Starting to get frustrated with seating depth

[bigjake722003]

I am pretty new to reloading and I am having a big problem getting my .223 seating depth correct. I bought a new savage 10 and while trying to get my bullet seating correct I have run into this problem. My savage action is very rough and when I seat a bullet too long and begin the process of working my way back to get the seating just off the lans I cannot tell when I have no resistance because of how rough and clunky the action is. Are there any other simple ways of seating off the lans keeping in mind how rough my action is.

 

[MtnCreek]

Try using a fired brass. Slightly crimp the neck so that it will just hold the projectile. Use a black sharpie to color the projectile. Insert into chamber and close bolt. Then remove the inert bullet. The case neck will remove the color from the projectile to the point where it seated to it's deepest point.

 

[PT1911]

why is your action so rough? that would be my first question...

That said (and I am far from a veteran reloader... pretty well an infant as well!) it seems that if i could not find the optimum depth for my gun i'd seat (not load) to a middle of the road length and check fit... perhaps mark the seating depth with a sharpie to check for setback.... repeat until you get a bit of setback, then back off a hair...

Passes the BS test in my head, but there are much more experienced loaders here that will come correct me if i am mistaken in my logic this morning.

AND THAT is why i do not do quickdraw!!! Thnks Mtncreek, ONE stinking minute!

 

[cheygriz]

For normal loading, use the seating depth in the reloading manual as a starting point.

 

[ArtP]

There's all sorts of creative ways to measure how close/far your rifling is on your rifle. The question becomes how accurate do you want the measurement to be and how many gadgets do you want to buy? Some creative methods could leave you susceptible to the bullet moving in the empty case upon extraction, throwing off your measurement.

For about $50 Hornady makes a tool tool to measure just that:

http://www.hornady.com/store/OAL-Gauges/

 

[Damon555]

What makes you think you need to seat the bullet into (or near) the lands? Have you tried just loading to the COL that the manual lists for that bullet?

For a new reloader I would suggest just starting out with what the manual says. I'd be willing to bet that you won't notice a huge change in accuracy based on seating depth with a factory rifle.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree.

Some of the most accurate match & varmint ammo in the world is loaded to a standard length.
The manufactures don't have a clue what rifle it will be shot in.

But you can take it to the bank it is going to be very accurate ammo.

Plus, a lot of todays lawyered up rifles have so much free-bore to reduce pressure the bullet would fall out of the case before you could seat to the rifling!

rc

 

[highlander 5]

I've always the magazine as a case guide at least in the one bolt gun I have a rebarreled Ruger M77 MK II and it shoots better than I can see. My other 223s are ARs.

 

[Walkalong]

I agree.

Some of the most accurate match & varmint ammo in the world is loaded to a standard length.
The manufactures don't have a clue what rifle it will be shot in.

But you can take it to the bank it is going to be very accurate ammo.

Yep. Load it to fit the mag and I'll bet it shoots great with bullets it likes.

 

[rfwobbly]

+1

Concentrate on proper case mouth internal chamfer so that the bullet seats straight without being scratched up by burrs left over from trimming.

 

[918v]

Try not seating off the "lans". Seat to mag length, enjoy the half-minute accuracy, and forget the frustration. Factory rifles are long throated and are not intended for chasing the "lans." If you really want to chase "lans", set the barrel back and rechamber with an appropriate reamer.