Bullet not touching the lands

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BigK7575

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Hey Guys:

My buddy has .223 rifle and he is fairly new to reloading. He bought some new bullets and put in the bullet into the case so that it was just seated. He then chambered the bullet and pushed to get the bullet to seat so that he could measure it. He has told me that the total length did not change even though we had the bullet almost all the way out before pushing it into the chamber. He also said he did not feel any resistance making him believe the bullet never touched the lands.

Is this possible or is he doing something wrong? He then decided that he is going to make it 2.3 so that we could put it into the magazine.

What happened here and did he do this correctly. Obviously he is extremely parinoid about safety and does not want to make a mistake.

Any help you guys could provide would be very helpful.

Claude
 
I'm not a hand loading expert, but I wouldn't be worrying to much about being on or near the lands yet. I use a ladder test(Google it) to work up my loads, setting the bullet as per the manuel. Somewhere throughout the ladder test you will find a load that is pretty darn accurate, If he would like to, he can work the setting depth latter. After a ladder test I have yet to play with the setting depth, Just my .02, hope it could be of help!

Perry
 
Unless he slotted the case neck before testing, the re-sized case neck tension probably held the bullet in place as it was seated into the lands. It's hard to "feel" land engagement. Did he smoke the bullet to determine if it touched the lands?
 
Ruger No.1 said:
Unless he slotted the case neck before testing, the re-sized case neck tension probably held the bullet in place as it was seated into the lands. It's hard to "feel" land engagement. Did he smoke the bullet to determine if it touched the lands?
Click to expand...
X2, or even a lightly collet neck sized piece of once fired will do... also X2 on the smoke.
but it is also possible that no bullet will reach the lands. my parker hale .303 cant reach em but it shoots amazing groups.
 
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Wow, you guys!
If the neck tension on a case will push a bullet into the lands, then pull it out again, especially without feeling it, your barrel is worn out more than any barrel ever gets!!!!
 
I do it more scientifically, I seat bullet very long, and make sure it is seated firmly. Then I try to close the bolt on it, usually I can't at first. I keep seating it slightly deeper until I can close the bolt, and that's my starting point. I do not worry about magazine length, as most of my guns are single shots. I don't use this process for lever guns, as loads that reach the lands won't usually feed as they are too long.
 
I've used a once fired case and then just touch the mouth into the sizer so the bullet will move in and out of the neck but not slide around. Then carefuly dab a little epoxy down in the neck of the case, way down and just a little. Then chamber the case with the bullet sticking way out and careful not to jam the tip of the bullet on anything on the way in. Keep the rifle level at least or pointed slightly down for the entire period. I've never got any glue in the leade but I'd cringe at the thought of someone using too much and pointing the rifle down. Few hours later you have a pretty good starting point to creep around with OAL. Get a comaprator too.
 
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