My JP 6.5 creed doesn't like VLDs -- HELP!!

[PSYOPS]

Guys,

Just picked up my new JP 6.5 creedmoor this past Tuesday. Very psyched!

I tried my Berger 130gr VLD load and my JP is NOT happy. The rounds and more importantly the bullets are taking a beating! They are being slammed into the chamber channeling and deforming the bullet tip and sometimes shoving the bullet back into the case, significantly.

I tried different mags - all the same. Not a mag issue. I tried some Hornady 140gr HPBT and my JP seemed to have no issues with these.

Is it the VLDs??

In this bad picture, it shows each round with a deformed tip and #5 got smashed way back into the casing. Potentially dangerous there!

Any ideas or tips?

Thanks tons!

-Mike

 

[camocorvette]

What the OAL of your loaded VLD vs your other ammo? I'm guessing there just too long, can you set them back any?

 

[FCS]

Feed ramp angle isn't really idea for VLDs and gas guns IMHO. I personally don't run VLDs in gas guns as it requires too much tweaking and extra gyrations for minimal gain. VLDs and hybrids in a bolt rifle w/o feed ramp issues or shorter OAL as constrained by mag limit make more sense to me.

142 SMK, 139 Scenar, 136 Scenar, 140 Amax, 140 SMK or 130 Norma will run w/o issue. VLD bullet is the issue, geometry isn't ideal with VLD and feed ramp as typically configured from most AR manufactures. GAP does some tweaking to allow feeding of VLD on GAP-10 as I understand it.

 

[PSYOPS]

camocorvette - all loads are the same length...2.800.

The 140gr Hornady BTHP feed fine, but the Berger 130 VLDs at the same OAL are taking a beating.

FCS - Thanks for the info. I suspected it's the VLD design...(I have some VLDs for sale!! )

 

[FCS]

Since VLD has a larger radius ogive, the nose of bullet is "skinny" and doesn't "lift" point of bullet enough so it goes into chamber. Point of bullet catches breech end of barrel below chamber and 1) bullet gets pushed back into case or 2) nose deforms and pops up enough to allow round to chamber.

Mag limited to 2.810" or so for reliable feeding from a DPMS type magazine. 0.040" jump with "standard" 6.5 CM chamber you are about 2.840", while 0.070 to 0.080" of jump isn't horrible I prefer to be more in the 0.040" jump range and less trauma to nose.

Plenty of guys say they run VLDs from ARs w/o issue. I prefer to run more conventional bullets in my ARs, works plenty good for my needs. I run a lot of VLD / hybrids in my bolt rifles where I can truly take advantage of the benefits of VLD by seating bullet where it needs to be, freeing up some case capacity and optimizing what the VLD / hybrid offers.

YMMV.

 

[DT1]

142gr SMK's and 123gr A-Max's run flawlessly and produce 1/2" groups in my JP.

 

[Longshot38]

The VLD design is notoriously picky about seating depth. As such magazine feeding can be problematic. I found I get the 140 grain VLDs to run well in my DPMS pattern rifle but this isn't true for all of them.

 

[Unknown]

I can think of two ways to help the bullet you are using resist being pushed back into the case. As noted above, changing bullet might be a solution, but if you are set on using the VLD bullets you might try either crimping the necks, or if you have a collet sizer die, increase the neck tension a wee bit. Of the two, I think the neck tension would give more consistent pressures, but I haven't tested this theory with a chrono.

I always thought that crimping causes more inconsistent release tension on the bullet, resulting in inconsistent pressure and velocity. This would come from the varying amount of crimp applied to cases of different lengths/neck thickness. However, the variance in velocity from the crimp would be small compared to the variance in velocity caused by a bullet pushed back into the case.

But without actually testing these ideas over a chrono, it is only a theory...not a proven fact.

 

[PSYOPS]

Thanks for all the advice, guys.

Looks as if I switch bullets, that this could solve the FTF and bullet smashing issues.

I'll try some 123gr bullets and see how they do. I'm betting MUCH improved.

Thanks again.