Soft seating bullets..?

[panzer075]

So I got a few good tips on reducing runout..next question I have.

I have read about soft seating bullets. I shoot 190 VLD's from Berger, and have a good load about .005 off the rifling. I am thinking of trying this soft seating and wondering if anyone does it and if they have any tips on neck tension..? how much? how deep to seat them into the rifling?

I was thinking of reducing the powder charge .3-.4 grn and seating them .010 in to the lands, using .001 neck tension.

as a side note I have read this helps to cure some runout also by letting the throat straighten the round out.

as usual any opinions are appreciated.

Chris

 

[Bob3700]

Chris,

I have proven to myself that soft seating is a very significant accuracy technique.

Typically, I seat the bullets .030' into the lands. With the bullet this long, you really don't have to chase the rifling for a long time as the throat wears.

The neck tension that I use is probably closer to .0005'. That way, the rifling seats the bullet upon bolt closing. The bullet will end up being the same distance into the rifling every time with that low neck tension.

There are a couple of ways to control neck tension. First, I size the case with a F/L neck bushing die. It can be .002' smaller than the fired case. Then run the neck over a mandrel that is turned to bullet diameter. This way, all necks should be the same ID and that means consistent bullet release.

You can also select a busing that is .001' smaller and only allow the busing to size a portion of the neck. That will also control bullet release.

No matter what method you use, there should be sufficient neck tension to keep a bullet from being spun freely with your fingers.

Once you play with neck tension, try your old method of sizing and seating. Then shoot both loads over your chrono and see what a difference in ES and SD the soft seating makes. You should also see the difference on the target with small groups.

Good luck

Bob

 

[panzer075]

guys thanks for the tips..

Bob I already have some brass sized with a bushing .001 under, but I sized all the way down the neck, but the bullets seated with next to no tension, so we will see how they do.

I have a 600 yd practice day on thurs, then next monday there is a 1000yd practice day...so if all goes well at 600 I'll test farther.

again thanks for the tips guys.

Chris

 

[Bob3700]

Chris,

I seat my bullets with a RCBS Rockchucker press. THe weight of the press handle is all that is necessary to seat the bullets.

Once seated, I do check to see if I can spin the bullets with my fingers. If not, they are good to go.

There are those who also take fine steel wool and wrap it around a used cleaning brush. Put this in a cordless drill and polish the inside of the necks. They feel that this helps reduce and make consistent neck tension.

Bob

 

[panzer075]

well the soft seat didnt work out so well first time. I was seating the .025, .030 and .035 long and after closing the bolt, they were all about .010 deep. the accuracy wasnt bad, just wasnt as tight as my control group..

guess I will have to play with neck tension some..I was using about .001.

and actually my other handloads to test, same load but .005 off the lands, shot about the same. that was my standard load, but with lighter neck tension, so my rifle appears to like more grip,,been using about .0025) so back to experiment..