When starting to do load development, do yall start at at the recommended overall length or something else? Thanks
Seating depth question
- Thread starter crich4254
- Start date
Depends on the bullet, for me, and what they generally prefer .
I don't have mag length restrictions, except on one gun.
I don't have mag length restrictions, except on one gun.
Everything starts .020 off lands and goes deeper by .010 increments.
K.E.C. Darkside
Well-Known Member
.020 back of max mag length.
If it's a hunting rifle and have extended mag box I start..010 off lands and work back.
Target rifle, I start at the lands.
Hope this helps.
If it's a hunting rifle and have extended mag box I start..010 off lands and work back.
Target rifle, I start at the lands.
Hope this helps.
Rifleman97
Well-Known Member
I use the hornady COAL gauge thing that lets you find the lands with a modified case. Set it back roughly 20 thousandths, measure length (either COAL or with the
comparator) and shoot. Then I'll change seating depth deeper and deeper until it shoots, for most bullets .020 is pretty close to the best, with ABLR it's .060 to .120 off the lands, usually with a node at .060, .090, and .120.
Even if you're shooting a wildcat you can send in a fired case to hornady and they'll modify it for you. Been a while so I don't remember what the charge was but it wasn't much.
comparator) and shoot. Then I'll change seating depth deeper and deeper until it shoots, for most bullets .020 is pretty close to the best, with ABLR it's .060 to .120 off the lands, usually with a node at .060, .090, and .120.
Even if you're shooting a wildcat you can send in a fired case to hornady and they'll modify it for you. Been a while so I don't remember what the charge was but it wasn't much.
yobuck
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 23, 2008
- Messages
- 2,821
- Reaction score
- 2,511
- City & State/Province
- east central fl. /n.c. pa.
For me with my long range hunting rifles, velocity is the first priority.
And i as a rule just shoot into a bank or dirt pile initially.
I load just one round to start off with, then one more round with half grain increases untill i find a slight amount of pressure with say a slightly stiff bolt.
Then i back off the load and start looking for accuracy with seating depth changes if necessary at a target.
And although i dont alway do it, its best to shoot for group at say 400 yards.
And i as a rule just shoot into a bank or dirt pile initially.
I load just one round to start off with, then one more round with half grain increases untill i find a slight amount of pressure with say a slightly stiff bolt.
Then i back off the load and start looking for accuracy with seating depth changes if necessary at a target.
And although i dont alway do it, its best to shoot for group at say 400 yards.
That's generally what I do so I was just wondering what everyone else does or if I was doing it wrong. Thank you
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2001
- Messages
- 9,637
- Reaction score
- 20,294
- City & State/Province
- Long Island, New York
If it's a hunting rifle you will presumably want to use the magazine. Start there and set bullets deeper in increments of .015". Don't be surprised if your best groups come in at .050"-.080" off. I'm shooting some Berger Hybrids that show a distinct preference for being .050" off the rifling. You'd think that with a Hybrid bullet it wouldn't matter much, but it occasionally does.
