A-Tip Seating with Redding Comp Dies

davethedog · Jan 4, 2021

About to load up some 230 A-Tips on Comp dies from redding. I have the VLD seating stem and I'm hoping this ought to be good enough. Anyone here loading these bullets with this die? Do I need to lap it with some grinding compound or am I good to go?

ForgeValley · Jan 4, 2021

In for the info. I read somewhere that the vld stem works for the atips, but will be good to get confirmation. I haven't loaded any atips yet.

TheOfficeT-Rex · Jan 4, 2021

Pull the seating stem out of the die, and set it on top of a bullet.

You'll be able to check fit, and (more importantly) make sure the tip isn't bottomed out in the stem.

Rathmatik · Jan 4, 2021

davethedog said:
About to load up some 230 A-Tips one Type S dies. I have the VLD seating stem and I'm hoping this ought to be good enough. Anyone here loading these bullets with this die? Do I need to lap it with some grinding compound or am I good to go?

Do you mean the Redding competition seating die? The Type S die is for resizing.

davethedog · Jan 4, 2021

Rathmatik said:
Do you mean the Redding competition seating die? The Type S die is for resizing.

Yes, my bad

davsco · Jan 4, 2021

stupid newbie question, but will the tip compress or the bullet seat off center if the seater profile doesn't match up with the bullet profile? thinking there isn't a ton of force needed to press the bullet into the casing.

TheOfficeT-Rex · Jan 4, 2021

davsco said:
stupid newbie question, but will the tip compress or the bullet seat off center if the seater profile doesn't match up with the bullet profile? thinking there isn't a ton of force needed to press the bullet into the casing.

You'll see rings or deformation on the ogive, or if the tip is bottoming out, you could deform it. It's also possible to seat with wonky concentricity if you're seating with a really poor fit and unsupported seater die.

EarlSwagger66 · Jun 14, 2021

This thread seemed most appropriate to add my comments…
FWIW, I have the below pictured seating micrometer. I just got some .308 250 gr. A-tips and they fit fairly snug. When I push the bullet in there is no wobble. I’m going to give it a try before I buy Hornady dies and special stem.