Bullet Seating? OAL ?

[ArmyCW]

Specifications for 30-06 OAL is 3.340. I've been seating my Hornady 150 BTSP
at 3.230 +or- ( see last posts on range reports). I have tried several powders,
IMR 4064, IMR 4350 and H350 with the 150 bullets Hornady and Nosler which yield groups from 5/8" to 2". Now that said, where do I start with bullets in relation to the lands? I've read several theory's but not tried this too many times.
Do I start .010 off of the lands? Or is safer to move bullet from my current OAL
of 3.230 to 3.255 then 3.280 etc, etc. Is .025 too small a move/ too big?
What is you'all's experience in this?

 

[YoteSmoker]

Start .010 off the lands then move in .005 then touching if jamming go .001 at a time in or if jumping go .020. Your initial tests will let you know if you need to go in or out in short order. Many times I find .010 off the lands is where ya wanna be.

I have a good shooting load in one of my 06 using the 150 BTSP Interlock bullet. This load is at book max but shoots 1/2" in the Browning BBR.

52.0 IMR4064, R-P Brass, WLR, 3.230"

 

[old #7]

0.010 off the lands is a great starting point if your mag box will allow it.
Try a 165gr ballistic tip with H4831sc or RL-19 and a fed 210 loaded .010 of the lands.

 

[RiverRider]

I have neither proved or disproved it, but a fellow in another forum once opined that the best place to start is one tenth of a caliber off the lands. In other words, .030" for a .30-06 or .308, .022" for a .223, so on and so forth. I personally think it's an okay way to start out your search for seating depth nirvana, but it's no better than just arbitrarily picking a place to start.

 

[DrMike]

Pick a distance off the lands and stick with it for a starting point. It simplifies matters. All this is out the window, however, if the magazine is the limiting factor.

 

[ArmyCW]

0.010 off the lands is a great starting point if your mag box will allow it.
Try a 165gr ballistic tip with H4831sc or RL-19 and a fed 210 loaded .010 of the lands.

Thanks for your view point on starting points off the lands, seem like just about everyone has a difference of opinion on this. From my research this is usually the last thing on the list, since I should have the bullet, powder and charge weight already narrowed down to one that is producing good results. I have shot several powders, bullets etc and fond that on more than one occasion I can get sub MOA ( read 5/8 to 1") with IMR 4064 --49.5 to 49.8 with 150 grain Hornady BTSP and SST bullets, I don't understand why the Nosler AB or BT has done the same so far. The only two items I have done is OAL experiments and checking bullet case neck concentricity with a gage. This is my next two points.
Haven't done this consistenly yet, from this consistently I think out of 20 rounds at least 15 should be inside 1" at 100 yds.

"Try a 165gr ballistic tip with H4831sc or RL-19 and a fed 210 loaded .010 of the lands." OLD #7! What data do you base this recommendation on? From Nosler #6 Reloading guide IMR 4350 has the best data for accuracy, with 57 gr at 2832 fps velocity. Too date I havn't tried 156 gr bullets in Noslers. best groups have been with Horn 165 BTSP and IMR4350 48 grs.

I do appreciate all the help and advice. I think many of you here have done alot more loading for accuracy than I. My approach is a very scientific one, I'll try 4 bullets in the 150 weight with at least 4 powders starting at load data recommended up to max, which I've done so far.
to data the H4350 and H414 powders have not procduces a good bullet goup from which to start something else, ie OAL and concentricty checks.
IMR 4064 and IMR 4350 seem to produce the best accuracy and rifle dynamics.

My next step is to vary OAL with the 150's, IMR 4064 and 49.5 to 49.8 grains to see if I can re produce some sub MOA's I had before.
This is a process, Am I correct?