223 Remington overall length question

[22vartarg]

I have a Shilen barrel chambered in 223 Rem with a vld throat in a bolt action. I’m looking at loading 77 Sierra MatchKings. I measured the distance to the lands and my reading was 2.460. My question is, am I better off loading .030 under that and then when I do the jump test just decrease from there or starting at 2.260 and then increasing the overall length. The magazine I have in the rifle will accommodate 2.500

 

[GLShooter]

I always start long myself. I prefer rounds to be as long as possible and still run well.

 

[Jeff Porter]

77 SMK doesn’t care where your lands are. Try it at 2.250” and see.

 

[mmcu]

I'd start touching / slight jam and work backwards from there if a jump is required.

 

[William Vogel]

I’d load closer to the lands than longer off the lands. I wouldn’t ever load anything like a 77SMK at 2.25 length when I could load it at 2.450. You can increase your velocity by increasing the internal volume of the brass with more powder. You need to check if your bullet bearing surface is past the donut area and I wouldn’t load shorter than that.

 

[jnr88]

Berger 80.5 over Varget or Tac JMO