I have not played around with OAL because of saftey concerns. Some older gentlemen told me they used to seat bullets long, load them, and close the bolt. By doing this The bullet is forced into the case, and can be measured for max length of the chamber. THen OAL gauges came into the picture, but basically do the same thing. Is there any danger with seating the bullet too long? obviously if it is too long the bolt wont close. But is there any danger related to having the bullet seated too close to the lands?
Over all length saftey
- Thread starter mrdayle
- Start date
I set my OAl exactly as you describe, except I size a case just enough so it just grips a bullet and close the bolt 5 times and take the lowest #, set there and start with my charge weight incraments. Pressure will be higher than @ Sammi min spec but if you start low and work up you'll be fine. If I don't want a single shot I load to max mag length like I do with my hunting rifles.
I see what you did there.
In the days of single shot Schuetzen rifles and cast bullets a false chamber was inserted into the riles chamber and the lead bullet was pushed into the rifling. (fully engaging the rifling)
The false chamber was removed and a case charged with powder and sealed with a paper wad was chambered and the rifle was then fired.
One method of fire forming cases is to seat the bullet long and "jam" the bullet into the rifling. This holds the case against the bolt face and keeps the case from stretching when fired.
I fire form many cases by jamming them into the rifling without any ill effects. With any reload it is best to make a workup load and watch for signs of excess pressure and also watching when changing seating depth.
If you go to Accurate Shooter or Benchrest Central reloading forums you will see them saying something like ".020 off the lands" or ".010 into the lands or jam."
Read below to get the "short" even longer answer.
Into the lands?
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/into-the-lands.1651895/
Effects of Seating Depth / COAL on Pressure and Velocity.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/COAL.pdf
The false chamber was removed and a case charged with powder and sealed with a paper wad was chambered and the rifle was then fired.
One method of fire forming cases is to seat the bullet long and "jam" the bullet into the rifling. This holds the case against the bolt face and keeps the case from stretching when fired.
I fire form many cases by jamming them into the rifling without any ill effects. With any reload it is best to make a workup load and watch for signs of excess pressure and also watching when changing seating depth.
If you go to Accurate Shooter or Benchrest Central reloading forums you will see them saying something like ".020 off the lands" or ".010 into the lands or jam."
Read below to get the "short" even longer answer.
Into the lands?
http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/into-the-lands.1651895/
Effects of Seating Depth / COAL on Pressure and Velocity.
http://www.bergerbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/COAL.pdf
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You asked more than one question, here we go.
Danger seating close the short answer is no.
Danger seating long......................maybe.
You have to set up the example, are you talking about developing a load and then one fine day you decide to seat the bullet 1/8" into
the rifling....well good luck to you if you think that load will behave like the ones before !
I have popped primers from making that mistake and that was not with a maximum load.
At some point you will have to put some order to your hand loading technique and start doing things methodically.
The closer you seat the bullet to the rifling the higher will be your pressures.t have a problem. Use a consistent OAL while developing your load and you will not have a problem.
bb
Danger seating close the short answer is no.
Danger seating long......................maybe.
You have to set up the example, are you talking about developing a load and then one fine day you decide to seat the bullet 1/8" into
the rifling....well good luck to you if you think that load will behave like the ones before !
I have popped primers from making that mistake and that was not with a maximum load.
At some point you will have to put some order to your hand loading technique and start doing things methodically.
The closer you seat the bullet to the rifling the higher will be your pressures.t have a problem. Use a consistent OAL while developing your load and you will not have a problem.
bb
The computer programs that predict chamber pressure indicate that seating at or into the lands does increase pressure a small amount. For that reason you should determine early in your load development, when you are using less than maximum loads, what seating depth works best for your gun and bullet. If it is in the lands then work the load up that way and watch for pressure signs.
The other side issues are that a bullet seated this long, may not fit in your magazine. And if there is a risk that when you seat with a jam into the lands and then attempt to withdraw a loaded round the bullet will stay in the barrel and dump powder everywhere in your action. Your hunt, or range visit may be over at that point. You have to clean the gun and obviously get that bullet out of the barrel.
YES! And if there is any oil in the action, the little pieces of powder will take the rifle out of action and maybe screw up the trigger, too.
In the shop, the easy fix is to take the rifle out of the stock and wash it clean with something like brake cleaner. Then lube it and put back together.
If you are in the field, or in the middle of a shooting match and just HAVE to get the gun back into action, here is what I have done. Shake a can of Coke. Punch a small hole in it with a knife. Use the spray to wash the action clean. Then use a bottle of drinking water to wash the Coke out of the gun. Shake loose water off and carry on.
The first time I had to do this was on a hunting trip. I did not have a bottle of water, so I pissed in it.
Since then I learned a trick. When opening a bolt on a rifle that might leave the bullet stuck in the barrel, I hold the rifle vertical, and stick my finger in the action as soon as the bolt opens an inch, to hold the case. Then I take the case out without spilling any powder.
So I've heard of game smelling a hunter but never a rifle, did you get anything on that hunting trip or were you skunked.
