Seating depth doesn’t matter

[Tod Hendricks]

WITH THE RIGHT BULLET! and maybe some other favorable variables.

My normal seating test is to load 2 of each depth/length at a an already proven powder charge and shoot ‘em all at the same aim point. I repeat the tests at least three times if not more over the life of the barrel.

I use touch as a reference for length, touch for me is determined by free fall, push a dummy round in with a stick or whatever, lift the barrel, when a case falls out it’s not touching the rifling. Obviously thats the simplified version of how I test it, a long dowel down the barrel and pusher from behind the dummy jockeyed back and forth will tell you a lot.

The first pic is cropped. This test starts at .060” jump and goes .030” past touch, -.060 to +.030, first shot was cold bore, normally I take a warm up shot.

 

[JFrank]

At what pace do you shoot these and at what distance ?

 

[Tod Hendricks]

At what pace do you shoot these and at what distance ?

I shoot it pretty quickly to simulate match conditions on the barrel, like a controlled steady pace, and at match distance.

 

[Tod Hendricks]

The rest of the data.

 

[MikeRu]

Interesting, thanks for sharing sir

 

[JEFFPPC]

WITH THE RIGHT BULLET! and maybe some other favorable variables.

My normal seating test is to load 2 of each depth/length at a an already proven powder charge and shoot ‘em all at the same aim point. I repeat the tests at least three times if not more over the life of the barrel.

I use touch as a reference for length, touch for me is determined by free fall, push a dummy round in with a stick or whatever, lift the barrel, when a case falls out it’s not touching the rifling. Obviously thats the simplified version of how I test it, a long dowel down the barrel and pusher from behind the dummy jockeyed back and forth will tell you a lot.

The first pic is cropped. This test starts at .060” jump and goes .030” past touch, -.060 to +.030, first shot was cold bore, normally I take a warm up shot.

If you win you have a good simple process that works for you. If you don 't win, you might need a better process. If you don't care, it doesn't matter. So the question is....Do you win?

 

[newbieshooter]

If you win you have a good simple process that works for you. If you don 't win, you might need a better process. If you don't care, it doesn't matter. So the question is....Do you win?

Ian Klemm and Tod Hendricks Are 2021 F-Class LR Champions « Daily Bulletin

Breaking News from Camp Atterbury, Indiana... The final individual match results have been tallied and there are two new NRA Long Range F-Class National Champions: Ian Klemm in F-TR and Tod Hendricks in F-Open.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

2022 Southwest Nationals Match Report « Daily Bulletin

The 2022 Southwest Nationals are history. This was a very successful mid-range and long-range event, with 330+ participants and some great shooting in F-Open, F-TR, and Sling divisions. We congratulate the 2022 SWN Champions: Tod Hendricks (F-Open, 1243-73X); Keith Trapp (F-TR, 1233-62X); and...

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

Team Lapua-Brux-Borden — Big Winners at Berger SW Nationals « Daily Bulletin

Dominators -- that's what these blue-shirted guys were at the 2020 Berger Southwest Nationals (SWN). For the third straight year, Team Lapua-Brux-Borden won the coveted F-Open Team Grand Aggregate award at the Berger Southwest Nationals, finishing with a score of 2584-160X (out of a possible 2600).

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[lawman29]

So the question is....Do you win?

SWN 2022
NRA Nationals 2021
He's a regular pain in the ass...

 

[Ned Ludd]

If you win you have a good simple process that works for you. If you don 't win, you might need a better process. If you don't care, it doesn't matter. So the question is....Do you win?

Mr. Hendrick's track record of success and winning matches is very well-established. I think the real question is which of the seating depths from the above test would he choose to use in matches and why?

 

[762plinker]

WITH THE RIGHT BULLET! and maybe some other favorable variables.

My normal seating test is to load 2 of each depth/length at a an already proven powder charge and shoot ‘em all at the same aim point. I repeat the tests at least three times if not more over the life of the barrel.

I use touch as a reference for length, touch for me is determined by free fall, push a dummy round in with a stick or whatever, lift the barrel, when a case falls out it’s not touching the rifling. Obviously thats the simplified version of how I test it, a long dowel down the barrel and pusher from behind the dummy jockeyed back and forth will tell you a lot.

The first pic is cropped. This test starts at .060” jump and goes .030” past touch, -.060 to +.030, first shot was cold bore, normally I take a warm up shot.

exactlly what type of competition is this shooting ? somehow i do not see this as a trend today.

 

[ronsatspokane]

SWN 2022
NRA Nationals 2021
He's a regular pain in the ass...

Regular is right. You know you have not arrived at a competitive level when you clean 3 targets with a very high X count and Todd still wins. Does he win? What does a bear do in the woods?

 

[Tod Hendricks]

Mr. Hendrick's track record of success and winning matches is very well-established. I think the real question is which of the seating depths from the above test would he choose to use in matches and why?

That is a 1,000 yard target, any of those jumped lengths would most likely be acceptable. Next step would be to shoot a larger sample at .010” ish and .030”ish.

The point is with a well tuned powder charge and the 180 hybrids seating depth nodes are very wide at long range.

The interesting part is if I shot it traditionally at 100 yards with different aim points it would produce the typical sine wave pattern.

 

[bugman]

With all due respect, a good barrel and bullets makes some of your tuning process easier to generalize.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Interesting. Why such a big change between 2.430-2.451? That's where I find my best stuff, usually. Maybe a little further into the lands, with that method of finding touch.

 

[davidjoe]

If you win you have a good simple process that works for you. If you don 't win, you might need a better process. If you don't care, it doesn't matter. So the question is....Do you win?

Tod can usually beat everyone, with a .284, and doesn’t usually talk about experimentation, so I’m thrilled to read this. If a bird’s wings flapped upwind he’d pick up on it, just ridiculously sensitive perception. So if in an experimental mood, if Tod’s wind skills ever met up with a 5 groove 8.5T saum at least 33”, with 195’s tipped by hand pressure only on a Whidden die, and 62 to 62.5 of RE 25, (start lower) combined with Erik’s regular cleaning, he’d effectively move so much closer to the target, even when there’s no wind, he’d absolutely win everything he ever shot, cash on the barrel head.

 

[farmerjohn]

tag

 

[Keith Glasscock]

 

[Acyr]

Interesting. Why such a big change between 2.430-2.451? That's where I find my best stuff, usually. Maybe a little further into the lands, with that method of finding touch.

I thought the same thing. Thanks for sharing this with us Tod.

 

[Tod Hendricks]

Interesting. Why such a big change between 2.430-2.451? That's where I find my best stuff, usually. Maybe a little further into the lands, with that method of finding touch.

With this particular chamber 2.430” is about .015” ish above the donut, and this lot of brass is at the age where I can feel occasional donuts. I agree more jump can be good. You are also correct that a little longer can show a benefit, but we are forced to open our bolts on loaded rounds so many times in matches, mainly due to waiting on a condition, so out of caution I keep the jammed pretty light.

 

[Acyr]

If you win you have a good simple process that works for you. If you don 't win, you might need a better process. If you don't care, it doesn't matter. So the question is....Do you win?

Tod is easily one of the best 1000-yard F Class shooters out there. Also, one of the nicest guys your ever going to meet.