Seated to far out?

[mike a]

243, sierra 80 sbt. If I seat to the lands only 1/3 of the bearing surface of the bullet in in the case neck.

 

[Zero333]

I would just seat them so the bearing surface of the bullet sits a hair above the case neck/shoulder junction.

This is not a VLD bullet so jumping it 15-20 thou is not gonna affect accuracy.

 

[dmoran]

This is not a VLD bullet so jumping it 15-20 thou is not gonna affect accuracy.

Zero333 -
Could you explain your input (above) with some further detail.
Thanks Donovan

 

[Zero333]

dmoran

I tried jamming non-vld's many times and it never improved the accuracy.

 

[dmoran]

Zero333 -
Is your input for all non-VLD bullets, in all calibers, powders, barrels, and throats?

Myself, I can tune any load by seating depth, VLD or not. Where that optimal seating position ends up to be, is effected by so many variables, there is no way to make a "blanket statement" where it may be.
Donovan

 

[Zero333]

Zero333 -
Is your input for all non-VLD bullets, in all calibers, powders, barrels, and throats?

Myself, I can tune any load by seating depth, VLD or not. Where that optimal seating position ends up to be, is effected by so many variables, there is no way to make a "blanket statement" where it may be.
Donovan

Ok you have a point and I agree that seating depth can tune a load (any load).

I should of said "you don't have to jam a bullet to get it to shoot"

 

[Tim Singleton]

243, sierra 80 sbt. If I seat to the lands only 1/3 of the bearing surface of the bullet in in the case neck.

I wouldn't worry to much about amount of bullet in the case. The seating depth it likes is by far more important. Find that and roll with it

 

[Alex Wheeler]

All that matters is whats on the target. Dont let your brain get in the way

 

[mike a]

I wouldn't worry to much about amount of bullet in the case. The seating depth it likes is by far more important. Find that and roll with it

I was just thinking of a general rule to seating depth, that being 1 caliber in the neck. I wish I could use longer bullets but over 80 grain bullets in my 1-10 twist shoot poorly. I'm just wounding what would be WAY to shallow. A 1/2 caliber, an 1/8?

 

[JohnKielly]

Long time back, I had to shoot 200 SMKs in a .308 W chamber cut to load 210 Bergers to around 3.15" OAL. They jumped .120" & were .032" of bearing surface in the case neck, but they shot OK when I tweaked the tuner on that barrel. A little sooty on the necks as I recall.

 

[Brians356]

I was just thinking of a general rule to seating depth, that being 1 caliber in the neck.

That "1 caliber" rule of thumb is arbitrary and baseless. Your 1/3 bearing surface is fine. I've loaded 40-gr BTs and 50-gr TNTs in 223 Rem with only ~.010" bearing surface in the neck, and they've been very accurate that way. And there's no way I could ever pull those bullets using my fingers.

 

[bugman]

243, sierra 80 sbt. If I seat to the lands only 1/3 of the bearing surface of the bullet in in the case neck.

I am curious.....where does this OAL put the base of the 80 SBT, and where is the powder level in the case (in relation to the neck-shoulder junction)?

Jack

 

[mike a]

I am curious.....where does this OAL put the base of the 80 SBT, and where is the powder level in the case (in relation to the neck-shoulder junction)?

Jack

Yeh, I thought about that also. 44.4 grains H414 w/cci mg primer gives me very flat primers now that I'm on the lands I think I'll try a few reduced alitte before I load many. And on the lands gives me a lot of space between powder and bullet, about .25

 

[dkhunt14]

dmoran

I tried jamming non-vld's many times and it never improved the accuracy.

Most of my guns shoot best at 1000 yards in the lands. It doesn't matter if it's a VLD or not. Most of the best 1000 yard BR shooters shoot them in the lands. Matt

 

[mike a]

I am curious.....where does this OAL put the base of the 80 SBT, and where is the powder level in the case (in relation to the neck-shoulder junction)?

Jack

Cool thing is I just got a Wilson micro adjust hand seating die. I can adjust depth at the range. I like that. Even with bullet way out runout is still good. Powder is at case/shoulder junction.

 

[Webster]

243, sierra 80 sbt. If I seat to the lands only 1/3 of the bearing surface of the bullet in in the case neck.

The cartridge and rifle don't have a brain. It doesn't now what a 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 half of a caliber is. 1/4 of .308 is .077" sounds like way to much. This is a human perception. Sounds like stuff non-competitive shooters made up in the 1940s. Like others said just shoot it at a target and see what shoots the best groups. I don't like jamming in a hunting rifle. If you have to eject a loaded round the bullet may stick in the bore. I would guess that you could find a good load 0.005' to 0.020" off the lands. If it's a hunting rifle it may not shoot accurate enough to see much difference.

 

[Hntndad]

Mike, if your concerned with the 1/3 of the bearing surface seated (I wouldn't be). Or, concerned that down the road as the lands erode you may have trouble seating further out. Consider a different bullet. Not heavier, as you say over 80gr doesn't shoot well for you. (Although I can't imagine a 1-10tw not) consider a flat base bullet. Especially if your shooting is within 500yards or so. If your shooting the #1515. Look at the 75gr #1510 or the 70gr nosler vg. Or any other flat based bullet. The 85 gr Sierra # 1520 is the same bullet your shooting with a flat base and longer bearing surface. At 5gr heavier. May also improve upon load density that way as well. All will do very well with your h414.
Or you could just not worry about it as others have mentioned. If you can't pull the bullets by hand, or if your loading through a magazine and they don't upset...they're good to go.

 

[mike a]

Mike, if your concerned with the 1/3 of the bearing surface seated (I wouldn't be). Or, concerned that down the road as the lands erode you may have trouble seating further out. Consider a different bullet. Not heavier, as you say over 80gr doesn't shoot well for you. (Although I can't imagine a 1-10tw not) consider a flat base bullet. Especially if your shooting is within 500yards or so. If your shooting the #1515. Look at the 75gr #1510 or the 70gr nosler vg. Or any other flat based bullet. The 85 gr Sierra # 1520 is the same bullet your shooting with a flat base and longer bearing surface. At 5gr heavier. May also improve upon load density that way as well. All will do very well with your h414.
Or you could just not worry about it as others have mentioned. If you can't pull the bullets by hand, or if your loading through a magazine and they don't upset...they're good to go.

Yeh, to much thinking to little shootin. I've got 40 rounds on the lands right now and going to the range right now. Take my seater with me. We shall see. This is a Howa thumbhole varmiter and I shoot coyotes to 500. I've been getting solid 3/4 moa. Just trying for alittle better. Think I will try flat base next. Nuff talkin goin shootin. See yah later. Thanx mike

 

[HTSmith]

My first target grade gun was a 6br. I about pulled my hair out trying to get Berger 105VLD's to shoot. Everything I'd read said the VLD's had to be jammed to shoot and I was jamming them all to various lengths. Then I read the article on Berger's site about tuning loads for the VLD's and started backing off the lands. 25 thou off was pure magic. Could have been a one off, but I don't assume jammed is the best place anymore. I do run pretty heavy neck tension and that could be a factor.

 

[Paddyd]

Berger Bullets published a letter about VLD's. They state there will be a sweet spot somewhere between into the lands and as far out as .150" . So forget any jammed vs jumped. VLD's are just like any other bullet as that you will need to find that sweet spot for your particular load in your particular rifle. No two are the same and no two solutions will work the same from one rifle/powder charge to another.