Seating near the lands (Ruger 77)

[Newtosavage]

...so far has gotten me nothing.

I've read over and over again about how bullets "kissing" the lands, or .010-020 off the lands, should result in increased accuracy. I also read about Ruger 77's chambered in 7x57 had very long throats and liked long bullets.

At least for me, neither of those has proven true.

The best groups I have gotten from both my 7x57 and my .280 (both stainless Mk II Hawkeyes) have been at "standard" OAL's, which amount to about 3.10" for the 7x57 and 3.35" for the .280. IOW - nowhere near the lands.

Yesterday I ran seating depth test on both rifles and the longer the OAL's got, the more the groups opened up. Am I doing something wrong?

I'm happy with the groups I'm getting at standard OAL's, but this does have me curious because of everything I've read.

 

[kingmt]

Touching the lands spikes the pressure & those were all over the target. I didn't shoot more then a couple & never tried to work out a load touching after that. About 20thous does well in my rifles after working up a load.

 

[Curator]

Seating to touch the lands is just one "trick" handloaders use to get accuracy. It may or might not work for your rifle/bullet combination. Seating to the lands insures that the bullet gets started straight and concentric to the bore. It also insures uniform 'start-pressure" where neck tension may vary with the brass cases being used. Some bullets shoot best this way, others, particularly hard, or "monolithic solids" like the all brass/bronze bullets, usually don't. If your rifle has a nice concentric to the bore chamber/throat it may show no advantage or even be detrimental. Don't believe everything you read, even in gun magazines or on the internet.

 

[Walkalong]

Am I doing something wrong?

No

 

[stringnut]

For hunting rifles .020 to .030 has worked well at least as a starting part. . Have had pretty good luck seating to same length as a factory load with a similar profile bullet. Only had one rifle that shot well when into the lands. My Ruger No 1 7x57 had a huge chamber and throat. 175 Hornady seated one caliber in case would still drop in the Chamber!

 

[Newtosavage]

Yea, I can't really seat a bullet less than 160 grains long enough to touch the lands in my 7x57, but lo and behold it shoots 120 Nosler BT's into tiny little groups at 3.00" OAL, so I'm not changing a thing (for deer at least).

Shot this 5-shot group yesterday with the .280, seated at the cannelure of the 154 Hornady Interlocks, over 53 grains of H4831. Not too shabby.

 

[Walkalong]

You definitely don't have a problem.

 

[Bart B.]

Yes, sometimes seating bullets to gently go into the lands will improve accuracy. Maybe 1/4 MOA.

Yes, pressure will be higher. Cut the charge weight.

Yes, the bullet will center in the bore. But only at that contact diameter of the bullet. It doesn't straighten up the bullet very much. It's easier to load straight ammo properly using full length sizing dies.

 

[Walkalong]

But only at that contact diameter of the bullet. It doesn't straighten up the bullet very much

Yes, if the brass is crooked, or is a sloppy fit to the chamber, it won't help much. The loaded round needs to be straight first and foremost. And then of course the chamber needs to be perfectly inline with the bore.

 

[Newtosavage]

Yes, sometimes seating bullets to gently go into the lands will improve accuracy. Maybe 1/4 MOA.

Yes, pressure will be higher. Cut the charge weight.

Yes, the bullet will center in the bore. But only at that contact diameter of the bullet. It doesn't straighten up the bullet very much. It's easier to load straight ammo properly using full length sizing dies.

Thanks. I am using FL dies now. I toyed with collet dies in my .308 and 7x57 but I am done with them now.