Bullet Seating Advice

[Morrey]

To get my bullet seated to a good depth and back it off the lands just slightly, will this work........???

Use a once fired brass case which will have the neck expanded from firing. Take a small punch and lightly tap a shallow indention in each side of the neck (two indentions 180 degrees opposite) so there is a slight amount of resistance on the bullet to be seated. Start bullet in case neck and let the lands seat the bullet as I close the bolt carefully. This will show me where the bullet rests directly on the lands.

Measure that COAL, then seat the bullet slightly deeper so it is off the lands slightly. I am loading a new bullet (Hornady ELD-X) with a very different ogive and long profile. I don't have COAL info on this bullet, so I need to see how it will fit in my 30-06 chamber by trial and error.

Is this a workable approach w/o any load data or COAL available?

 

[Toprudder]

If you size the case, you reduce the neck ID to several thousandths smaller than the diameter of the bullet. When you expand the neck, you are enlarging the neck ID to about 0.002" less than the bullet diameter, so it will still have neck tension.

To do what you want, I would try a fire-formed case first, and try the dimple idea if the bullet is way loose.

Here is what I do with my pistol loads to determine the max COL:

 

[W.E.G.]

That should work to find out where the bullet meets the rifling.

Are you sure you want the bullet seated out that far?

 

[W.E.G.]

Quickload says add 7200 PSI to your pressure numbers if you jam the rifling.

 

[Morrey]

Hornady ELD-X 178 grain hunting bullet (NEW)

WEG this bullet has a very long profile so I honestly think the tip will overhang the magazine extended that far. My thinking is that I have a Hornady bullet that not even Hornady can give me load data on. I called them and they said try some ridiculous low FPS like 2,000 fps in 30-06 with this 178 grain ELD-X. So I'm checking my Sierra manual with their 180 grain BT bullet and working up from there.

This max COAL is for my own reference, so I'll see what my gun will tolerate with this bullet's seating depth. From that point as a max COAL for my gun, I can seat the bullet deeper to fit my magazine.

But, no, I doubt I'll load with that long of a COAL as you made a good point.

 

[Newtosavage]

This is what I do, only I don't dimple the case. If I need a little more neck tension, I just grab a regular pair of pliers and pinch the neck ever so slightly. Then the case can be reused if you want.

 

[Morrey]

This is what I do, only I don't dimple the case. If I need a little more neck tension, I just grab a regular pair of pliers and pinch the neck ever so slightly. Then the case can be reused if you want.

Good advice! Thanks!!

 

[wjwlawz]

I am trying to find the correct seating depth for a new bullet. I created a dummy round (no primer or powder). As I reduce the OAL, the bolt now closes without force and appears to be functioning fine. However, the bullet shows marks circling the ogive which I believe to be the lands from the rifling. Should I reduce the OAL until all marks from the rifling are gone ?? or is it sufficient simply to have the bolt close without force. [These cases were fully sized]

 

[Morrey]

I am trying to find the correct seating depth for a new bullet. I created a dummy round (no primer or powder). As I reduce the OAL, the bolt now closes without force and appears to be functioning fine. However, the bullet shows marks circling the ogive which I believe to be the lands from the rifling. Should I reduce the OAL until all marks from the rifling are gone ?? or is it sufficient simply to have the bolt close without force. [These cases were fully sized]

I just did this over the weekend so the topic is fresh on my mind. I loaded some new Hornady ELD-X bullets (30-06) which have a very long profile.
I took pliers (as was said by Newtosavage) and barely pinched in the neck of a once
fired case to give some resistance. I slowly closed the bolt on a bullet that I had blacked with a Sharpie. The lands seated the bullet for me and I can see where the lands contacted the ogive and rubbed the black off.

I measured the COAL and seated the bullet about .0015 deeper than would sit directly on the lands. I am not one to seat on the lands (some may be...not me) due to higher pressure build up of bullets loaded this way.

My last step during load work up is to vary this seating +/- .0005 each way and watch my accuracy groupings. This is my final work up variable following powder selection and load charges my gun like best.

 

[Morrey]

I am trying to find the correct seating depth for a new bullet. I created a dummy round (no primer or powder). As I reduce the OAL, the bolt now closes without force and appears to be functioning fine. However, the bullet shows marks circling the ogive which I believe to be the lands from the rifling. Should I reduce the OAL until all marks from the rifling are gone ?? or is it sufficient simply to have the bolt close without force. [These cases were fully sized]

Excellent thinking to never experiment with loads with primed or charged rounds. I have a selection of dummy bullets (no primer/no powder) with one of each bullet I use for quick reference. When I am shifting various bullets within a seating die like .308, I simply adjust the seating die to touch the dummy bullet, and I'm ready to roll. Always double check a few loaded rounds with calipers to make sure you are where you need to be with your COAL.

 

[GLOOB]

Should I reduce the OAL until all marks from the rifling are gone ?? or is it sufficient simply to have the bolt close without force. [These cases were fully sized]

I would back off until all marks are gone, AND THEN back off a smidge more. If you simply back off until the marks are gone, you can not know you are not jamming the rifling unless you look at every single round you make.