Tuning seating depth for hunting loads

[ben-o]

As long as you're having fun don't listen to anybody. That's what it's all about anyway

Lol, maybe this site should be called accurateenoughshooter.com

Seriously though, I do understand that benchrest accuracy isn’t required to kill a deer at 100 yards. Just trying to have as much fun as I can

 

[Webster]

I’m wondering about the best way to find the ideal seating depth for hunting loads. Loading Barnes bullets in a few different guns, I’ve found loads that will shoot in the 1/2 - 3/4 moa range, all with the bullets seated .050” from the lands. I’m ready to start playing with seating depth, but I’m not sure where to start. Is shooting groups in .010” or .020” increments likely to show me anything useful?

3/4" groups are good for hunting. How big of a group do you think you would shoot kneeling or standing after you have been walking for a couple hours.

 

[TTE]

Chasing accuracy is what many reloaders got into reloading for. If it makes you feel better about your reloading/shooting/rifle, go for it.
True enough about a .5 MOA hunting rifle, but it you want to try and shrink that group, go for it.

From an F class shooter on seatng depth -

 

[sep]

I've been loading Barnes bullets since the late 90s. Mostly in 338 Win Mag and some in 30 caliber. In four of five 338 WMs, sub moa accuracy occurred .050 from the lands. In one of five, I didn't test .050 from the lands because it shot so well .020 from the lands.

I've tested both sides of that starting seating depth in .005 increments for maybe .020 each way. I ended up back at .050 for best accuracy. Over the years, Barnes used to recommend two different approaches to finding seating depth on their website. The first was starting at .050 from the lands. The second was to load samples for groups in .020-.025 increments going as deep as you like. Shoot those groups and fine tune whichever group shot best.

Erik Cortina and some other shooters believe seating depth nodes run about .006 wide. In all my years of loading Barnes bullets, I cannot recall a single range session where two groups .005 apart shot the same or really even close. So, I suspect Erik and others may be right. Going forward, I'll be doing my seating depth testing in .003 increments to try and identify how wide the node is so I can seat in the middle of it.

Berger bullets also provides recommendations on finding seating depths too. Similar to Barnes using large brackets and fine tuning from there. They believe seating depth nodes run .030. I can't speak to that as I dont' shoot Berger bullets. Hope this info helps.

 

[L.Sherm]

I used to think .5-.75 m.o.a was good enough at 100 yards untill I started shooting 500 yards and farther.