Hi there
I am loading Hornady Interbond 3006 180 gr with H4350 Powder. I am just learning so please be kind. I am trying to understand OAL - Manual tell me starting loads to max loads for H4350 work ups and gives me a (min) OAL (This example 3.300") The Max Overall Length for the 3006 is 3.340". How do I know what to seat my bullet length to? I understand there is a .040" adjustment. Need information on how this process is done? Thanks for your help.....
That's a good question you have asked and I will answer it as kinkly as I can, and hope you will follow advice.
The lengths given in loading books gives what will fit a rifle tha is chambered according to the suggestions by SAAMI. In other words, they should go into any rifle, so you could load somewhere in between. This is the same way the factories load their ammunition, so they will fit any rifle.
Since you're starting out, I would just use a length a bit on the underside of half way, between the two figures. you could load them this way forever, and not hinder yourself in any meaningful way.
However, you will have read all the folks on here who talk of customizing their loads to their rifle. Most shooters like the bullet to be close to the lands, without touching them. A simple method of finding how to achieve this is as follows. Take an empty that has been fired in your rifle. A bullet will slide in or out of the neck. Squeeze the neck just enough to make a resistance to the movement of the bullet. you should be able to push the bullet in with your fingers, with a fair bit of pressure.
Start a bullet of the type you are going to be loading, into the neck, leaving it sticking out more than normal. Carefully chamber the cartridge. You should feel pressure closing the bolt, as the bullet is pushed into the neck by the lands.
Carefully remove the cartridge. Best procedure now, to get them loaded at the proper depth, is to place the seating die in the proper position in your press. Turn the centre plunger well out, so the case can be pushed full in without touching. Now, VERY carefully, gently turn the centre screw down, until you feel it TOUCH the bullet. This will seat the bullet to touch the lands. Best procedure is to give the little screw about one quarter turn further in and lock it.
This should then seat the bullets just a bit away from the lands, allowing the cartridges to freely chamber.
Since you are starting out, one otheer thing. If you are using a bolt action rifle, do not crimp the bullet in the case.
Over crimping the bullets, or crimping bullets that were not designed to be crimped, is by far, the most common cause of reloaded cartridges not chambering in a rifle.
