Reloading VLD and having a slight problem ?

350tracker

350tracker

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I started reloading some 70 gr. VLD for my .223 and have come across a slight problem. When I started going into compressed loads it’s leaving a slight mark on the bullet from the die. I have to keep within the magazine length so unfortunately the bullet has to be seated deeper them I’d like. Any suggestions on how to eliminate this problem because I’m sure the mark left on the bullet will effect the accuracy of the bullet down the range...
 
Rifle barrels are usually custom made to shoot vld bullets. IE: the throat is longer so you can seat your the bullets close to the lands for best accuracy "like usual" without having to seat the bullet too deep. The rifle twist is also faster like 1-8 or 1-7. for VLD bullet stability.

I you have a barrels made for general use there's not much you can do. You can't have it all unfortunately.

Buy looking at the pick you can easily see that having the same OAL to fit in a mag just is not prone to accuracy. Your pressure ring on the VLD bullet is going to be deeper than the neck.
br8.jpg
 
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thesilverfox said:
Rifle barrels are usually custom made to shoot vld bullets. IE: the throat is longer so you can seat your the bullets close to the lands for best accuracy "like usual". The rifle twist is also faster like 1-8 or 1-7. for VLD bullet stability.

I you have a barrels made for general use there's not much you can do. You can't have it all unfortunately.
Click to expand...


:eek::weird:
 
If your seating to clear magazine with berger VLD bullets. I don't believe you will get berst accuracy with these long bullets. I have used the 75gr and when you jump them they don't work all that great. i talked with Walt Berger about this andd he said that the VLDs like to be on lands or even hard to get best accuracy.I was able to get to .256" on the lands with jump of .0020 .600++ for hunting I use the 60gr Noslers they work well with jump so you can seat bullets to work in magazine
manitou
 
manitou210 said:
If your seating to clear magazine with berger VLD bullets. I don't believe you will get berst accuracy with these long bullets. I have used the 75gr and when you jump them they don't work all that great. i talked with Walt Berger about this andd he said that the VLDs like to be on lands or even hard to get best accuracy.
manitou
Click to expand...

I was afraid of that because of the magazine. I'll see what happens...

Thanks guys...
 
What if you load one at a time and shoot without using the magazine. VLD's are for target shooting correct? Then you could load according to the lands, and not be limitted to magazine length. If you're only shooting paper, you don't need to use the magazine. Also, I read a pretty interesting article in Handloader a few months back, they deformed bullets in all kinds of wild ways, the only ones that shot poorly were the ones with deformed bullet heels, anything else may not have been as good as perfect, but was not tragically affected.
 
curtmg said:
What if you load one at a time and shoot without using the magazine. VLD's are for target shooting correct? Then you could load according to the lands, and not be limitted to magazine length. If you're only shooting paper, you don't need to use the magazine. Also, I read a pretty interesting article in Handloader a few months back, they deformed bullets in all kinds of wild ways, the only ones that shot poorly were the ones with deformed bullet heels, anything else may not have been as good as perfect, but was not tragically affected.
Click to expand...

Never really thought of it that way. Maybe I'll give them a go...

Thanks for the info.
 
I would continue to load them like you are... you don't need any slam firing when your bullets are to long and the front hits the rifling and stops.

People are just equating the high price of bergers with target shoot... they are for plinking arn't they?:D

I get a small ring on all my bullets, using lee dies the inside of the seating part just needs to be polished get a dremel with a small buffing wheel or ball and some polishing compound.
 
To be honest the 70 gr. were going to be used for target and coyote, but it depends on how they perform. I’ve just loaded some 69 gr. Sierra HPBT-Match and was able to get very close to the lands and still be within magazine length. Boy, by the time the good weather gets here I’ll be shooting for a week with all the loads I’m trying...

I will try to polish the seating part and see what happens...
 
Ok, so now I have another question ?

I’ve been doing some measuring with my O.A.G. and to my surprise the bullets are much closer to the lands then I figured. When reloading, I was concern with length of round in relation to magazine but now found out that the distance to the lands is allot closer then I thought.

I loaded some 70 gr. VLD as previously mentioned and found out that the bullet when seated is nearly touching the lands. The measurement from my O.A.G is 1.87” to the ogive in the chamber and the measurement of my round measures 1.86” to the ogive.

Reading the instruction they suggest between 0.020” to 0.040” .Am I looking for trouble leaving as is or should I seat the bullets in deeper as per instruction ?
 
thesilverfox said:
Rifle barrels are usually custom made to shoot vld bullets. IE: the throat is longer so you can seat your the bullets close to the lands for best accuracy "like usual" without having to seat the bullet too deep. The rifle twist is also faster like 1-8 or 1-7. for VLD bullet stability.

I you have a barrels made for general use there's not much you can do. You can't have it all unfortunately.

Buy looking at the pick you can easily see that having the same OAL to fit in a mag just is not prone to accuracy. Your pressure ring on the VLD bullet is going to be deeper than the neck.
br8.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info and picture. I do understand what your saying. My rifle has 1-9 twist and is what’s recommended by Bergers. I’ll see how they’ll work...
 
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