Seating Jacketed Rifle Bullets to Touch the Lands?

Canuck Bob

Canuck Bob

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Just wondering about this practice. I'm referring to loads that are properly worked up and not at max levels. I did this years ago and some rifles shot best this way. I never practiced this with fast powders either.

Years ago it was a normal practice but all manuals regard it as a no-no now. Is this lawyer risk or a real risk? I'll be back reloading shortly and didn't want to create a risk even though I had no problems years ago.

I assume that pressures will be a little higher. Perhaps some powders are spikier than others?
 
Work up with the bullets kissing the lands and you shouldn't have much trouble. It's all about working up.

Of course if the cartridges wont' fit in your mag box, you have a whole nother set of issues...:)
 
If the magazine will stand the length, I often load to the lands. The biggest danger to this for hunting, is if the bullet fits the lands hard when it is seated, it may pull the bullet out when being unloaded. Powder all over the place and a bullet stuck in the lands, out in the field.
I have never noticed the slightest bit of extra pressure, with that seating.
I have read that there is a spike of extra pressure, but the spike is well before peak pressure is reached. Therefor, the pressure doesn't add to the pressure of the powder charge.
I think the same thing happens with a primer that has more power. Instant spike in pressure, but a way before major pressure from the powder occurrs.
 
H4831 said:
If the magazine will stand the length, I often load to the lands. The biggest danger to this for hunting, is if the bullet fits the lands hard when it is seated, it may pull the bullet out when being unloaded. Powder all over the place and a bullet stuck in the lands, out in the field.
I have never noticed the slightest bit of extra pressure, with that seating.
I have read that there is a spike of extra pressure, but the spike is well before peak pressure is reached. Therefor, the pressure doesn't add to the pressure of the powder charge.
I think the same thing happens with a primer that has more power. Instant spike in pressure, but a way before major pressure from the powder occurrs.
Click to expand...

X2. Actually I go for minimal freebore, roughly 0.005" or somewhere close to that, and like you, providing I have the magazine length.
 
That is my understanding as well. My lever rifles use short flat nosed bullets so length is maybe not an issue. The throats on my levers are either minimum or simply non-existent.

Years ago I had an early Ruger #1 Tropical in 375 H&H (real boneheaded move to sell that rifle). It had a throat that would barely seat 235 gr Speers and touch the lands. With a 270 gr Spitzer it was ideal with base of neck seating.

I'll make sure that I don't jam the lands too hard. I didn't think I was courting trouble but I thought some experienced advice was in order.
 
I do it all the time for target shooting one bullet a the time, never with the mag full... It is safe and dont crimp the bullet, when pushing the bolt , go slowly an if you are a little to in the lands the bullet will backup in the case, that assure perfect seating and since you are not crimped ther is very little danger to jam the bullet in the lands. This way my 338 LM give me .5 and less... Cheers. JP.
 
caramel said:
I do it all the time for target shooting one bullet a the time, never with the mag full... It is safe and dont crimp the bullet, when pushing the bolt , go slowly an if you are a little to in the lands the bullet will backup in the case, that assure perfect seating and since you are not crimped ther is very little danger to jam the bullet in the lands. This way my 338 LM give me .5 and less... Cheers. JP.
Click to expand...

carmel:Me to, but definately in a couple of single shot Varmint/Pred rifles I have. Savage 112BVSS in 25-06 and an old custom Winchester Highwall in 219 Donaldson Wasp. Hunting rifles, again the governing factor is the mag length. ;)I assume you mean 0.005",;) not .5.

Canuck Bob : In my lever guns, and here primarily I'm referring to Marlins, the governing factor for hunting ammo is the ejection port dimensions. Ejection of the unfired round determines the C.O.A.L.
 
I usually go .010" off the lands with my hunting loads, but recently have been finding some really accurate loads being much further off. For sure my tsx, and ttsx loads are mostly .050"-.070" off the lands, with one exception, I had an A7 that liked em up close.
 
I used to religiously check each bullet to make sure I started and developed loads exactly .030 off the lands. A few years ago I had to work up quick once and just loaded to SAAMI overall and the groups were tiny, so now i just start there and adjust if necessary and haven't had to adjust at all.
 
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