Looking for input on how far off lands fellow reloaders are seating their bullets. This for a savage bolt action with 69 grain Sierra matchking and 55 grain Speer varmint bullets. I have been seating at ten thou off lands and am looking for an accurate load and am wondering if ten thou is a good starting point thanks
223 overall length
- Thread starter rboule
- Start date
- Location
- West Quebec
I look for 10-15 thou of the lands with a 69gr Matchking bullet in my Savage 12BTCSS
I start off by loading all bullets to the COAL specified by the bullet manufacturer then once I find the powder charge that works best I start moving the bullet closer and closer to the lands till I get the best accuracy then fine tune the powder charge again to get my final load.
I just use it as a starting point since most factory loads shoot fairly decently, I then work up a powder charge then fine tune the seating depth after I have my velocity node.
I also don't use the COL from a loading manual unless it specifically states it's for the bullet I'm using.
Not all bullets are as sensitive to seating depth as others and I use it as the fine tuning portion of my load development. It's not meaningless unless you already know what seating depth your rifle and choice of bullets work best together at.
In my 338 Lapua Berger 300gr OTM work best just off the lands but 300gr SMK's are much less sensitive.
It's not just bullets that vary, but throats vary considerably from rifle to rifle, so a load that is .010" off of the lands in one rifle, might be .070" off of the lands in another rifle. I don't believe that I have ever found the COL listed in a manual to be the most accurate COL in an of my rifles, yet .010" off of the lands has been proven to be as accurate as any distance from the lands in several rifles, with cup and core bullets. So for that reason, I ignore the COL listed in the manual, and start with a COL determined by measuring the distance to the lands in my rifle. As such, the COL listed in a manual is meaningless to me.
hometownhero
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Toon Town, Sk
In my savage 223 the throat was so long couldn't get much close to the lands. I shot lots of 40gr they were like .1-.2 off the lands they were seated as long as possible. Also shot a lot of 53gr vmax due to the really good bc for that weight they were seated to the same as the superformance factory stuff. I think it was around 2.244" or something like that.
- Location
- chilliwack BC.
I know its not the same round or rifle, but here is what I do on my K31 Swiss with 7.5x55(.308 cal)
prepped brass, but no primer or powder. Seat a bullet long but far enough that it won't come out easily.
Chamber it and close the bolt. Eject it. Don't be gentle on the ejection. No need to fling it across the room, but make it come out quickly. measure OAL. back it off a wee bit. just a few thou IIRC.
I did this 3 times with three different cases and projectiles and then used that measurement as my final OAL. This has cut my groups in half vs using the excellent GP11 ammo. And these are some of my first loads that I have made for the rifle.
To be fair, this method did not work all that well in my Yugo Mauser (8mm mauser). It did not change the groups at all over factory Prvi ammo, even using the same projectiles and 1f Prvi brass.
prepped brass, but no primer or powder. Seat a bullet long but far enough that it won't come out easily.
Chamber it and close the bolt. Eject it. Don't be gentle on the ejection. No need to fling it across the room, but make it come out quickly. measure OAL. back it off a wee bit. just a few thou IIRC.
I did this 3 times with three different cases and projectiles and then used that measurement as my final OAL. This has cut my groups in half vs using the excellent GP11 ammo. And these are some of my first loads that I have made for the rifle.
To be fair, this method did not work all that well in my Yugo Mauser (8mm mauser). It did not change the groups at all over factory Prvi ammo, even using the same projectiles and 1f Prvi brass.
Longshot338
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southern Ontario
I like to start touching the lands. I work back from there in 0.010" increments. When I find where it likes it I might play with it 0.005" up and down.
I also am willing to change that measurement as time goes on and my throat wears, or the groups change. It isn't set in stone.
I am not a benchrest shooter, nor do I have a benchrest quality rifle. I don't change my load all the time like those guys do. But I definitely don't shoot the same load on a warm humid day as I would on a cold windy day.
Don't be afraid to change your load as the rifle and environmental effects vary.
Hope this helps.
I also am willing to change that measurement as time goes on and my throat wears, or the groups change. It isn't set in stone.
I am not a benchrest shooter, nor do I have a benchrest quality rifle. I don't change my load all the time like those guys do. But I definitely don't shoot the same load on a warm humid day as I would on a cold windy day.
Don't be afraid to change your load as the rifle and environmental effects vary.
Hope this helps.
As above... I start at the lands, and back off 5 thou all the way to 25 thou off - shoot 3 shot groups with each depth, all on the same paper (8 1/2 x 11" white paper with 6 equally spaced dots works great), and compare. You'll see what works best.
My rifle (different than yours) likes 2.28OAL with 69 smk's. They were not as finicky as 69 lapuas or 80 smk's.
My rifle (different than yours) likes 2.28OAL with 69 smk's. They were not as finicky as 69 lapuas or 80 smk's.
I have a new Tikka Varmint Stainless in 223rem arriving next week, and I will start at .010" off of the lands, or the longest COL that will fit the magazine, which from experience with Tikka rifles, will be the limiting factor. I will start with Lapua brass, and 69gr Matchkings, and Tipped Matckings, and CFE223, Varget, and Benchmark, and see which powder shows the most promise. I will be surprised if none of those combinations produce sub 1/2moa for five shots.
