7mm 180gr VLD Hunting

[LVJ76]

I am going to try out this bullet in my 7mm Rem Mag with rome RL23 and I'm curious how far of the lands is best for it before I load up some rounds

TIA and stay safe

 

[JMW67]

my experience with vlds they normally dont like much jump I always start them right at the lands that way you only have one way to adjust. I have seen them shoot well out of a couple rifles with a much larger jump seems to be the exception though you may also look at the 175 elite hunter I dont think they are as picky on seating depth

 

[squeeeeze]

I usually wind up at .010"-.015" OTL's with mine. I'd have to read Berger's website again but they talk about seating depths tests with ( I think) .010", .060", and .120" OTL's. They go into more explanation that this is a newer concept for them being that far off the lands and they thought initially they had to be +.010" into the lands to approx -.010" OTL.

If you load all starting at .010" OTL, you can just set them deeper to try out if the .010" OTL doesn't work out.

 

[LVJ76]

my experience with vlds they normally dont like much jump I always start them right at the lands that way you only have one way to adjust. I have seen them shoot well out of a couple rifles with a much larger jump seems to be the exception though you may also look at the 175 elite hunter I dont think they are as picky on seating depth

I usually wind up at .010"-.015" OTL's with mine. I'd have to read Berger's website again but they talk about seating depths tests with ( I think) .010", .060", and .120" OTL's. They go into more explanation that this is a newer concept for them being that far off the lands and they thought initially they had to be +.010" into the lands to approx -.010" OTL.

If you load all starting at .010" OTL, you can just set them deeper to try out if the .010" OTL doesn't work out.

Thanks for help, I appreciate it guys.

 

[Buckreed]

I run the 180s in my 7RM with RL26 and a 0.015 jump. Seems to be the best for my particular rig.

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks @Buckreed. I've been reading they like to be close to the lands but wanted some real life experience advice.

Stay safe

 

[zr600]

I did the Berger seating depth test. .010, .050, .090, .130 off the lands. .090 was the best group.

 

[Dirtrax]

They do well at .020" OTL in my rifle.

 

[L.Sherm]

I just finished with a 7 mag and 180 Vld's
This one liked RL26 last one liked H1000 and both different seating depths, every rifle is different.

 

[codyadams]

They generally tend to shoot well at two locations, within .015" of the lands, and some other .020"-.030" window farther off the lands. Sometimes the closer one shoots better, sometimes the farther one does. Generally, I just load them .010" off, run a pressure test to find max pressure and a flat spot, then load a ladder through the flat spot and shoot them at 600 or so yards and I'm done, but I have loaded them in several 7mm mags, so I know them pretty good. I have had a couple that I ran a seating depth test like Berger said, and have had a few that shot good farther, one liked .055" off and another shot really well at .100" off. But like I said, almost all of them did just fine when I loaded them up at .010" off.

If you want to play around, run a seating depth test. If you just want to get a quick load, load .010" off and go.

 

[Tiny Tim]

My experience is most like it close. Yet I have one that shoots best at .090 off. Each rifle is different. Cody's advice is solid. If that doesn't meet your expectations, you can do the Berger seating test.

 

[LVJ76]

Thanks guys for the great advise I appreciate the input. I'll do what @codyadams mentioned and start with a seating depth test.

Thanks again and stay safe all

 

[11confederate]

Fairly new to reloading. I am a machinist. Interesting thread. I have not paid attention to the distance to the barrel lands. How is this distance checked? Thanks in advance.

 

[cajun]

Erik Cortina has a youtube channel. He's been changing some long held ideas about reloading. If you dont know who he is google it.