Bullet Seating Depth??

[scsims]

I have a good load with 168 gr SMKs with the bullet set just off the lands. Shooting .5" groups.

I appears that the 175 SMKs are basically the same size and shape, would seating them with the same die setting give me the same distance off the lands? Or do I need to start from scratch?

 

[Joe King]

I always start from scratch, write it all down. So that way if you revisit a bullet you can just set your die to that bullet instead of reinventing the wheel.

 

[MTBULLET]

different bullet, different seating, start from scratch.

 

[rscott5028]

You can approach it either way.

If you have micrometer dies, then it's relatively easy to vary seating depth and return to your original settings. But, it can be a little more hassle with other dies.

Since the shape of the seating cone vs the shape of the ogive vs your throat/lead angle is all different, you won't have the same jump with both bullets using the same die setting.

So, it behooves you to measure the actual bullet in your chamber.

That said. All load development starts somewhere. So, it may be just as well to leave the die alone. And, do your first ladder test using the current setting as your starting point.

-- richard