Seating to touch lands or not

[DrJeckyl]

For reloading the 260 Rem w/ Broughton #7, should I load to touch the lands or not? Heard this increases accuracy at the expense of other things....Does it matter which bullet or is the distance from the lands the same..or unless I should load to the lands. If loading to the lands..is it just touching or seated a set depth into the lands? Haven't reloaded rifle but many pistol..just curious about this.

 

[Forum Boss]

Much depends on the bullet, the way the chamber was cut, the load and the barrel. If you're shooting the 123s, try .015 to .020" out. See how that works.

With the 130 VLDs, I'd start .010 to .015" into the lands.

.005 out to .005" in the lands is sort of no man's land. Because of variations in bullet base to ogive measurements,and variances in how you seat the bullets), some bullets may be touching while others may not be touching if you try to seat "just kissing."

If you are shooting a tactical rifle from a magazine, there are some practical reasons why you may want to seat away from the lands. I got excellent accuracy seating .015" away from the lands using Lapua 123gr bullets pushed by H4350.

 

[chino1969]

Dr Jeckyl,
Everything the moderator just posted needs to be considered. When developing loads for my varmint or benchrest rigs I always start by seating the bullets into the lands. That way you only have one way to go with the bullet; away from the lands. If I had great results touching the lands, I might go .010 into or a little more and see what this does to my group. Keep asking good questions because there are many knowledgable shooters willing to share information.
Chino69

 

[DrJeckyl]

Thanks for the tips so far, one question on my mind is pressure. At what point can there be excessive pressure when seated too far in the lands, or is this not the case with this cartridge? Does the bullet still need a "jump" or "running start" to avoid excess pressure or can it still start from being dug in the lands?

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Generally speaking, if you're already loading to the max with the bullet seated to jump, you might see too much pressure with that same load when you seat the bullet into the lands.

You'll just have to experiment to know for certain.

 

[DrJeckyl]

I'm going to aim for 2750-2800 fps for the 139-142 grainers, not sure about the lighter ones yet.

 

[Clark]

Touching the lands has the pro of:
1) getting more accuracy.

Touching the lands has the con of:
1) more pressure
2) possibly not fitting in the magazine
3) possibly getting a bullet stuck in the land on unloading a chambered round - resulting in powder spilled all over in the action - resulting in subsequent fired rounds having leprosy of the brass.

I know a guy who went elk hunting with a 91/30 with the bullet jammed into the lands for accuracy. At the end of the day, he unloaded, but the bullet was stuck in the chamber. There was no cleaning rod to be found in elk camp to dislodge the stuck bullet. He took another rifle, pulled a bullet with pliers, dumped the powder, put the two rifles muzzle to muzzle and blew the stuck bullet back into the chamber with the primer in the other rifle. Now he carries a cleaning rod and hunts with a Weatherby-Howa.

I take 2,000 rounds with me for varmint hunting with a .223. The all get jammed into the lands. My elk rifle does not get the bullet jammed into the lands.

 

[DrJeckyl]

Thanks for the tips, seems like I will start out seating so I will be away from the lands or just at them but not touching...or at least not digging in them and see how it shoots. Seems to be more pros than cons about being in the lands so I will start safe, thanks.