Seating bullets for the 284??

[Raptor]

Hey Guys, I have a new 284 on the way home and it should be here next week. When seating bullets does the 284 like a little jump or does it like them in the lands??

I plan on shooting the 162,168 or 175s in mine. SOooo... any ideas or hints would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again!!!

 

[TonyR]

I have jumped the conventional boattail bullets about 0.010 including the 162 A-Max, Sierra 168MK, and Berger 180 Hybrids. I jam VLD bullets about 0.010 including Berger 180 VLDs, 180JLKs, and 176 and 177 grain Cauterucios. In the same barrel, all have shot about the same vertical dispersion in my 300 yard testing seated those ways. The VLDs have all held vertical well in 1000 yard matches and I have no reason to think that the others wouldn't also based on previous experiences with loads developed at 300 yards and shot in matches at 1000 yards. I have used only the VLDs so far in matches because the BCs have been higher; however, my next matches will be with the Berger 180 grain Hybrids which have a slightly higher BC than the VLDs and have tested well jumped 0.010 in my gun. So far, my testing has supported the claim that the Hybrids are less sensitive to changes in seating depth than the VLDs have been and conventional boattails have also been less sensitive than the VLDs. Berger describes a procedure for finding seating depths with the VLDs jumped quite a bit in some cases, but I have never needed to go that way.

 

[FroggyOne2]

When I was shooting the Berger 180 VLD's, I was jumping them 50 thousand.

 

[TonyR]

When I was shooting the Berger 180 VLD's, I was jumping them 50 thousand.

Did you follow the procedure on Berger's website to find that depth or is there another way ??

 

[RDavies]

In 4 different 284 barrels, the Berger VLDs have shot best at .010-.015" jammed, any more jam caused more verticle at the long ranges, but was OK at mid ranges.
But in one barrel which I was having problems getting to shoot, I inadvertantly ran a throating reamer in about .120" (combination of too much red wine, and a sharp new reamer do not mix with retarded gunsmithing skills). I tried getting it to shoot by seating the bullets way out, and it was kind of OK, but when I burnt up the last of my previous load with the bullets now jumping .100", it shot great.
From then on, this barrel got loaded with Berger VLDs jumping .100" and it won a few long ranges that way.

 

[AWLEAPHART]

162 Amax .003 off the lands. I hunt with this rifle and didnt want to jam do to only having about.0.75 neck tenson.

 

[skeetlee]

This type of question has no real answer. As i am sure you already know, you have to find the best seating depth for your rifle for that bullet for yourself. This is what makes all this such a challenge and i must admit a little fun. You will do just fine, you just need to spend some time behind the rifle. Here is what i was always told and what i always do when i am trying a new bullet or a new barrel or both. I find the max jam before the bullet starts to push back into the case. I find this length and start there. The reason i do this is because i only have to look in one direction " that being back" while trying to find the proper seating depth. You cant go forward any further because the bullet will just push back into the case, Right???!!!! Give this a try and work in .003 increments backwards until you find your seating depth. Good luck and good shooting!! Lee

 

[Raptor]

Skeetlee,
I agree with everything you said but I have found that some calibers even bullets seem to like a little jump while others like the VLDs tend to like to be "Jamed". I do like your idea of starting in the lands then working back. Thanks to all for your replys!!

 

[FroggyOne2]

This year I am shooting the Sierra 175 SMK's and I just seated the bullet where the bearing surface meets the boat on the bullet is just above the neck/shoulder joint and they shoot. 49.0 grs or RL17 is the load that I am currently using.

 

[Raptor]

Thanks froggyone2, I will be trying the 175s again later on. My initial testing with them and RL-17 was not all that great. May be the bullet or the powder chg.