I'm in the very early stages of load development on a S/A 700 deer rifle. The mag box is only 2.825 or thereabouts, so I set the c.o.a.l at 2.800 and ran with it. I need to finish my initial charge testing first, but the reloader in me makes me ask if anyone in this situation ever had any success tuning a load by actually seating any deeper?
C.O.A.L
- Thread starter grovey
- Start date
I played around with that some on a couple different rifles with not much success, but anything is possible. It might take some playing around with different bullet makes and weights as long as you are flexible in that regard.
I feel your pain. I hate it when I'm limited by the magazine.
I feel your pain. I hate it when I'm limited by the magazine.
Depending on style of the magazine, you may be able to window front of the magazine to gain a little room to seat to mag well lengthy.
I picked up .13" in my 6x45 on ar platform
I have 2 rifles that I need to try this also, Ruger first remington short action second.
Btw they are seated out to just clear magazine now 2.83, and 2.27 in another.
I picked up .13" in my 6x45 on ar platform
I have 2 rifles that I need to try this also, Ruger first remington short action second.
Btw they are seated out to just clear magazine now 2.83, and 2.27 in another.
Don't sweat it. For general deer killin', a miniscule improve in group size means literally nothing.
What counts is being able to put shot #1 where you aim at. And, considering the size of a deer's vitals, you can even 'fudge' that by a few INCHES and still have a very, very dead deer...
Things really only matter, when they matter. Given your 2.825" constraint, runnin' your bullet at 2.800" sounds like a safe decision. If accuracy is lowsy enough to where it won't hold a decent 1-1.5" group, then seating deeper ain't gonna make it bughole. I'd sooner try a different bullet, than start chasing C.O.A.L. "ideals" on a bullet that's likely already jumpin' a mile in a factory chamber...
More importantly, what bullet are you using, and what is the recommended C.O.A.L. for it, per reloading manual? Reloading manuals tend to keep their data as a 'safe bet', for obvious reasons. So, using their 'default' length is usually just that...
What counts is being able to put shot #1 where you aim at. And, considering the size of a deer's vitals, you can even 'fudge' that by a few INCHES and still have a very, very dead deer...
Things really only matter, when they matter. Given your 2.825" constraint, runnin' your bullet at 2.800" sounds like a safe decision. If accuracy is lowsy enough to where it won't hold a decent 1-1.5" group, then seating deeper ain't gonna make it bughole. I'd sooner try a different bullet, than start chasing C.O.A.L. "ideals" on a bullet that's likely already jumpin' a mile in a factory chamber...
More importantly, what bullet are you using, and what is the recommended C.O.A.L. for it, per reloading manual? Reloading manuals tend to keep their data as a 'safe bet', for obvious reasons. So, using their 'default' length is usually just that...
ricco1949
Rick Magnuson
My first 1000 yard rifle was a 6-284. I used a Stone-Point tool to find the lands. The reamer had a very tight free bore and I was actually feeling the beginning of the free bore when I was taking the measurements. The bullet was seating so the ogive was near or slightly in the neck.
The net result was the ogive was about .100-.150 off the lands.
That set-up shot a 2.70's inch first group at 1000 and several more in the 3-5 inch range... not astounding by Today's standards but pretty good for 2003.
Ironically I didn't discover my measurement error until I mistakenly had the free bore lengthened. It never shot well after that.
The moral of the story........based on my experience your rifle may have a good tune that is shorter than the magazine... maybe like mine up to the start of the free bore, .100-.150 short of the lands.
The net result was the ogive was about .100-.150 off the lands.
That set-up shot a 2.70's inch first group at 1000 and several more in the 3-5 inch range... not astounding by Today's standards but pretty good for 2003.
Ironically I didn't discover my measurement error until I mistakenly had the free bore lengthened. It never shot well after that.
The moral of the story........based on my experience your rifle may have a good tune that is shorter than the magazine... maybe like mine up to the start of the free bore, .100-.150 short of the lands.
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My load didn't come from a manual, but I started with similar ( kinda) 7 Saum data found on Hodgdon's website. I've seen some promising results so far. I'm shooting light for caliber 120gr bt's. The first thing I shot thru it was old school solid base 120 gr bt's. It seemed to like those better than this new version I'm trying now, but I ran into pressure before I thought I would with the old ones. Must have more bearing surface?
I worked up coarsely at 3/10th gr at a time with both bullets, and the best 3 so far from the old bt solid base went .258 and the best 3 with the new bullet went .607 and I'm at 1 gr higher right now with the new ones with I think a little more room to load.... I believe. As I said it's early... only one range trip with each bullet so far. We'll see what happens, but I want to use the new bullet.
I worked up coarsely at 3/10th gr at a time with both bullets, and the best 3 so far from the old bt solid base went .258 and the best 3 with the new bullet went .607 and I'm at 1 gr higher right now with the new ones with I think a little more room to load.... I believe. As I said it's early... only one range trip with each bullet so far. We'll see what happens, but I want to use the new bullet.
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Just checked an old Nosler book for 7SAUM/120gr OAL, says only that SAAMI max is 2.825" So, you're good with going less than that...
Just realize, as you seat a bullet deeper in the case, the bullet is reducing internal case volume.
When you ignite the same powder charge in a smaller volume, pressure with INCREASE!
Just something to keep in mind, if you're gonna incrementally test one load with shorter OALs...
A SAUM should zip those Btips right along, have fun!
P.s. Nosler manual lists:
64.0gr IMR 4350* (most accurate powder)
65.5gr RL19
64.5gr H414
67.5gr AA3100
:as *MAX* charges for a 120gr Btip.
For reference...
Just realize, as you seat a bullet deeper in the case, the bullet is reducing internal case volume.
When you ignite the same powder charge in a smaller volume, pressure with INCREASE!
Just something to keep in mind, if you're gonna incrementally test one load with shorter OALs...
A SAUM should zip those Btips right along, have fun!
P.s. Nosler manual lists:
64.0gr IMR 4350* (most accurate powder)
65.5gr RL19
64.5gr H414
67.5gr AA3100
:as *MAX* charges for a 120gr Btip.
For reference...
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