7mm 168 gr Berger seating advice

[eastside boy]

Just wondering if anyone here has any experience (good or bad) on how far to seat the 168 gr berger bullets for a 7mm rem mag......magazine length isn't an issue here. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Go on their site and they have the info. you need .. due to the bullet length being longer the bullet needs to be seated a little more than normal plus it takes less powder because you are now compressing the load .. I shoot compressed loads but it takes experience and experimenting to see what your gun likes ... I get way better groups with compressed loads...

[Bob33]

"For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance.  This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed.  We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling.  VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”.  This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.  "

[BOWHUNTER45]

"For years we have relayed that it is best to jam the VLD into the lands for best performance.  This works for many rifles however there are many rifles that do not shoot the VLD well when the bullet is jammed.  We have learned that the VLD can shoot best as much as .150 jump off the rifling.  VLD bullets can be sensitive to seating depth and it has been found that these bullets shoot best in a COAL “sweet spot”.  This sweet spot is a COAL range that is usually .030 to .040 wide.  "

I do that too... By making a dummy round but like you said ever gun is different ... my .270 likes compressed loads and my .243 does not .. thats the fun part of loading.. making the gun you own shoot straight .

[eastside boy]

Thanks guys.....I'm actually having this gun built around the cartridge, so what can I get away with as far as how much of the case neck to use for holding the bullet......I guess thats what I was trying to ask originally.

Thanks

[BOWHUNTER45]

I believe that the max length of the casing should not exceed 2.500 .last time I loaded for the 7mm mag I cut the casing down to 2.490".. I heard berger bullets are alittle more picky so I would get a hold of berger and see what they tell ya.. dont want to give bad advise but I think you still can trim the casing to factory specs, that should not change anything .. also I never full length my casing , I just neck size them but you can not let no one else use those loads because they may not fit in someone elses gun but it makes a big difference in grouping bullets ..

[MDGrand]

Most people are finding that the Berger VLD shoots better the closer it sits to the lands.. this can cause pressure problems though, so if the bolt is sticky or you see primers backing out then drop your charge.

Best advice I can give is to buy an OAL gauge from Hornady.. Measure the OAL of the bore, seat the first 3 rounds at -0.02 from the lands, the next 3 at -0.03, followed by another at -0.04.