REALLY Long Throats

[TScottW99]

Hey guys. Newbie question for you.

I used my Stoney Point O.A.L. last night for the first time on my T/C Encore .308Wichester. There will be no seating the bullet near the lands on this rifle. With a 165 grain SST the bullet would have to be crimped at the boat tail :roll: to be right off the lands.

I have only shot factory ammo up until now in this rifle and it's best groups are 7/8" at 100 yards with Hornady 150 grain SST. So I know it will shoot minute of deer with the really long throat. With Winchester 165 CT/BT it did not shoot nearly as well.

So on to the question.... Would you try loading the ammo at the recomended C.O.L. or seat the bullet a bit further out? I have some Nosler 150 grain solid bases on order and a box each of Hornady 150 grain and 165 grain SST's to try.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`d play with the COL.
There still will be a sweet spot even though it will be back off the lands. I talked to the Sierra Tech guys some years ago about the same problem with a 6.5x55 Swede and was told there are "nodes" at various distances from the leade and just because you couldn`t move toward the forward node there was likely a node a bit farther back that would work. I ended up finding the rifle shot best at a distance of ~0.1" from the lands.

 

[JD338]

I agree with Ol` Joe, try working with the COL to find the sweet spot.

JD338

 

[rick smith]

There is no magic being close to the lands. Magazine box length controls seating depth in many rounds as does a long throat. Loading concentric ammo is more important. Starting the bullet straight is more helpful to accuracy.Rick.

 

[C.Smith]

Rick,

How do you start your bullets to make sure that they are straight? I just read an article on this the other night and never thought about it until now.


Corey

 

[rick smith]

Concentricity starts with all parts of the loading system; dies, lock ring, press, shell holder, etc. We can't change what we get from the factory but having everythig set up as best we can will reduce the problems. I run a few cases on a concentricity gauge to get an idea of what to expect from the lot. If they are not concentric, I determine if the cause is due to uneven neck thickness or if the case is just a little off. Neck size in a bushing die, check concentricity. Seat the bullet with a competition seater and check again. Fire the round and check for concentricity of the fired case. If I am shooting boattails, I just set the bullet on the case mouth and seat. For flat based bullets, I hold the bullet long enough for the die to take over. The die, press, etc. is going to determine how straight the bullet is seated. That is way I check after each step. Try to find a problem before it gets past the first step. Only have to go through the steps one time to get everything set correctly. I spot check loaded rounds for concentricity. If you are having concentricity problems, each step has to be examined to determine the cause and make corrections. My hunting ammo shoots quite well if I keep the concentricity at 0.003 or below. I use a Forster Bonanza Co-Ax press and that really has helped.
Long answer for such an easy question but it is not just one thing, it is the whole process. How this helps.Rick.

 

[C.Smith]

Thanks Rick that does help. I have lots to think on now.

Corey

 

[TScottW99]

Thanks Rick, very helpful post.

Loaded up some rounds last night, too bad I have to work today. Will have to wait until Wednesday to check these out.