What bullet seatting depth tools are y'all using ?

[Ironworker]

The Sinclair bullet comparator nut is just one of what other tools needed to seat VLDs specific distances from the lands............. Also on my Mod 70 when loading a dummy round If bullet is seated out too far the camming action of closing the bolt will seat the bullet deeper. But how deep is the bullet into the lands ? Is the .005 or.010 into the lands ?

 

[Terry]

I use a sharpee. I seat the bullet long and gradually seat it deeper until it leaves only a faint mark. That is my 0. Then you can use your nut to measure it. Some guys use soot from a candle or match.

Terry

 

[fdshuster]

I've been using the Stoney Point, now Hornady Overall Length Gauge for many years & it continues to serve me well.

 

[tooter]

I simply slit a sacrificial case vertically through both neck walls and a third of the way into the shoulder using a Dremel abrasive cutting disk; clean-up any burrs with a Swiss file and start a bullet. I then slowly chamber the dummy case to seat the bullet lightly on the lands; remove and measure using my digital calipers fitted with the Sinclair comparator body and appropriate caliber insert.

This works well for me in my bolt and falling block actions. Only time it doesn't work is on new match chambered barrels that still have sharp edges in the throat that cause the bullet to stick in the barrel when the bolt is rotated into lock position. The problem goes away after 10 or so barrel break in rounds that polish off any reaming burrs on the throat edges.

Not necessary, but to be even more precise, I remove ejector pins and springs (leave them out for good as all my rifles are single shot) plus temporarily remove the firing pin/spring assembly from the bolt as well.

Hope this helps,

Tooter

 

[spclark]

...on my Mod 70 when loading a dummy round If bullet is seated out too far the camming action of closing the bolt will seat the bullet deeper. But how deep is the bullet into the lands? Is the .005 or.010 into the lands?

That's a good question! Determining just how far depends a lot on how much neck tension you load with. Keep in mind that neck tension alone is all there is to resist bullet push-back when the bore's lands are being engraved into your VLD jackets.

Over the past couple of years I've found the best, most consistent accuracy in my equipment comes from the least neck tension I can maintain along with a moderate (0.010" - 0.060") level of bullet "jump".

I'm reluctant to use my rifles' bolt as a "seating ram" owing to the increased stress such an operation puts on the hardware (I shot a T2k for a few years & the bolt handle on those is something to amaze and astound you once you see just how little metal there is holding it on!!). Add to that the occasional cease-fire on the line, which leads to powder granules in the bolt lugs (maybe trigger too) after a loaded round is un-chambered, invariably leaving a bullet stuck in the bore....

I've used both the Sinclair "nut" and the Stoney Pointe gauges for this, going as far as to acquire the tap & drill needed to make my own modified cases when necessary. I also use SP case gauges to measure shoulder bump when sizing. With careful use, both systems allow consistent accuracy to 0.001".

 

[lynn]

Harbor Freight digital 6 inch caliper $10 Davidson seating depth checker $15'
You can seat them alot further than you'll ever read about on here because most guys are not making accurate measurements.
As to there relationship to the lands I don't believe most of what I read on these types of forums and they will shoot just as well jumped as jammed so jump them and measure to the 0.001 and even your hunting rifles will shoot lights out.
Lynn

 

[mikecr]

I use the R-P Tool that Woods posted pics about here:
http://www.reloadersnest.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11401&SearchTerms=home,depot
The R-P tool contact info was r_reeves61bellsouth.net or (318)424-7867

After getting max COAL, I measure it's ogvOAL with a Sinclair nut, and base all future measurements(with the nut) from there.