The Redding VLD Competition Seating Stem Long for 6.5mm (MPN: 55746) is a precision internal die component designed to seat Very Low Drag (VLD) and high-ballistic-coefficient projectiles without damaging the bullet profile. Standard seating stems often contact secant ogives near the meplat, which can lead to tip deformation and base-to-ogive seating depth inconsistency. Engineered with a steep internal taper, this precision-ground hardened steel stem contacts 6.5mm projectiles further down on the ogive to protect delicate tips while preserving the floating alignment geometry of Redding Competition Bullet Seating Dies.

Key Features

• VLD Profile Internal Geometry: Features a steep internal taper engineered to contact secant ogive, hybrid, and VLD projectiles lower on the ogive rather than bottoming out on the tip.
• Long Stem Dimension: Built with an extended 1 3/16-inch (approx. 30.16 mm) stem length to maintain proper micrometer engagement when seating long-profile bullets.
• Floating Die Alignment: Integrates directly into Redding Competition Seating Dies to maintain concentricity and precise coaxial alignment with the cartridge case sleeve.
• Hardened Steel Construction: Precision-ground from hardened steel for long-term wear resistance and consistent seating depths across high-volume reloading cycles.
• Unpowered Mechanical Operation: Requires no electrical power (0W), functioning purely as a mechanical die replacement part.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Redding Reloading Equipment
• Model Number (MPN): 55746
• Calibre Compatibility: 6.5mm / .264 calibre (e.g., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.5x55mm, 6.5-.284, .260 Remington)
• Stem Length: Long (1 3/16 inch / approx. 30.16 mm)
• Die Compatibility: Redding Competition Bullet Seating Dies exclusively
• Material: Precision-ground hardened steel

Who is the Redding VLD Competition Seating Stem Long for 6.5mm for?

• Precision rifle handloaders — needing to seat secant ogive and hybrid match projectiles in 6.5mm / .264 calibre cartridges without tip deformation or runout during PRS and F-Class preparation using a dedicated 1 3/16-inch seating stem.
• Long-range hunters — handloading high-BC hunting bullets where maintaining consistent base-to-ogive measurements relies on an extended 1 3/16-inch (approx. 30.16 mm) reloading die seating stem that contacts the ogive rather than the projectile meplat.

Less suitable for: Handloaders seating standard tangent ogive or flat-base bullets in standard non-micrometer dies, or those loading calibres other than 6.5mm (.264 calibre) such as .224, 6mm, .270, 7mm, or .308, which require standard-profile stems or calibre-matched seating stems.