seating depth vs powder charge

[rebs]

I heard that seating depth is more important to accuracy than the powder charge. Is there any truth to this ?

 

[L.Sherm]

I heard that seating depth is more important to accuracy than the powder charge. Is there any truth to this ?

In my opinion they go hand in hand, and I guess it depends on what accuracy your after some 1 m.o.a is good enough or thats all the rifle is capable of.

 

[Steve Donlon]

It depends on the bullet. If the bullet will tolerate some jump then I start with a complete powder fill. So the powder is at the base of the bullet and all the bearing surface is in the neck. I have found this to work many times with this type of bullet. If you have the right powder to not cause excessive pressure signs.

 

[Bill Norris]

One prominent B R shooter says that seating depth is the MOST important when compared to powder charge. "Believe the Target" podcast Erik Cortina with Wayne Campbell.

 

[LCazador]

I've been working on a new barrel in 6 Creedmoor. After doing a powder ladder and choosing a powder and charge that looked promising, I started working on seating depth. That seating depth that I chose changed the whole complexion of the load. It not only shrank group size but shrunk the extreme spreads. I'll never do load work differently!

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

I have found seating depth to be 60% important to 40% powder charge

 

[Clancy]

I heard that seating depth is more important to accuracy than the powder charge. Is there any truth to this ?

Yes, 100%

 

[Raydee]

Ok here is one, once you find a good powder charge and seating depth that shoots tiny holes, when you decide to try a new powder and work up a new charge do you do the seating depth testing all over again?

 

[Bc'z]

Ok here is one, once you find a good powder charge and seating depth that shoots tiny holes, when you decide to try a new powder and work up a new charge do you do the seating depth testing all over again?

No not at 1st, as long as it's same bullet.
I switched to seating 1st versus after charge a couple years ago, makes reading charge easier when it's shooting small.

 

[LCazador]

Ok here is one, once you find a good powder charge and seating depth that shoots tiny holes, when you decide to try a new powder and work up a new charge do you do the seating depth testing all over again?

YES!

 

[RabbitSlayer]

I can tell you powder charge ain't causing much change now that im shooting 20 or 25 shot groups. I haven't played with seating depth much since I switched to larger samples.

 

[Bill Norris]

Ok here is one, once you find a good powder charge and seating depth that shoots tiny holes, when you decide to try a new powder and work up a new charge do you do the seating depth testing all over again?

I believe it should be re-checked. Combustion is going to change when swapping over to a different powder. Although seating depth is in the harmonic portion of the load it would probably act differently with a powder swap.

 

[Steve Donlon]

Do most of you use one type and style of bullet to compete with to make things simple? And the same spec barrel once you have it figured out.

 

[Fast14riot]

I switched powders middle of barrel life on my current F/open gun. I tuned the charge to the existing seating depth and ended up within 10fps of original velocity.

I always tune seating depth first to reduce the noise in reading powder charge tests.

 

[David Christian]

Read this thread on seating depth, in particular post 32 from dmoran.

Thread 'Seating depth…what does it do?'
https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/seating-depth-what-does-it-do.4080123/

 

[LCazador]

I switched powders middle of barrel life on my current F/open gun. I tuned the charge to the existing seating depth and ended up within 10fps of original velocity.

I always tune seating depth first to reduce the noise in reading powder charge tests.

Huh! What! I wish that would work for me! It was not even in the first of my dreams?

 

[Kracken McGraw]

One prominent B R shooter says that seating depth is the MOST important when compared to powder charge. "Believe the Target" podcast Erik Cortina with Wayne Campbell.

Thanks Bill, that was great.

 

[Bill Norris]

Thanks Bill, that was great.

U bet.

 

[Clancy]

Ok here is one, once you find a good powder charge and seating depth that shoots tiny holes, when you decide to try a new powder and work up a new charge do you do the seating depth testing all over again?

Nope

 

[Shooter13]

No not at 1st, as long as it's same bullet.
I switched to seating 1st versus after charge a couple years ago, makes reading charge easier when it's shooting small.

BUT the better paint job the better it shoots! So Brett should shoot really SMALL! ;-)