260. Do I need a special seating die?

Thanks.

You don't need a special seating die but you can get seating stems for Redding micrometer seating dies made for VLD bullets so they don't bottom out as described above.

 

[Down South]

Just ask for a VLD seating stem from whoever you buy the seating die from.

 

[justinp61]

The VLD seating die will work ok with other bullets? I saw the Reading micrometer stem, that may be the way I go.

Thanks.

 

[nhm16]

The VLD seating die will work ok with other bullets? I saw the Reading micrometer stem, that may be the way I go.

Thanks.

Yeah. Won't hurt anything. I swap out the regular seating stems on my Redding dies for the VLD ones as a matter of course.

 

[Dale700]

IMO the RCBS dies don't play well with VLDs but in the search , the redding dies work very well , also, as said earlier the VLD seating die will work with other bullets as well.
Just asking , do you have calipers set up to measure the VLDs ? If not you are going to fight them . Hornady makes a set of VLD attachments that won't break the bank .

 

[ronemus]

I favor the Forster seater - the stem profile and its metallurgy have resulted in longer life. Redding's stems tend to bell, galling the bore of the sliding chamber. I don't have that problem with Forsters.

 

[justinp61]

I don't have anything specific for the VLD's. Will a standard set of comparators not work? My bullets came today, they're some long suckers!

 

[WindSurgeon]

I favor the Forster seater - the stem profile and its metallurgy have resulted in longer life. Redding's stems tend to bell, galling the bore of the sliding chamber. I don't have that problem with Forsters.

I use a Forster micrometer seating die as well on the VLD's. I was having issues with consistent seating depth so I sent the die back to Forster with a sample round seated at the length I wanted and they machined the seating stem to better fit the VLD. Cost $7 to have done. It is more consistent now, but not perfect. Going to give Hybrids a try so I don't worry as much about seating depth. Accuracy is supposedly less effected by seating depth according to the pundits.

 

[dalej]

Bullet seater cups can be drilled deeper with smaller drill. Stay away from the top edge and you'll be okay.

 

[amlevin]

It's more than just making sure that the tip of a VLD bullet doesn't bottom out in the seater die stem/plug.

You also need a seater stem/plug that will contact the bullet farther down it's surface, close to the ogive. Many VLD's have a larger void beneath the tip and if your seater stem contacts this area you risk damaging the bullet. Usual result is a "ring" pressed into the bullet even though seating pressures aren't that heavy.

 

[barefooter56]

justinp61,
The Redding Competition seater die will require you to buy the optional VLD seating stem. The Forster Benchrest and ULTRA seating dies come with stem that is supposed to work with both the standard style and VLD bullets. In any case with any seating die check to make sure the nose of the bullet will not "bottom out' in the base of the seating stem. L.E.Wilson seating dies also have an optional VLD seating stem available if you want to use "hand dies". The issue with the Redding seating stems (belling of the stem mouth) only occurs if the die has not been adjusted or assembled incorrectly or if you have excessive seating pressure. Please let us know here if you have any more questions as you get set up.
Take care,
Phil Hoham
Berger Bullet Tech

 

[amlevin]

jThe issue with the Redding seating stems (belling of the stem mouth) only occurs if the die has not been adjusted or assembled incorrectly or if you have excessive seating pressure.

Compressed loads will do this too, even if all else is perfect.

 

[barefooter56]

amlevin,
Good catch! Left that one out. I blame the single digit temps here !! lol !!

 

[amlevin]

amlevin,
Good catch! Left that one out. I blame the single digit temps here !! lol !!

Not to make you feel bad but a bunch of us were shooting yesterday in 60 degree temps with sunshine 8) 8)

 

[missed]

My lee dies have been find with VLD's but my Forster dies I did end up getting the VLD stem for them.

 

[expiper]

OP,,I use Wison chamber type seater with their VLD seater stem,,,zero problems and no bullet damage,,,Roger

 

[barefooter56]

amlevin,
Rub it in man.... its now going to -25 with the windchill here tomorrow with an actual "high" of between 0 and 5 degrees. Gorebull warming is a farce IMHO.