Bullet Seating Question

CoryTheCowboy

CoryTheCowboy

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A decrepit duck blind in Atikokan, ON
Hey guys,

I loaded up some 165 gr. Hornady SST for my .300 Savage using 40.8 gr. of IMR 4320 to 2.600" COL. This load is from the Hornady manual.

I noticed when I was seating the bullets there was a scunching sound, like the bullet was compressing the powder. I've only loaded for my 9.3x57 before and never experienced this. I was just wondering if this was normal or not?

I'm guessing that it's normal as it's right out of the book, but I figured better safe than sorry.

Thanks guys,

Cory
 
With 4320 you shouldn't be compressing with a 165 until about 42 grains +, unless you are seating deeper than normal. Add your 40.8 to another casing and visually check the powder level, that should give you an idea if it is being compressed by the bullet or not.
 
Cleftwynd said:
With 4320 you shouldn't be compressing with a 165 until about 42 grains +, unless you are seating deeper than normal. Add your 40.8 to another casing and visually check the powder level, that should give you an idea if it is being compressed by the bullet or not.
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I'm seated to just under the top of the cannelure (towards to the tip).

I guess it is compressing a bit. Is that going to cause high pressures?

Thanks guys,

Cory
 
Any reason for seating so deep? My 165 are not down to the groove and my COAL is ok. Seating deeper increases pressure.
 
well - The short neck on the 300 works against long bullets, compare a spire point boat tail to a flat base RN in the same bullet weight. Chances are you can seat to a longer length, which benefits accuracy and powder capacity. If you tap the case a few times you'll see the powder settle a fair amount.
 
If memory serves, the SST is a boattail bullet so longer than a flat base. As long as you can cycle through your rifle and you are not jaming your bullets into the throat (rifling) you should be good. If you let the powder swirl around your funnel when dumping into your case it will take up less space than simply dumping and letting it flow out of the funnel. A longer drop tube also helps settle a powder load.
 
iceman2 said:
If memory serves, the SST is a boattail bullet so longer than a flat base. As long as you can cycle through your rifle and you are not jaming your bullets into the throat (rifling) you should be good. If you let the powder swirl around your funnel when dumping into your case it will take up less space than simply dumping and letting it flow out of the funnel. A longer drop tube also helps settle a powder load.
Click to expand...

Okay, thanks. I'll pull them and reload them tomorrow at a longer COL.

Cory
 
I just looked at mine and I average 2.625 still lots of room in the mag and I know I'm not close to the throat. Mind you I'm using interlocks not SST. Make up a dummy round (no primer or powder) to try and find max distance to your rifling, then seat them a little deeper . Good luck.
 
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