Determining Seating Depths for VLD's

[22~308TargetShootr]

Ok so I just finished up trying to find some seating depth numbers for Berger 175 VLD's in my palma rifle. I started by attempting to use my Stoney Point gauge, but ended up dropping the gauge and damaging the case mouth to the point of "unusableness" (probably not a word). That was the only fired case I happened to have on hand that was drilled and tapped for the gauge. %#$@! Thought to myself what now, so I pulled out the unopened Frankfort Arsenal Overall Length Gauge. Now I know this gives the C.O.A.L. using the tip and I usually use the Ogive, but I think I can do the figuring. Here's my numbers; first two before Stoney Point went to the floor.
1. 2.300 (Ogive)
2. 2.219 (Ogive)
Dropped Stoney Point , son of a $%#@.
Frankfort Arsenal
1. 2.808
2. 2.765
3. 2.798
4. 2.811
5. 2.819
6. 2.808
7. 2.805
8. 2.806
9. 2.805
10. 2.798
11. 2.805
So After I started to get the feel for things and how the system was suppose to be used I think I started to get some consistancy, (Some). Now I'm just curious as to what some out there would do with the numbers, take an average now somewhere between the 2.805 and 2.808 and just pick a spot to start ? Those VLD's are a ^%$*!

C.D.

 

[MALLARD]

Re: Determining Seating Depths for VLD's

ya i'd just go with anything around 2.8

 

[majohnson2]

Re: Determining Seating Depths for VLD's

I started loading some VLD and had the same issue. I tried using a bullet comparator to measure off the ogive and even that has quite a bit of variations. Looking at the base of the bullet it seem to very in its shape. Because measuring the bullets individually the sizes are all over the place, from low to high was .015".

Then seating the bullet there's also difference when measuring the COAL. I worry about the variation in the COAL but I'm not sure how to compensate for the variation. I did come across a UTube video on a guy the was measuring and grouping bullets. However if the difference is from the base of the bullet and the ogive and not the other way around, because I can't come up with a repeatable way to measure from the ogive to the bullet tip.

 

[ChrisGarrett]

Re: Determining Seating Depths for VLD's

Why not use the traditional 'dummy round' method?

Take a fired case, slightly dent in one edge of the case mouth, so you can insert a VLD and have it be gripped by the dented neck. Insert the bullet just barely (long,) color the bullet with a Sharpie/dry erase marker and chamber the round.

If the bullet sticks in the rifling, carefully tap it out with a rod making sure you don't disturb the 'ink' and then reinsert the bullet into the case up to the point where the ink is scraped away by the rest of the case mouth and measure the COAL?

This should get you a pretty close 'guesstimate'.

Chris