If I switch powders, what effect does it have on seating depth?

[DaveMarine1]

I did the math on my .308 using Varget and how many cases I can fill. I am at roughly 600. If I sub another powder for Varget, say N150, I understand there will be load developement for the powder charge but what about the seatin depth?
Anyone have experience with substituting powder and finding that there is more work to do with seating depth? I shoot in ND and the humidity and temps change from day to day and shoot to shoot, will I run into tempurature issues with N150? I found that the Varget is pretty well un-changed for me from 30 degrees up to about 75-80 degrees.

Just looking for some advice from those of you who have been down this road. Thanks ahead of time.

 

[watercam]

I have not had seating depth changes with powder substitutions in my Long Rang rifles to date. It is all in the accuracy nodes and barrel harmonics but try the depth you have been using as a constant and work up your powder load. I have not shot V-powders so can not help you there. Since they come from Finland I am assuming temperature stability would be a priority!

 

[DaveMarine1]

I have not had seating depth changes with powder substitutions in my Long Rang rifles to date. It is all in the accuracy nodes and barrel harmonics but try the depth you have been using as a constant and work up your powder load. I have not shot V-powders so can not help you there. Since they come from Finland I am assuming temperature stability would be a priority!

Thanks for the information. It makes sense to me that the seating depth shouldnt be too big of a factor. Atleast not right away. Good point on finding the node with the charge.
You hear all of these horror stories about temp changes and charges so it was just alittle bit concerning. I guess I am just waying the options of subing a powder, or waiting out for some Varget and running the risk of running out at a in-oportune time.

 

[M14AMU]

Dave

In my .308 Win my most accurate load is 46.9 grs. Varget in Win cases using a F210M primer. This load creates what I like to see....a DENSE LOADING such that I have to use a drop tube to settle the powder such that I am not overly compressing the charge. A little compression doesn't harm but I learned a long time ago that if one is working toward a very consistent neck tension and seating depth....the bullet will move upward if it's sitting atop an overly compressed charge! If the chamber is 'throated' such to accept only single loading where bullets are seated long....this isn't an issue depending upon the bullet being used. My hunting rifles are not throated.

 

[ftrrookie]

Bryan Litz in the Berger reloading manual says that seating depth should be the first step in load development. Once you find the depth that the rifle shoots best at then start varying powder loads to achieve best accuracy.

I've just gone through the same situation. Switched from Varget to IMR 8208 and kept the same seating depth

 

[Down South]

I did the math on my .308 using Varget and how many cases I can fill. I am at roughly 600. If I sub another powder for Varget, say N150, I understand there will be load developement for the powder charge but what about the seatin depth?
Anyone have experience with substituting powder and finding that there is more work to do with seating depth? I shoot in ND and the humidity and temps change from day to day and shoot to shoot, will I run into tempurature issues with N150? I found that the Varget is pretty well un-changed for me from 30 degrees up to about 75-80 degrees.

Just looking for some advice from those of you who have been down this road. Thanks ahead of time.

I've used a good bit of N-150 in my FTR rig with 200 hybrids and i like it, shot at temps in the 80s and 30s without problems. I've heard guys say its temp sensitive but i haven't seen it and in my particular gun it gives better accuracy than Varget does.

 

[DaveMarine1]

Thanks for all of the insight. I will pull the trigger on some N150 and give it a try. By the sounds of it it shouldnt be that terrible. Thank you.