Bullet seating depth chart

[uncle-buck]

Hello -- Am new to metallic reloading and was wondering if someone on this forum could point me to some sample charts or tables of bullet seating depths. I understand you have to develop your own data for different bullets and rifles. Am looking for ideas on how to organize. Thanks

 

[artbosco]

Hello -- Am new to metallic reloading and was wondering if someone on this forum could point me to some sample charts or tables of bullet seating depths. I understand you have to develop your own data for different bullets and rifles. Am looking for ideas on how to organize. Thanks

You create your own for each barrel's vibrating characteristics as you search for the proper load and barrel tune. Barrel Freebore varies as well as Bullet Ojives. The combination could be endless.

Ask around for Accuracy Nodes for reloading your specific caliber. The Nodes are usually predicated on using a specific barrel, bullet, case, powder and primer combination. That's your starting point. No need to reinvent the wheel. Also use the articles on the calibers featured on the home page in this site. Try just touching the rifling and then moving inward and outward in increments of .002" to .003" at a time. Load about 15 rounds at each setting.

I start with a slightly visible ring around the bullet created by opening and closing my bolt on a dummy round and then go from there. My Wilson bullet seater with a micrometer top really helps as I record each adjustment being made in a notebook.

Don't forget that Neck Tension is part of the fine tuning process too. A Full Length Bushing Die [and a variety of bushings] is the tool of choice in that regard.

 

[uncle-buck]

Appreciate your reply. I'm really looking for a chart or table format to copy or modify in a notebook or Excel worksheet.

 

[Tim Singleton]

You don't mention a caliber. Although I don't think it would matter.

I don't believe any such chart exists. As Outdoorsman stated different rifles have different chamber dimension.
You can go in the SAMMI web site and look at standard factory ammunition data for OAL of loaded rounds but this information is in all reloading manuals.
I'm afraid that's all you will find

Each guy has a record of what works in rifle A and rifle B it most likely will not be the same even if the same rifle manufacture in same caliber

 

[uncle-buck]

Understood. I'm looking for examples of how different reloaders format and organize their data. In other words, I want to see some different layouts. thanks

 

[Jay Christopherson]

I'm not sure you are going to find what you are after here. There's not really a "formula" to it, that lends itself to an Excel table or something. Really it's just a matter of picking a starting point (say, +.000" which might represent your OAL reading from whatever tool or method you are using) and then subsequently subtracting whatever amount you want to test by. -.003" , or -.005", or whatever. My test setup (in a spreadsheet btw), just looks like:

Test: Result: Notes:
3 x .000" <some_result_here> <some_notes_here>
3 x -.003" <some_result_here> ....
3 x -.006" ....
3 x -.009"
3 x -.012"
...

and so on. I guess you could write a formula to iterate that to whatever end you want (.030" maybe) or create a formal table layout, but that's probably more effort than it's worth.

 

[NorCalMikie]

When I get a new barrel, the first thing is to check seating depth to the lands. WRITE IT DOWN.
Do that with every bullet brand you plan to shoot and every caliber.
I make a list of "each" bullet brand and how far (OAL) to reach the lands.
Every bullet brand and barrel is different so you'll have to make your own list.
My list starts at the lightest bullets and brands and goes up in weight. (for each caliber)
Different weight "new" bullets get added to the list.
One list for each caliber.
What works in my barrels won't work in yours.

 

[ptf18]

I do what NorCalMikie does.

 

[uncle-buck]

I get what you wrote guys and appreciate your replies. However, they are mostly non-responsive to my inquiry.

So thanks anyway and all the best.

 

[Tokimini]

Here is an Excel spreadsheet for my 6BR where I recorded the length of various bullets from the base to where the seater of my Forster micrometer seating die made contact with the ogive. The bullets were lightly seated long in a dummy round and carefully jammed into the lands. Use only one bullet for each weight and do it several times and take an average. Using this as a starting point you can tune your depth for the best accuracy. As everyone else has alluded to seating depth is like finger prints. Every single barrel is different.

 

[hogpatrol]

Ammoguide has an OCW calculator. May help.

http://ammoguide.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?sn=BOLqlNuwWk

 

[Erik Cortina]

I believe he is looking for a spreadsheet template that he can populate with his data to keep things organized.