How much of the bullet should be seated in the neck as a minimum?

[Bigeclipse]

So I have always heard that whatever caliber you run, that is the minimum depth the bullet should be seated into the neck of the brass. Well I just worked up some loads for a rifle (7mm08) that shot well but realized they are not into the neck a ton due to the bullet being short/light for caliber (120 ballistic tips for my wife). If you included the boat tail, then yes...they would be a caliber deep .284 but my guess is you shouldn't include the boat tail. So what are the potential issues here? Thank you

 

[ButterBean]

Your correct, Don't count the tail, I've seen them shoot good like seated like seated the way you have them and if your neck tension is good you'll be ok but I wouldn't trust them for a hunting load they may get beat around in the field

 

[Bigeclipse]

Your correct, Don't count the tail, I've seen them shoot good like seated like seated the way you have them and if your neck tension is good you'll be ok but I wouldn't trust them for a hunting load they may get beat around in the field

These are hunting loads. Dang...So I should seat them deeper which would mean quite a lot.

 

[ButterBean]

These are hunting loads. Dang...So I should seat them deeper which would mean quite a lot.

I would if it were me

 

[Bigeclipse]

I would if it were me

i will test some loads. hopefully it still shoots decent. Ill need to move them in about .040 to get it to be one caliber deep

 

[ButterBean]

i will test some loads. hopefully it still shoots decent. Ill need to move them in about .040 to get it to be one caliber deep

I'm betting it will be fine' let me know

 

[BoomFlop]

Press the tip hard on a table. If it doesn't move, you are good to go.

I load 40gr Ballistic Tips in 223 Rem's and do not have a caliber deep in the neck. Can't budge them by pressing on a bench and like the 7mm-08, the recoil sure isn't enough to do it either.

I even called Nosler about this, and they confirmed it is fine. Understand, their manual states the same caliber reference you did. However, their data is even further out of the neck than my seating depth test proved to be the most accurate.

FYI, as for neck tension, I run a .002 mandrel to set.

I'll do the samething for my 120 gr BT in my 7mm-08's and I'll let the gun decide again.

Good luck,
Steve

 

[Korhil78]

The potential issue is if you are anywhere In the rifling and don't know it, it will be super easy to get a bullet stuck in the barrel. But if you are sure it's not near the rifling and you have good consistent neck tension, you should be fine.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Generally speaking, there is nothing wrong with seating deep. On one of my .308 win rifles I checked to see how far off the rifling the 165gr Accubond was when loaded to fit in the magazine. It proved to be a whopping .165" off the lands. Best part was that it shot better with all that jump than it did when loaded closer.

My buddy is loading a full 1/4" off the rifling in his 300 Wby mag.

 

[BoomFlop]

A seating depth test would find what the rifle wants, that is where I would shoot it.

The SAAMI spec neck length is 2.2595 at max case length. With Lapua brass and a 120 gr Ballistic Tip with bearing surface at end of neck puts overall length at 2.80 almost on the head.

Bigeclipse....have you done a seating depth test or just picked an OAL? What is your OAL? We can al guess all day, but without a specific information it's kind of pointless.

Caliber is the rule, yes, but not the only option.

Steve

 

[Bigeclipse]

The potential issue is if you are anywhere In the rifling and don't know it, it will be super easy to get a bullet stuck in the barrel. But if you are sure it's not near the rifling and you have good consistent neck tension, you should be fine.

It is .020 off the rifling. To move it a full caliber deep it will be .070 off. I'll try that out to see what happens to the groups.

 

[ButterBean]

It is .020 off the rifling. To move it a full caliber deep it will be .070 off. I'll try that out to see what happens to the groups.

Hey Biggie, What I said earlier is just my opinion so take it for that, I personally like the reassurance but like BoomFlop said it will prolly be just fine

 

[lancetkenyon]

I would say, as long as when you feed a round out of the magazine (either mag box or DBM), when the bullet hits the feed lips while chambering it, and it does not cause runout, you will be fine.

 

[redneckdan]

I have 125gr TNTs load in a .308 where the bullet is just barely in the case, like .065" if that. Never had one come out. I wouldn't recommend seating them that shallow for hunting. I would feel totally comfortable with .125" in the neck.