Load development and seating depth

[Raydee]

I am working up a load for one of my 223 rifles and found two stable powder nodes with no shift in vertical displacement. One node is on the lower side and the other is at the higher end. I then did a seating depth test to check for the same, no vertical displacement and found a good node but they did not group well. Obviously, I am going to have to look for another node, but the question is how far can I push the bullet into the case on average before I just abandon the setup and start over. I imagine at some point I will just be crushing the powder. Same for how far can you normally push a bullet into the lands.....how far is too far for both?

At this point I only tried moving the bullet away from the lands about .025" so I am sure I have some room to move, I haven't tried seating out into the lands yet. I am also only shooting one bullet at a horizontal line to find the flat spot instead of shooting groups, but I am doing it on three separate targets to make sure. I could just shoot all three in a group and average the elevation change but I find one shot at each target easier to read if that makes sense.

**EDIT** I am loading Hornady 75gr ELD-M bullets.

 

[SeabeeKen]

Are you limited by magazine length? What kind of rifle? Have you tried other bullets, powders?

 

[Raydee]

Not limited, it’s a bolt gun. This is the first try with bullet and powder, if I can’t get them to group after more testing I will try another bullet and powder. The bullets are 75gr ELD-M and I was told they don’t like to be loaded into the lands. My 55gr Vmax love to be loaded into the lands so I may go that route on the next test.

 

[CharlieNC]

How close to the lands did you start, and what increments did you evaluate?

 

[Raydee]

I started at 10 thou off and loaded in 3 thou increments. I am about 27 thou off on my last load

 

[CharlieNC]

I started at 10 thou off and loaded in 3 thou increments. I am about 27 thou off on my last load

Surprised you didn't find accuracy with that range, but that's why you're asking!

 

[GLShooter]

Usually for me vertical spread is velocity. Horizontal spread is seating depth.

 

[Raydee]

Usually for me vertical spread is velocity. Horizontal spread is seating depth.

If that is the case I may have to do the test over but shooting my depth test with groups?

 

[Bc'z]

If that is the case I may have to do the test over but shooting my depth test with groups?

Yes shoot groups
Load all at longest depth take press seater and comparator to range if 2 ain't touching 3rd shot is a waste of money, seat .003 deeper you'll see it come together for you

 

[GLShooter]

If that is the case I may have to do the test over but shooting my depth test with groups?

That's what I do. I shoot for group and then adjust depth to tighten things up. It works for me.

 

[Raydee]

Yes shoot groups
Load all at longest depth take press seater and comparator to range if 2 ain't touching 3rd shot is a waste of money, seat .003 deeper you'll see it come together for you

Ok that is a plan

 

[284winner]

Ok that is a plan

Try .030-.050 off the lands. My Amax and ELDs love a real long jump.

 

[bozo699]

Yes shoot groups
Load all at longest depth take press seater and comparator to range if 2 ain't touching 3rd shot is a waste of money, seat .003 deeper you'll see it come together for you

100% spot on!….
Wayne

 

[Raydee]

Try .030-.050 off the lands. My Amax and ELDs love a real long jump.

That is pretty deep, but I will try it. Hopefully it won't compress the loads. I def don't think I will be able to seat them that deep with the higher velocity node.

 

[284winner]

That is pretty deep, but I will try it. Hopefully it won't compress the loads. I def don't think I will be able to seat them that deep with the higher velocity node.

Work your way deeper from .030. You may find .030 gets you the accuracy you want. I have a 284 SA and they are seated .135 off the lands. (162 Amax)OAL is 2.995. It shoots extremely well.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Don’t be afraid to try a long jump if you are not crushing powder and overly compressing the load. Look at the Berger Jump test for VLD ( which the Eldm profile is ). I found that 0.090” jump with the old 75 Amax was sweet spot in my bolt gun.