Cannelured Bullets

[BigN]

I've been using either cast lead or jacketed bullets with cannelure for handguns and using the cannelure as a measurement for OAL. Is the concept the same for rifle bullets with cannelure? Seems like if you use the cannelure for rifle bullets, you're limited as to any change in OAL you'd like to make. Anyone have experience is using the cannelure in rifled bullets? Any problems with accuracy using this as OAL?

 

[cfullgraf]

You do not have to seat rifle bullets to the cannelure.

I do not crimp any of my rifle rounds, 30-06 being the largest. But, I don't load any shoulder busters or for tubular magazine rifles either where a crimp might be desirable.

If the cannelure is visible, the cartridge looks a bit unusual, but they will perform just fine. I use Hornady's 30 caliber, 150 grain FMJ in my 30-06 Garand loads and seat the bullet where the cannelure shows in front of the case mouth.

 

[popper]

cannelure is NOT a good OAL indicator. If you roll-crimp JB, you have to be somewhere in the groove. I use the lightest roll-crimp in 30-30 and 308ME. No problems so far.

 

[gamestalker]

I just bought a box of Hornady #2525 for the 7mm RM yesterday and they have a canelure. But this isn't as a seating refrence on high powered rifle bullets, they don't need crimping, nor do I recomend crimping, and should be seated to what functions best in your rifle. I seat mine to barely off the lands and it really sems to improve consistency on paper by reducing bullet jump, which in turn reduces harmonic distortion. The only real rule here is don't seat below recomended OAL and make sure anything above that will fit your magazine and isn't jammed into the lands.

 

[steve4102]

The only real rule here is don't seat below recomended OAL

Why?

 

[Steve in PA]

Shorter OAL means greater pressure.

 

[steve4102]

I thought may be the reason. Cept, shorter OAL in most instances reduces pressure in a bottle necked rifle round. The closer to the lands, the higher the pressure.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5474598/1

http://www.barnesbullets.com/resources/newsletters/september-2007-barnes-bullet-n/

Post #16 shows it pretty well.

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=461221

 

[Josh45]

If it helps any...

I reload for my fathers 30-30. I have seated bullets to 2.540 and crimped with FCD. Shot just fine. Then, Decided to seat in cannelure and crimp again with the FCD. Again, Shot just fine.

Accuracy did seem better when seated to cannelure tho....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

shorter OAL in most instances reduces pressure in a bottle necked rifle round. The closer to the lands, the higher the pressure.

I can't agree with that statement, actually it's the direct opposite. The shorter the OAL the deeper the bullet is seated in the case which increases pressure in that cartridge because of the reduction of available case volume. Also, being close to the lands usually does not increase pressure. Jamming the bullet into the lands will increase pressure but just being close does not.

 

[steve4102]

Follow the links posted above. Handloader Mag, Barnes bullets and the U of Michigans pressure tested data say otherwise.