Berger 140 VLD Target for 6.5 Creedmoor COAL

[Tatanka32]

Hey guys. I'm pretty new to reloading and had a question about COAL.
I just went through the "finding my lands" on my Tikka T3 Tac A1. My first attempt at doing this.
I followed a process I found online where you remove firing pin and ejector pin from bolt and go by feel.
With that said, I found my lands at 2.959". Could that be correct? I read where most guys have a .02" jump on this round, but that would still put me at 2.939", which is far off from SAMMI.
Am I missing something?

 

[rockchalk06]

SAMMI is 2.800" for most loads. If you're loading for a specific rifle only and chasing the lands or better yet, finding jam, ignore the 2.800" COAL. If you are loading ammo that can be used in a gas gun or any bolt, load to SAMMI specs.

As for the VLD Target, you are going to make your head hurt trying to get a decent measurement measuring the COAL of that bullet. It is my favorite bullet to load in 6.5, but look at one. Hell, one side of the HP is longer than the other. Drop it from 2 feet off the ground and take another measurement. You will get a different reading. Some are off by .004". Grab a bullet comparator kit and measure off the O-Give. That bullet then becomes one of the most consistent I have ever seen.

Finding your lands by feel, is less scientific than using the modified case in my opinion. No way to tell where you really are in lands. I switched to finding jam. Seat a bullet to around 2.975" ish if you don't have the comparator tool. Single load it and force it into the chamber and lock the bolt. Remove and measure. That's jam. That's the danger zone. Start .010".020" off from there. Here is a video that explains it.


My guess is, that will still be too long to fit in your mag. You will probably have to work down by .005" until they fit in the mag. That is if you're loading for mag length.

For what it's worth, my Bergara HMR with the 140 VLD Target has a jam of 2.929" COAL and 2.273" O-Give. I cannot get a proper fit into the mag until 2.879 COAL and 2.223" O-Give. A full .050" off of Jam.

My current load:
Bergara HMR 22" 1-8
Berger 140 VLD Target
Lapua Virgin LP full length sized brass fully proccessed
Federal 210M
H4350 40.9 Grains
2701 FPS
2.875 COAL
2.216" O-Give
.057" jump to Jam
6.80 SD
17 Spread
5 shot group .305" @100

Will be taking this out to 1200 as soon as I get time to get to the range.

 

[rockchalk06]

I should also note that 40.9 grains of H4350 is below max for Hornady data app I have. Max is 42.0 and Min is 35.6. That said, don't start at 40.9. Start lower and work up.

 

[Tatanka32]

SAMMI is 2.800" for most loads. If you're loading for a specific rifle only and chasing the lands or better yet, finding jam, ignore the 2.800" COAL. If you are loading ammo that can be used in a gas gun or any bolt, load to SAMMI specs.

As for the VLD Target, you are going to make your head hurt trying to get a decent measurement measuring the COAL of that bullet. It is my favorite bullet to load in 6.5, but look at one. Hell, one side of the HP is longer than the other. Drop it from 2 feet off the ground and take another measurement. You will get a different reading. Some are off by .004". Grab a bullet comparator kit and measure off the O-Give. That bullet then becomes one of the most consistent I have ever seen.

Finding your lands by feel, is less scientific than using the modified case in my opinion. No way to tell where you really are in lands. I switched to finding jam. Seat a bullet to around 2.975" ish if you don't have the comparator tool. Single load it and force it into the chamber and lock the bolt. Remove and measure. That's jam. That's the danger zone. Start .010".020" off from there. Here is a video that explains it.


My guess is, that will still be too long to fit in your mag. You will probably have to work down by .005" until they fit in the mag. That is if you're loading for mag length.

For what it's worth, my Bergara HMR with the 140 VLD Target has a jam of 2.929" COAL and 2.273" O-Give. I cannot get a proper fit into the mag until 2.879 COAL and 2.223" O-Give. A full .050" off of Jam.

My current load:
Bergara HMR 22" 1-8
Berger 140 VLD Target
Lapua Virgin LP full length sized brass fully proccessed
Federal 210M
H4350 40.9 Grains
2701 FPS
2.875 COAL
2.216" O-Give
.057" jump to Jam
6.80 SD
17 Spread
5 shot group .305" @100

Will be taking this out to 1200 as soon as I get time to get to the range.

Thanks a bunch for the very detailed information Rockchalk06!!
My concerns were from previous reloads of Hornady 140 ELD Match and finding a node at 2.824" COAL with 40. of H4350 and after measuring lands today using the Berger I was over .125" different in length. Not having a lot of experience in reloading I was at least smart enough to stop and ask questions.
I will purchase the comparator kit and try the jam test.
Thanks again!

 

[AKMarty]

My Tac A1 in 6.5cm started off at .030” jump. After 1800 rounds it has stretched to .107” jump. CBTO is the most accurate way to compare your chamber to the cartridge. I would consider that it is not usually an absolute measurement only a comparison.

 

[atepointer]

Did you ge ta chance to take these out to distance? Wondering how they compare to the Horndaddy HPBT? I use that in 4DOF and it's right around 32mils give or take with atmospherics for 1752 yards had a day 2 weeks ago was 30.8 great conditions. VLD Target looks to be under 30 mils most days with .304 G7 going to run them with StaBall.