Just wondering something. A cartridge from a factory box of ammo is 3.296 inches in my 300 win mag tsx 180 grain bullet. When I try to seat the same bullet closer to the lands my max length goes to 3.59 inches. They still chamber fine. I am new to reloading and dont want to blow up anything. Is it okay to have the bullet seated out so far? 3 of the 4 groves around the midsection of the bullet are out of the case. I am concerned that this is too far out. Its a model 85 sako in stainless. Any help on this would be appriciated as I have tried to search on here but havnt come up with anything.
loading barnes tsx max overall length?
- Thread starter bigbore14
- Start date
stevesummit
CGN Regular
- Location
- spruce grove
the common rule of thumb is if you have at least one caliber width of the bullet seated you are fine
My OAL I loaded my 300 winny to with the same bullet was 3.480, way over the max overall length listed in manuals. The 300 winny was desinged to be made in a standard length action, 3.34 inches but many rifles are made on magnum actions which are 3.6 inches long.
I'm surprised they'll even fit in the Sako's mag - best accuracy in the 150 and 165 in my .300 was at an OAL of 3.340" and that doesn't leave much length clearance in the clip. Unless the 180's a really different shape than a 165, I'm on the lands at about 3.45. No way 3.590 would work in mine. The 165's wind up with the case mouth smack in the middle of the first relief groove in the bullet (closest to the bullet's nose). Makes them a piece of cake to crimp.
Some 300 win mag Sako's are built on the A111 action 3.34 inches long and some(most) are AV's at 3.600.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
I don't load my hunting rounds for ultimate accuracy, although I tweak my brass (uniforming primer pockets and flasholes, annealing, etc) because doing so makes me feel better, I full length resize without concern for maximum brass life. The point is to hit a large target with the first shot within the maximum range of my rifle and my ability under field conditions. It is more important to me to have the round cycle through the rifle without a hiccup than are concerns about accuracy that I cannot make use of in the field anyway. Incase I need a quick follow up shot, it is my habit to work the action as quickly as I can with the rifle at my shoulder, so I don't want tight chambering. The TSX provides a very nice crimping groove, so I make use of it and seating the bullet to this depth ensures that it will not hang up in the magazine. Having said that, I do not anticipate shots beyond 300 yards.
