Seating VLD type bullets

[Tommy Two Dogs]

I have been using a standard Redding and/or a Lee seating die to seat 142 gr. SMK's for a long time and thought I was doing just fine. I rolled a loaded cartridge across the bench and saw that it was obviously not straight. I took both of the seating dies apart and could see that the seating stem was not deep enough to allow the bullet to move far enough in to contact the bullet on the ogive. The bullet was hitting the top of the seating stem cavity and this was allowing for some serious misalignment some of the time. Problem can be solved with a replacement Micrometer Seating Stem for standard die from Redding or buying a Bench Rest Seating die from Forester. Thought this might be of interest to some of you. There are probably other ways to solve this problem and I would like to hear from any of you that have a different solution.

 

[Rover31]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

Wilson has VLD seating inserts for their seater.
T

 

[Thor2j]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

Does the redding micrometer seating dies need an insert as well?

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Thor2j</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does the redding micrometer seating dies need an insert as well?</div></div>

I've never used em. Never had too. Loading .308 cal Berger vlds

 

[boeger42]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

Redding has a "seater stem" for vlds:

REDDING - Redding Competition Standard Length VLD Seater Stems, $16.95 from Brownells.

There is also a 22 degree deburring tool for VLD's as opposed to the standard 45 degree deburring tool.

 

[fw707]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

I had to replace the seater stems on two Redding dies with the VLD stems. The only reason I had the Reddings was because Forster didn't make dies in those calibers.
I've sold both rifles and die sets, and all of my dies are now Forsters.
No problem with them.

 

[VTi]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Thor2j</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does the redding micrometer seating dies need an insert as well?</div></div>

I've never used em. Never had too. Loading .308 cal Berger vlds </div></div>

True you don't *have to*. You will certainly be able to seat the bullet but if you look closely it's slightly smashing the bullet tips. Best to use a VLD stem if you're loading 185gr and bigger, especially the 210's.

 

[Tommy Two Dogs]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

For sure a 1 Plus for Forster.

 

[Aimsmall55]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VTi</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Aimsmall55</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Thor2j</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does the redding micrometer seating dies need an insert as well?</div></div>

I've never used em. Never had too. Loading .308 cal Berger vlds </div></div>

True you don't *have to*. You will certainly be able to seat the bullet but if you look closely it's slightly smashing the bullet tips. Best to use a VLD stem if you're loading 185gr and bigger, especially the 210's.</div></div>


I agree. But I'm not loading for matches. Just very concise hunting loads.

 

[hdbiker1]

Re: Seating VLD type bullets

I had the same problem. What I did was to drill the recess to allow the tip to fit into the seater without bottoming out. Then I was having problems with the profile of the VLDs having a ring impressed into it. So I ended up buying the VLD seater insert anyway.