Excessive seating depth with a twist

[chamokaneman]

I pasted this in from the Barnes website.

*In rifles that have long throats you may be limited on how close you are able to get the bullet to the lands. In these instances, it is not uncommon to find the best accuracy with a jump of .200” or more.

I don't think they intend for you to load shorter than the minimum length in whatever load data you use. I think what they're saying is that you may load to a length more than the minimum or very much longer in fact and STILL achieve great accuracy with a jump of .200 or more.

 

[Walkalong]

I don't think they intend for you to load shorter than the minimum length in whatever load data you use. I think what they're saying is that you may load to a length more than the minimum or very much longer in fact and STILL achieve great accuracy with a jump of .200 or more.

Agreed.

 

[243winxb]

the bullets are so deep into the case that there is a gap between the bullet and the case mouth. In other words, the beginning of the ogive is past the case mouth.

Why? Is the OAL to long for magazine or chamber? I avoid seating the ogive below the case mouth, because neck tension is reduced. More a issue with a 223 auto loader.

Pressure- i can change OAL without pressure issues with .020" adjustment at a time. But a bullet jammed into rifling may raise pressure. Should be avoided on hunting rifles.

 

[barnfrog]

In case anyone is interested....

I finally got around to shooting these rounds. I didn't see any pressure signs other than some minor primer flattening, and that was consistent at all seating depths so I think it may be more of a head space issue, or may be related to the fact that I tend to seat my primers relatively deeply.

I was disappointed that the groups didn't really tighten up at all in relation to previous seating depths I've tried with these bullets. The best group was at the longest COAL, so the question of seating them too deeply is rendered moot at this point. Even though this is a hunting round and I'm not likely to shoot beyond 250 yards, I'd like to get a bit more accuracy out of them. I'll probably try switching to IMR4350, which has worked quite well with some other bullets I've loaded for this gun.

Thanks again for all the input from everyone.

 

[barnfrog]

Also finally received a reply from Barnes today. As I expected, all they said was they don't recommend loading cartridges shorter than SAAMI minimum COAL. No reason why or what hazard might be created by doing so.

 

[FROGO207]

The problem might even be the bullet. The rifle might not like that particular type or brand. I have even found accuracy diffrences with shapes, boat tail or flat base has made a difference sometimes. Normally gettimg a different brand/weight bullet to try is easy. These days though........

 

[barnfrog]

The problem might even be the bullet. The rifle might not like that particular type or brand. I have even found accuracy diffrences with shapes, boat tail or flat base has made a difference sometimes. Normally gettimg a different brand/weight bullet to try is easy. These days though........

Oh, I've got plenty of others to try, but they're all jacketed. I wanted to try a non-lead bullet and the factory Barnes VOR-TX ammo performed quite admirably in this gun, but I haven't been able to replicate that performance yet.

Ironically enough, what got me into reloading was trying to save a few dinero by loading my own. If I'd have stuck with my basic Lee Loader I might have succeeded. Too late now, but I'm having fun with it. Hopefully becoming a better shooter, too.