General bullet seating question

[TargetTerror]

Is there a specific depth I need to seat bullets to? This is a general question, so I am curious for revolver, autoloader, and rifle cartridges (if there is any difference).

I know that I obviously need to seat the bullet so that the entire round is less the max total spec for that particular round. I also realize that different bullet depths will affect internal pressure. Do different loads call for different seating depths, or do you just seat to approximately the overall cartridge length?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Almost all loading manuals will give you the over all length used for the bullet the data is for. Follow what's in the manual and you won't go wrong in most cases.

Since you're asking this question, I'm assuming you're just starting out. If so, get several loading manuals and read them. They all have introductions explaining the different terms and steps in reloading.

To just generally answer your question, yes, different loads will have different over all lengths. For revolvers, the length of the cylinder will sometimes dictate the maximum length of the loaded round. In semi-auto pistols, the magazine will often dictate the maximum length, as will the throat of the chamber. The same is true of rifles.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Steve C]

Is there a specific depth I need to seat bullets to?

There is genrally a “range” for your OAL rather than a specific OAL. Most all manuals will list the maximum SAAMI OAL. This is the maximum over all length for factory ammo and it should work in a variety of guns but may not work in all due to shorter magazine or chamber dimensions.

The OAL of your ammo may have to be adjusted to feed reliably in your semi auto’s.

For revolvers the OAL must be short enough so the bullet isn’t sticking out the end of the cylinder face. Since bullets loaded in ammo destined for a revolver usually has a crimping groove or cannelure its best to crimp at these locations and let the OAL fall where it may as long as it doesn’t stick out beyond the face of your revolvers cylinder.