6.5 Creedmoor Bullet Seating Question

Cole440

Cole440

Private
Minuteman
Mar 24, 2021
96
40
Southern California
#1
Hi all, I was having trouble accurately seating the 142 SMK with my RCBS die set.

After further investigation, I have found that the seating stem is hitting the point of the bullet and this is my issue.

So, here is my question! I am looking to upgrade to a better die. I am liking the Redding, but I was hoping that someone could provide me some assurance that the seating stem is in fact deep enough to accommodate the longer bullets. The SMK is a standard tangent ogive so I shouldn't need a vld stem...

Any info is greatly appreciated!
 
#2
I have the Redding competition bushing die set and it comes with a normal length seating stem. I had to also buy separate the VLD seating stem. For long bullets like eldm , hybrids ETC
 
#3
I see your post does say you are aware of the VLD stem. I have not tried SMK bullets yet (so want to clarify I’m not sure if the normal stem would work for an SMK 130 vs a 140 or above). Sorry, I first read it like you didn’t realize there was a VLD stem
 
#6
I have the Redding Competition Micrometer Seating Die and (a) exclusively shoot the LRHT bullets, and (b) use the VLD seating stem for all four calibers that I reload (6.5-CM, 300-WM, 300-PRC, and 338-LM). If you use the LRHT bullets and the normal seating stem, you'll get a lot of seating variation.
 
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#7
Cole440 said:
So maybe I need further clarification on the VLD stem also. I was under the impression that it was only for secant ogive bullets?
Click to expand...
Take your stem and put it on the bench upside down.

Now take a bullet and drop it in there.

If it sits at an angle it’s because the tip is hitting the end of the stem before contacting the ogive and you need a VLD stem.

Has to do w length, not the ogive type
 
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#8
I use a forester seater with my 260

Use a Redding for my buddies 6.5

If you intend to use the long high bc bullets just get the Redding with the vld stem
 
#9
SAC die is pretty nice if you set it up for multi use. Otherwise it is spendy. I think it does seat cleaner than Whidden, Redding or Forster.
 
#11
Cole440 said:
So maybe I need further clarification on the VLD stem also. I was under the impression that it was only for secant ogive bullets?
Click to expand...
That’s what it was created for. Since then we have gotten into hubris ogives etc and now vld stem is basically shorthand for “a stem to accommodate the relatively new popular long heavy for caliber pointy match bullets”

Basically any modern match bullet that isn’t a round soft point won’t be hurt by the use of a vld stem. Don’t know why they still send the old blunt stems by default.
 
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#12
Now after I have read up on SAC and thier dies. I would go with them for sure

In Fact I wish I didn’t buy the Redding comp set for 6.5 I have after looking into SAC.

Especially now that I have a zero press

At this time per thier site it says they don’t have many of the right size sets and you do have to build a kit to get everything you need BUT I’d say it would be slightly cheaper eventually to be used across multiple Creedmoor calibers. And then have thier dedicated decap die maybe.

Of course bushings are not in stock at this time 😫

I want to know what dial caliper he’s using in his video and which runout gauge.
 
#13
Cole440 said:
Hi all, I was having trouble accurately seating the 142 SMK with my RCBS die set.

After further investigation, I have found that the seating stem is hitting the point of the bullet and this is my issue.

So, here is my question! I am looking to upgrade to a better die. I am liking the Redding, but I was hoping that someone could provide me some assurance that the seating stem is in fact deep enough to accommodate the longer bullets. The SMK is a standard tangent ogive so I shouldn't need a vld stem...

Any info is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

.... a VLD seating stem will work for both Tangent & Secant ogives. A quick check you can perform is remove the seating stem and put the bullet in it and see if it wiggles around or pretty much sits in it. The VLD stems have a deeper pocket to allow the stem to reach down to the ogive of the bullet.
 
#15
XikoPlavi said:
Now after I have read up on SAC and thier dies. I would go with them for sure

In Fact I wish I didn’t buy the Redding comp set for 6.5 I have after looking into SAC.

Especially now that I have a zero press

At this time per thier site it says they don’t have many of the right size sets and you do have to build a kit to get everything you need BUT I’d say it would be slightly cheaper eventually to be used across multiple Creedmoor calibers. And then have thier dedicated decap die maybe.

Of course bushings are not in stock at this time 😫

I want to know what dial caliper he’s using in his video and which runout gauge.
Click to expand...

After extensive reading and some of my own trial and error, I have determined that anything else have over a redding/forrester competition set that are well maintained, well set up, and on a rigid press offer gains too small for someone like me to notice.

My rifle is shooting under a half inch with the RCBS dies anyway. But it is a pain to check every single round for OAL which is what got me here!
 
#16
Baron23 said:
Yeah, only reason I can see is so they can sell you another stem.

During this last year, even a freakin Redding VLD stem was unobtainium and I had to order one from the UK (nice people, by the by :)
Click to expand...
Beats me! Seems like if I am buying the competition seater, I am buying it for precision shooting, not shooting cans with a 308 and 150gn fmj. Just doesn't make sense.
 
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#17
Cole440 said:
Beats me! Seems like if I am buying the competition seater, I am buying it for precision shooting, not shooting cans with a 308 and 150gn fmj. Just doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...
Well, yeah...but also, its just longer stem and even a non-VLD bullet will still seat on the ogive...you just won't use the added length of the stem.

Right?
 
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