- Thread starter DEW0341
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The cost of the new stem is trivial compared to the A-tip bullets themselves, why not just get it?
All you need to do is pull the stem from your die and check the fit.
More than likely my money is on the tip bottoming out in the stem.
I was reluctant but knew better when I ordered a box of the 150smk and was hoping the standard stem in my Redding die would be GTG but now own the vld stem as well.
More than likely my money is on the tip bottoming out in the stem.
I was reluctant but knew better when I ordered a box of the 150smk and was hoping the standard stem in my Redding die would be GTG but now own the vld stem as well.
Bec
because I don’t have Hornady comp dies, I have Redding. And Hornady website states you need to use their dies for the stem and the stem is needed in order to correct seat. So in a nut shell if I want to use a tips I have to buy their dies with their stem?
Since you allready own the Redding dies it couldn't hurt to reach out to them with the question.
More than likely the vld stem would be a good match to the A-Tip and it might eliminate the need for another die floating around your bench just to match one type of bullet.
That is really a good point. I kind of wish I’d read their website so closely myself before I bought the stem, since my 6.5 dies are also Redding. I assumed the stems were interchange. Oopsie.
Sorry if this is a stupid question but how do you determine whether they fit well or not. I also have the Redding competition dies and haven’t noticed any problems with the 147 eld-m
Initial test for me is nothing scientific. Take the stem out of the die, put a bullet into it, see how much movement there is side to side. Rinse and repeat with a couple different makes/models of bullets and youll feel a difference. Also can check a circular mark on the top part of the bullet after loading. Relative to neck tension but usually means the stem is contacting the ogive mostly or competely with the outer rim of the stem, not the bearing surface. Measuring with a concentricity gauge after loading would give you a more quantitative answer. How much all that matters is still up for debate.
I'm running the Redding with the VLD stem. I have no issues with the 135 A-tip. I did chuck up on bullet in the drill and used a little polish compound to clean the edge. I was seeing a slight ring on them but not on the 140 ELDM. That took care of the ring issue. It seemed to have a slight sharp edge. I have virtually no runout either.
TIP: Polish Seating Stems to Eliminate Ring Marks on Bullets « Daily Bulletin
Here's a helpful hint for hand-loaders from Sierra Bullets. While this article focuses on Sierra's new Tipped Match-King bullets, the recommended solutions apply to other bullet types as well.
Might be of interest:
Tray 1, measured as it was packed:
Tray 2:
Tray 2, assuming bullets are packed in rows of 5, left to right, total of 10 rows per tray.
Weight is pretty consistent. Combined data set (100 bullets) have ES of 0.40 gn and SD of 0.07 gn. Good SD but less than ideal ES makes it worth sorting them, i think.
Tray 1, measured as it was packed:
Tray 2:
Tray 2, assuming bullets are packed in rows of 5, left to right, total of 10 rows per tray.
Weight is pretty consistent. Combined data set (100 bullets) have ES of 0.40 gn and SD of 0.07 gn. Good SD but less than ideal ES makes it worth sorting them, i think.
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Rushed to the range after work, and could only shoot 4 “groups” with the 135 Atips (weight sorted) before the range closed. Results were frankly astonishing. Just doing a rough ladder/pressure test in increments of 0.3 gn of RL-16 at book COAL to see where the ES is low and the MV curve is flat, using two rounds per powder charge. The “group” size measurement was a bonus and these results may not repeat in future:
One “group” was 0.4” (not shown) with an ES of 56 fps.... me thinks me did not trickle it up. User error, as the tech support guy would say.
I realize that two shot groups are meaningless, so will repeat for a narrow range where the speed curve goes flat. Hope to find a nice wide node slightly over 2800 fps. Not chasing high speed.
Will complete tomorrow, MV is still slow, and of course zero pressure signs so far.
What speed are you guys getting?
BTW : The back of the target shows the two shot ovals better:
Interesting to see the orientation of the oval change with powder charge. Sometimes you see a trend there during load development. [Btw: Tuner was not adjusted yet. Might not be needed this time. Same setting as i got with 144 Bergers.]
One “group” was 0.4” (not shown) with an ES of 56 fps.... me thinks me did not trickle it up. User error, as the tech support guy would say.
I realize that two shot groups are meaningless, so will repeat for a narrow range where the speed curve goes flat. Hope to find a nice wide node slightly over 2800 fps. Not chasing high speed.
Will complete tomorrow, MV is still slow, and of course zero pressure signs so far.
What speed are you guys getting?
BTW : The back of the target shows the two shot ovals better:
Interesting to see the orientation of the oval change with powder charge. Sometimes you see a trend there during load development. [Btw: Tuner was not adjusted yet. Might not be needed this time. Same setting as i got with 144 Bergers.]
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Im about to load some with some sta ball to see what happens. I can't get my hands on any rl 16.
how far are you guys jumping them. I measured and at mag length ill be at .110 thou.
how far are you guys jumping them. I measured and at mag length ill be at .110 thou.
I managed to develop two 135 Atip loads that worked well: One with a small jump with a COAL of 2.950” that is strictly single feed, so way longer than the AW mag i use.
The second load is almost as accurate with a very long jump, and a COAL of 2.810 which fits in my magazine. [Don’t have my notebook close by, so can’t check exact numbers.]
Don’t be scared of jumping these bullets, they still shoot well with massive jump.
I know people hate weight sorting bullets, same for me. So just saying: Best group size for me prior to weight sorting was around 0.35”. Post weight sorting it was at about 0.1” to 0.15. At least on that particular day. [Maybe i had a less than perfect batch of bullets that benefited from sorting. Maybe your batch is better.]
And i have to add: I have no guarantees that my 0.15” groups will repeat. Have not been able to get more of these bullets because of the shortage. Might have been a fluke, but i hope not!]
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Th
Thanks I’m trying to get some rl 16 but I’m going to try sta ball to see if it will be a good alternative.
This is 41.5 grains of H4350, with the 135 A-Tip seated 2.171 at the ogive, using the Redding competition seating die with standard stem.
5 rounds at 100
5 rounds at 100
need to work on your breathing a little... {insert serious sarcasm pic here}
what's your OAL?
couple things:
brownells and midsouth both have 135 and 153 a-tips in stock.
factory hornady 6.5 prc eldx just BARELY fits in my 300wsm accurate mag. longest round in the box measured is 2.947 (shortest 2.940).
brownells and midsouth both have 135 and 153 a-tips in stock.
factory hornady 6.5 prc eldx just BARELY fits in my 300wsm accurate mag. longest round in the box measured is 2.947 (shortest 2.940).
Haha - yeah I pulled a couple. I believe the OAL was 2.82, and still had plenty of room in the AICS mag.
Also used CCI #250 large rifle magnum primers in Hornady brass