Help Me Understand Something Regarding Overall Length

[CEHansen]

I have only been shooting/loading 6BR since this last summer. As I have a fast twist 1:8 barrel I have had good luck with the SMK 107's with the bullet set 0.010 "into the lands" as a starter load. I have a Hornady OAL gauge so I can measure the cartridge length to the ogive pretty accurately. Recently I have become interested in trying the new SMK 95 but I have a problem understanding what I should do regarding the fact that the lighter bullet is indeed going to be shorter than what I am currently using. Should I load to the same length and change the neck engagement/tension or shorten the OAL for shooting "off the lands"? It would seem to me that any bullet on the lighter end of the scale must be shot off the lands and you have little or no choice in the matter. Am I missing something? I have been on endless backorder for the bullets so I havent had a chance to actually measure and compare the distance from tail to ogive between the two.

 

[Johnboy]

hello,I'm not no pro by no means.but what I would do is just load one long and chamber it.make the bolt do the seating for you.then I would back off about .018 off the lands and go from there.you would be surprised what that might do.it's all about testing.don't let it beat you up.
JOHNBOY

 

[jb1000br]

Load them to the same length "base-to-ogive." As long as you can get about 0.150" or so of bearing surface in the neck you will be fine. Maybe even less depending on your usage.

If you can't get enough shank in the case to sufficiently hold the bullet, then worry about seating them deeper.

JB

 

[CEHansen]

Great! That's the answer that I was hoping for. Thanks.

 

[fdshuster]

Carlton: Seating depth, and being able to touch the lands, will be determined by the depth of the throat on your rifle, and the ogive on the bullet,s) you want to use. Wait 'til you get the 95 gr. Sierra, then determine that length using the ever trustworthy Hornady OAL gauge, great tool/ I use it all the time). A shorter, lighter weight bullet may or may not perform best touching, or .010", or .020", or ets. off the lands--- gotta try it "for real" to find out. Two of my 6BRs must have all bullets seated to touch. The other demands that all bullets be "jumped" .020". Go figure!