Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Cartridge Length Troubles

next time you are loading, seat the bullet, then instead of pulling out the cartridge, turn it 1/2 turn and run the press again.

no clue why it works, but so far seems to work for me to get a more consistent seating depth


also what are you loading for? someone might have a good recipe for you to try

If you are new to reloading, you have bigger things to worry about.

Let us know how your rifle groups (that's what really matters), and if you encounter issues we will be here to help.

With my intial loads of 7 different powder charges best I got was 2 inches. It is a 300 wsm. Thanks

2". I assume that's at 100 yards.

Lets start at the beginning. Is your barrel free floated?

Yes and yes it's a winchester that came with the bell and carlson stock and I had a smith put a shilen barrel on it.

If factory POS Barnes shoot sub MOA and your handloads aren't better, it has nothing to do with seating depth.

It's your load

So would it be better to change powder bullet or both?

What powder? On a hunting load, I would not be seating the bullet into the lands. Whatever you try, do it one step at a time.

This is some funny stuff

And what's so funny

What cartridge and load particulars?

With your comparator, measure a batch of nekkid bullets and see what the ogive variance is if any. Are the bullets from the same lot?

Hiw are you setting up your seating die?

Mick, what are the details of you load?
Case
primer
powder
bullet?

What else do you have on the shelf?

I am setting up my die as per the forester instructions. I did measure some bullets and only a coupe were .001 off.
For the load I am using win brass, win mag primers, Imr 4350, and 180gr accubonds. I also have 4831sc and bergers 190 gr.

Couple things.

Last two batches of Winchester short mag brass I bought significantly varied in length. I'd trim to just short of book to insure consistency.

Next, I'd save the 4350 for the lighter stuff and use the H4831 with the 180's.

I did last night load 3 round groups with the 4831 of 6 different powder charges. I plan on shooting those and a couple more groups of the 4350. I did measure a bunch of the brass and I'll have to look at the variances when I get home. I am hoping maybe once I get a lot of fire formed brass and only neck resize they will be more consistent.

trimming to length before fire forming does little good. Assuming that it's all under max. After you've fire formed the brass, trim them all to the shortest length.

Agreed. That's what I typically do as well. However the length inconsistent on my last last batch of Win brass was so bad it couldn't wait. Some of it was so long it wouldn't even chamber, so you can imagine how the varying chamber crimps would mess with neck tension.

My cases had a variance of .004. I plan on shooting today Have accubonds on top of both the powders so will see what happens. If the accubonds don't group what would you recommend? Should I look at going to 165 gr?

Well I just went shooting and I have some pictures of my groups but I can't get them to load up here, it says they are too large and I cropped them down as small as I can. Best i got was 1.5 inch groups. I probably had a under one inch group with the 4831 but pulled my third shot. So I plan on making more of that charge when I get back from work in couple weeks.