Question re:seating into rifling

[Natty Bumpo]

I've got some 130 grain Berger VLD's I'd like to try in my 6.5X47. I'd like to start by seating them just into the rifling. I started with a dummy round measuring 2.193" to the ogive. I magic marker the bullet, chamber it, and eject it. I can see some faint marks from the rifling. It measures at 2.132" to the ogive. So I seat the bullet again at 2.167" and chamber it. It comes out again at 2.131". So next I seat it at 2.132" and chamber it. This time it comes out at 2.123". So I reseat it at 2.123" and chamber it; and, it comes out at 2.116".

I should add that I'm using the same bullet and case for each trial. After seating and chambering, I use a bullet puller to extract the bullet and do it again. After a few times, I didn't need the bullet puller to extract it. I could just pull it out with my fingers.

Should I just start out with a new case and bullet? Or is there a better way to figure this out?

[Kevin Thomas]

Hey NB

This is where the gages like the Stoney Point (now Hornday) come into their own. They're easier to use and will give more consistent results than a slip-fit dummy round. Even going with this route, it pays to run the check three or four times, and verify the results. You might also check out Eric's post on seating depths and VLDs here on LRH, or on the Berger web site. Good piece and I'm sure you'd find it interesting.

Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets