Berger VLD bottoming out in seater stem

[Mike027]

I picked up a couple boxes of Berger VLD match bullets to load up for my 7mmRM but I noticed that the noses hit the bottom of the seating stem. I reckon this is not a good thing and will lead to problems. This is a standard RCBS die. I have sent the folks at RCBS an email to see if they have a replacement stem that will work with the Bergers.

Can anyone recommend a seating die that will work for the VLD style bullets?

Thanks for any recommendation you can provide. Mike

 

[Toptuna]

Just send them 3 of your bullets and they will make you a custom one for your bullets. It costs about $15 +/-

 

[Spuds]

I use a Redding VLD micrometer seater plug for their standard die, and it is very consistent. Cost is about 35.99 for just the seater plug.

 

[Toptuna]

I use a Redding VLD micrometer seater plug for their standard die, and it is very consistent. Cost is about 35.99 for just the seater plug.

From what I remember it will not thread onto an rcbs though.

 

[Mikecr]

You could hit the seater bottom with a ~3/32 drill bit. Enough to clear the meplat.
Worth a try(you have nothing to lose in it).

 

[Mike027]

Well I went down to Cabelas and picked up a box of Sierra Game Kings so at least I can get some rounds loaded up for the next break in the weather. In the meantime I got a note back from RCBS (I am surprised to get a note back on a Sunday) and they gave me the information on how to obtain the right seater plug.

As TopTuna indicated the RCBS special order shop can build a custom stem for me at a cost of $16.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling.

They want me to send them 3 bullets plus the diameter of the seater stem in the die that I will be using. They further explain that they make seater plugs in 1/4 x28 and 1/2x20.

Using a digital caliper I measure the seater stem and it read at .245" and it does have 28 threads per inch. This is a stem from a standard RCBS die.

This may sound like a stupid question but is it common for the stem to measure less than a 1/4 inch or could my digital caliper be off a little bit?

When I measured the stem on the sizer die it read exactly .250 so that got me wondering. Mike

 

[Gene]

Wlith every bullets, the ogive should contact the seater cup sides before the meplat (point) bottoms in the cup. I check em by putting a small dab of prussion blue on the bullet tip, seat with nominal force, then remove the stem and check for contact. If it is there, you can drill it deeper or contact Redding, RCBS or other manufacturer and get a deeper cup.

 

[sp6x6]

You could hit the seater bottom with a ~3/32 drill bit. Enough to clear the meplat.
Worth a try(you have nothing to lose in it).

Did that on my Forester for my 338 and fixed problem getting good concentritity also

 

[Toptuna]

Wlith every bullets, the ogive should contact the seater cup sides before the meplat (point) bottoms in the cup. I check em by putting a small dab of prussion blue on the bullet tip, seat with nominal force, then remove the stem and check for contact. If it is there, you can drill it deeper or contact Redding, RCBS or other manufacturer and get a deeper cup.

Never thought of that. Solid advice.

 

[Canadian Bushman]

Using a digital caliper I measure the seater stem and it read at .245" and it does have 28 threads per inch. This is a stem from a standard RCBS die.

This may sound like a stupid question but is it common for the stem to measure less than a 1/4 inch or could my digital caliper be off a little bit?

When I measured the stem on the sizer die it read exactly .250 so that got me wondering. Mike

Yes it is very common for the major diameter of a thread to measure a couple thousandths smaller than nominal. This is standard procedure to ensure fit.

Measuring thread pitch with calipers can be tricky. Typically its easier to measure crest to crest on one thread. 28 TPI should measure .0357"

 

[Black Tail Hunter]

I had the same issue with the VLD bullets. I relieved the center of the seating plug with a dremel and small cutter. Removed only enough material so the tip of the bullet would not hit, it works fine.