Idea on new load

[cjmac]

Just a thought, but if I do a Max pressure test on new powder and bullet. And start working on powder charges . Would I want to do this in the lands Or off ? I'd rather seat in the lands as my thought process is if the bullet is in the lands small bullet seating variations wouldn't matter . Am I right ?

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Whatever shoots best. And max charges usually dont

 

[ireload2]

Max pressure test?
Well if you want to do some thing like that use a junk stock and wear kevlar and a motorcycle helmet with a full face shield.
The only way to know where the cut off is, is to blow a primer or two and that is dangerous.
The methodology would be easy to describe but I think the possibility of someone getting hurt or damaging a rifle is high.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I always work up to find where the limit is before doing anything else. Nothing like trying to find a load that is above max for my rifle.

So, to answer your question, I work up until I see the first indication of pressure, then I back off at least 1% and work downward looking for the node. For seating depth, I use what I intend to shoot. If I'm running VLD's I put them .010 into the lands. If I intend to jump, I use .015 jump (because the bullets I use seem to like that).

For my last test, I reload the same case until it loosens the primer pocket, or I get tired of reloading it. That is my final pressure test. If the case is bad in 2-5 firings, I'm too hot. If it goes 10 or more, I'm probably in the right spot.

 

[mao0720]

I think what the OP is asking is, at what seating depth should he do his initial charge testing. I always start .005 shorter than max jam. My thinking here is that that is the longest I will ever have a loaded round. It will produce higher pressure for a given load vs being .010-.020 off of the lands, and therefore I will see pressure signs lower in the powder spectrum and build in some inherent safety into my final load. And last if I start and my longest OAL I only have to work in one direction when I do seating depth test. One less thing to screw up.

 

['Freak]

I think what the OP is asking is, at what seating depth should he do his initial charge testing. I always start .005 shorter than max jam. My thinking here is that that is the longest I will ever have a loaded round. It will produce higher pressure for a given load vs being .010-.020 off of the lands, and therefore I will see pressure signs lower in the powder spectrum and build in some inherent safety into my final load. And last if I start and my longest OAL I only have to work in one direction when I do seating depth test. One less thing to screw up.

Yup, this ^^^.

 

[Geno C]

I do like Keith and find max for my gun at a .010" jam and work down from there. I do seating test after I find a charge it likes. Working only one way; deeper into the case. I thought is the highest pressure I'll see is with a jammed bullet and most of the time the vlds shot best for me with a jam between .003-.010"

 

[cjmac]

I think what the OP is asking is, at what seating depth should he do his initial charge testing. I always start .005 shorter than max jam. My thinking here is that that is the longest I will ever have a loaded round. It will produce higher pressure for a given load vs being .010-.020 off of the lands, and therefore I will see pressure signs lower in the powder spectrum and build in some inherent safety into my final load. And last if I start and my longest OAL I only have to work in one direction when I do seating depth test. One less thing to screw up.

That's pretty much what I was trying to find out ...

 

[JigStick]

I always work up a max load with it jammed right up in here

 

[Zero333]

Load them French Kissing the rifling.

 

[waldo1979]

I find that my starting seating depth is based on the type of bullet I'll be using. Secants like to be jammed (0.002" off the lands) and Tangents jumped (0.020").