6.5 berger 156 grain EOL seating stem issue

[Sugar Shane]

Hello all. What seating stem is everyone using to load the Berger 6.5 156 gr. EOL bullets? Ive got a hornady die set and a few seating stems but they are leaving a significant ring around the bullet. I was hoping that hornady starting making a stem to fit these new high b.c. bullets but I couldnt find anything. The closest thing i have to is their eldx stem.

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have the same issue in a few of my die sets.
What I do is take a standard stem, drill a 1/8" hole about a 1/8" deep in the middle of it, then use a bullet to polish the stem with coarse valve grinding paste.
You can also use Devcon and profile the stem to match the bullet if you feel this is better.

Cheers.

 

[FEENIX]

Hello all. What seating stem is everyone using to load the Berger 6.5 156 gr. EOL bullets? Ive got a hornady die set and a few seating stems but they are leaving a significant ring around the bullet. I was hoping that hornady starting making a stem to fit these new high b.c. bullets but I couldnt find anything. The closest thing i have to is their eldx stem.

I do not want to assume anything but did you address this issue with Hornady?

 

[Sugar Shane]

No but i did check their site to see what stems they offered but it was mainly for their brand bullets

 

[dok7mm]

It's possible you're using too much neck tension, that could put more pressure on the stem.

Otherwise, what @MagnumManiac said.

 

[FEENIX]

No but i did check their site to see what stems they offered but it was mainly for their brand bullets

"IF" their product is causing this (factory defect) they would want to know and can provide you with a better resolve (i.e. part replacement or procedural advice with your reloading process). I have a few of their dies and load Berger bullets without any issues.

 

[Buxndiverdux]

Redding makes a stem for those type bullets. I had a similar issue and it was a fix. I'm running Redding dies though? Maybe Hornady has a VLD type stem?

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I don't think it's a factory defect I get the same issue with the Hornady VLD seating stem and the 156 Berger as well.

I also get it with the Redding VLD stem on 215 Bergers.

Hammer bullets as well. I think you have to do as described and buy a stem for each bullet and bed them accordingly. Sux but you got to do what you gotta do.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Too much seating resistance IMO. I'd try less neck tension and neck lube if necessary.

 

[L.Sherm]

If the dies are undersizing the necks more than necessary and your brass isn't annealed you could very well be getting alot of spring back causing alot of neck tension.
I load alot of Bergers in different calibers with VLD stems and I have never had a problem but i also never use more than .003 no tension

 

[Sugar Shane]

I have a few stems for my hornady die but no VLD stems. They dont make them. The closest thing to fit is their Eldx stem. They design their stems for their bullets. I was just curious if anyone else ran into this problem and what was the solution

 

[L.Sherm]

I dont run Hornandy dies for 2 reasons, they tend to undersize the brass excessively and they dont make a VLD stem

 

[FEENIX]

Hello all. What seating stem is everyone using to load the Berger 6.5 156 gr. EOL bullets? Ive got a hornady die set and a few seating stems but they are leaving a significant ring around the bullet. I was hoping that hornady starting making a stem to fit these new high b.c. bullets but I couldnt find anything. The closest thing i have to is their eldx stem.

"IF" their product is causing this (factory defect) they would want to know and can provide you with a better resolve (i.e. part replacement or procedural advice with your reloading process). I have a few of their dies and load Berger bullets without any issues.

I don't think it's a factory defect I get the same issue with the Hornady VLD seating stem and the 156 Berger as well.

I do not share the same problem. Below is a quick test with virgin PP brass (no special prep just a quick deburr, re-size, and bullet seated at 3.34" COAL), 156 Berger, Hornady dies ...

 

[Sugar Shane]

I do not share the same problem. Below is a quick test with virgin PP brass (no special prep just a quick deburr, re-size, and bullet seated at 3.34" COAL), 156 Berger, Hornady dies ...

View attachment 216080View attachment 216081

Which particular stem are you using?