New to Reloading, Bullet seating depth

[Gerry815]

I'm new to reloading and don't know any 1 that reloads any help will be appreiciated

My question is in the reloading manuals it give a max over all cartridge length when I measured a factory load it is smaller than this number. Is it safe for the over all cartridge length to fall in between a factory load length and max cartridge length from manual or is the max cartridge length the goal for the end product. I have trimmed the cases so I believe this is adjusted through the bullet seating

Thanks in advance

 

[1Shot]

The COAL given in the loading manuals are what they used when working up the load they tested. This COAL should work in all rifles of that caliber through the magazines and chambers but many times is not the most accurate seating depth. As for the COAL for your loads you can set it were you want it. The best way to find your COAL is to take a case and full length size it and then cut a line from the mouth down to where the neck meets the shoulder on one side. Clean up the burrs and before each use FL size it. Just start the bullet in the case by hand enough for it to hold. Place this case into your rifle and close the bolt. Ease the case out and measure the COAL. The bullet will be pushed back into the case when it hits the lands of the rifling. This is your to the lands measurement. I would suggest that you seat the bullet 10 thousands deeper which will be 10 thousands off the lands if the length will work through your magazine. If it is too long to work through the magazine the seat the bullet deep enough so it will work and work up your powder charge to find your best accuracy with your powder by changing the amount. Then you can play with your COAL by seating the bullet deeper by 10 thousands at a time to see if accuracy improves. You will find a measurement node where the bullet likes to be to give you the best accuracy this way. Once you find this node you can play with the COAL either way by 5 thousands to see what happens. You can remove the bullet in the split case with your fingers and load it up and use it. Do this for every different make/style bullet you want to use because they don't have the same ogive where it will hit the lands.

 

[Guest]

The general rule of thumb is that you can go as long as your rifle chamber or magazine will allow (whichever is shorter) and you can go shorter up to a point. With each, as you approach the extremes, you run the risk of increasing pressure dramatically, like if the bullet is touching the lands when chambered, or if you shorten it up such that you take up a relatively large percentage of case volume with the base of the bullet protruding into the powder space in the case.

Generally, the COL for rifle rounds is a "guideline."

Don't make the mistake of thinking the same applies to pistol and revolver rounds. In these cases, where the bullet may take up a very large relative amount of powder space within the case, the COL listed in the load manual should be considered a minimum, and your magazine length and proper feeding should be used to gauge the max length.