...Factory ammo is great for people less critical in their demands as it is a compromise for all chambers and vintages.
JW
Well that's wonderful, but what does it have to do with reloading and seating depth? There are those that would argue that factory ammunition is more reliable for people that are particularly critical in their demand for a properly functioning firearm, but that's another argument.
Good Point Steve,
Seating depth cannot be quoted or recommended for another rifle. My reference to factory ammo is that it is created as a compromise, which means seated deeply so it will chamber in any rifle so chambered and go bang at the appropriate time.
Seating depth has two functions:
1. To aid chambering by being seated with a lesser OAL that both the magazine and the distance to the lands to prevent binding the bullet into the lands when chambered and
2. Need to be altered to determine the sweet spot to maximize the accuracy potential of the cartridge in "a particular" rifle.
This is accomplished by observing the group shape. If the group is a large equilateral triangle, the bullet needs to be seated out in 1/4 turn increments until the group shinks.
If the group puts a couple together and the 3rd out of the group, the reverse it true, the bullet needs to be seated deeper in 1/4 turn increments until the bullet pulls into the group.
If you want accuracy, or at least, the ability to determine the accuracy potential of the barrel, the above step 2, needs to be followed. If accuracy is not a requirement, ( and that has been suggested elsewhere) then factory ammo dimensions or step 1 above will suffice.
JW