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 Feeding issues with Berger VLD
#6497695
10/16/16 05:32 PM
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watchale
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I loaded up some Berger 95 grain VLDs up in my .243 and they aren't feeding real well.
I loaded up pretty long (2.250 to ogive). They are pretty close to overall mag length.
I haven't had any problems with any other bullets but haven't loade any that long. Does anyone else have feeding issues with the VLDs?
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497740
10/16/16 06:21 PM
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Creedmoor
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What is the feeding issue? Bullet catching on magazine lip? Neck of brass too rough and catching? Bullet catching on bottom of chamber/feed ramp? There are several things that could be causing this and it might not necessarily be the bullets in question. Can you see or feel where it is hanging? You didn't give the OAL, nor the gun in question.  I have loaded 2.650" for several magazine-fed .243s and never had a problem.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497749
10/16/16 06:32 PM
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watchale
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It was just a general question if anyone has any problems with VLDs. I was hunting last night (it was dark lol) and just having a little problem with them chambering. I'll have to look today and see what they're doing exactly.
The gun is a Remington 700. I have the manners stock w badger mini chassis and haven't any issues with lots of other type bullets.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497755
10/16/16 06:37 PM
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Creedmoor
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I can't imagine that the VLD is causing any problem that isn't OAL related. I load them for 2 243s, a 7/08, and a 6.5 Creedmoor. No issues as long as I don't get them too long to feed through the magazine.
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There's a fine line between BRAVE ... and STUPID.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497781
10/16/16 07:03 PM
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watchale
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Hmmm. Alright, I was just trying to get close to the lands. Im new to loading and have a lot to learn lol. Coal is 2.843 and the mag length is 2.910.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497802
10/16/16 07:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Ritter
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I load the 105gr VLD at 2.850" overall length and have no feeding problems with a semi-custom 243 with Oberndorf bottom metal and magazine.
It could be that with your setup the cartridge is releasing late from the magazine feed lips causing the bullet to ride tip high into the chamber. I've had that problem before using detachable magazines that would need the feed lip angle adjusted to work smoothly.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497833
10/16/16 07:58 PM
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spg
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Make sure when you load the mag the brass is all the way to the back if there a little forward sometimes that can cause feeding issues
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6497851
10/16/16 08:11 PM
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Creedmoor
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Hmmm. Alright, I was just trying to get close to the lands. Im new to loading and have a lot to learn lol. Coal is 2.843 and the mag length is 2.910. I just got off the phone with a friend who loads Bergers for a 700. He said that anything over 2.800" has feeding problems at times. You might want to run a few through the seating die and seat them a tiny bit deeper, cycle them trough the action, and see if that helps. FWIW, the "rule" that Bergers don't like to be "jumped" a bit doesn't always hold water. There are a lot of folks loading them to magazine length (me for one) and are having great results. I don't remember offhand how much my Creedmoor loads are off the lands but it is a lot more than most people think is appropriate for the VLD and the gun shoots cloverleafs.
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There's a fine line between BRAVE ... and STUPID.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498132
10/16/16 11:32 PM
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Txhillbilly
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It depends on each rifle,but I load any hunting load where it fits and functions out of the magazine first. Then worry about the COAL. I shoot 140gr hunting VLD's with my 6.5-06 and they are seated .150" off the lands,and still shoot 5 shot groups in the .300"-.400" range off a bench.
My Creedmoor's like the bullet seated .010" off the lands,but that's still well under magazine length.
Last edited by Txhillbilly; 10/16/16 11:33 PM.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498157
10/16/16 11:52 PM
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J.G.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498180
10/17/16 12:05 AM
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watchale
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Thanks for the information fellas  I'll see if I can get it worked out.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498182
10/17/16 12:05 AM
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watchale
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498223
10/17/16 12:32 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
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Buzzsaw
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I see allot of guys running their bolt like its a race, watching the TV shows it seems like part of the "show" to see how fast you can rack it."Tacticool" Many people try to rush the bolt cycle and "short" cycle it. Maybe that's it?? run the bolt slowly and deliberately, see if it improves? just my 
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498267
10/17/16 12:56 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
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J.G.
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That means you can tune th Mag. You'll have to establish what is happening, and go from there. Sometimes you need to make the cartridges sit more nose up at he top of the Mag. Widen the I.D. of the Mag lips toward the front and/ or narrow them toward the rear.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: J.G.]
#6498280
10/17/16 01:06 AM
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watchale
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That means you can tune th Mag. You'll have to establish what is happening, and go from there. Sometimes you need to make the cartridges sit more nose up at he top of the Mag. Widen the I.D. of the Mag lips toward the front and/ or narrow them toward the rear. This might help I'm working the bolt right now and they look to be slanted downward a lil
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498308
10/17/16 01:21 AM
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Joined: Sep 2009
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ChadTRG42
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If it's an unmodified Rem 700, the feed lips will be cut short to the factory 2.800". If you are loading the bullets longer, they will hang up on the bottom under the feed lips. In the picture below, you can see the "U" shape that has been cut into the feed lip to allow a longer COAL. As crazy as it was, I took a Dremel to my $1200 Surgeon 591 to open up the feed lips to shoot my 260 Rem with 140 VLD's at a 2.880-2.900" COAL length. It worked fine, and feed perfect. This is a common modification to shoot the VLD style bullets. You magazine may be long enough to fit the longer round, but not the feed ramp. You see this often, and the round hangs up and catches under the feed lip. 
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498319
10/17/16 01:27 AM
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ChadTRG42
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Here's another one showing the area honed out for longer COAL feeding. 
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#6498324
10/17/16 01:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2010
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watchale
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If it's an unmodified Rem 700, the feed lips will be cut short to the factory 2.800". If you are loading the bullets longer, they will hang up on the bottom under the feed lips. In the picture below, you can see the "U" shape that has been cut into the feed lip to allow a longer COAL. As crazy as it was, I took a Dremel to my $1200 Surgeon 591 to open up the feed lips to shoot my 260 Rem with 140 VLD's at a 2.880-2.900" COAL length. It worked fine, and feed perfect. This is a common modification to shoot the VLD style bullets. You magazine may be long enough to fit the longer round, but not the feed ramp. You see this often, and the round hangs up and catches under the feed lip. yup !  that's the problem I think
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: Creedmoor]
#6498325
10/17/16 01:31 AM
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watchale
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Hmmm. Alright, I was just trying to get close to the lands. Im new to loading and have a lot to learn lol. Coal is 2.843 and the mag length is 2.910. I just got off the phone with a friend who loads Bergers for a 700. He said that anything over 2.800" has feeding problems at times. You might want to run a few through the seating die and seat them a tiny bit deeper, cycle them trough the action, and see if that helps. FWIW, the "rule" that Bergers don't like to be "jumped" a bit doesn't always hold water. There are a lot of folks loading them to magazine length (me for one) and are having great results. I don't remember offhand how much my Creedmoor loads are off the lands but it is a lot more than most people think is appropriate for the VLD and the gun shoots cloverleafs. I think he got it right
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498331
10/17/16 01:34 AM
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ChadTRG42
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Yes, that's your issue. Your feed ramp needs to be honed out to allow the longer COAL of the VLD's. If you take the action out of the stock and remove the bottom metal, you can see the bottom of the action well. If you have a Dremel tool, you can open it up your self. Just keep the feed ramp about the same angle going up with no flat spots for the bullet to catch on as it feeds.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498363
10/17/16 01:45 AM
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watchale
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Man...I love this place 
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: watchale]
#6498364
10/17/16 01:46 AM
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watchale
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Thank you to everyone
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#6498620
10/17/16 09:49 AM
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Creedmoor
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Yes, that's your issue. Your feed ramp needs to be honed out to allow the longer COAL of the VLD's. If you take the action out of the stock and remove the bottom metal, you can see the bottom of the action well. If you have a Dremel tool, you can open it up your self. Just keep the feed ramp about the same angle going up with no flat spots for the bullet to catch on as it feeds. OR ........ you can load a bit shorter and see what accuracy you still have before you take a Dremel to your rifle.
.
There's a fine line between BRAVE ... and STUPID.
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.
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Re: Feeding issues with Berger VLD
[Re: Creedmoor]
#6499708
10/17/16 11:19 PM
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watchale
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Yes, that's your issue. Your feed ramp needs to be honed out to allow the longer COAL of the VLD's. If you take the action out of the stock and remove the bottom metal, you can see the bottom of the action well. If you have a Dremel tool, you can open it up your self. Just keep the feed ramp about the same angle going up with no flat spots for the bullet to catch on as it feeds. OR ........ you can load a bit shorter and see what accuracy you still have before you take a Dremel to your rifle. Yea lol. I'm not going to dremel my rifle. May see if I can have it machined out or something.
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