Seating depth question?

[HeathSexton]

With my Savage 116 30/06 after bedding every group I have fired at an OAL of 3.325" + H4831 has been sub MOA and every group that I have fired under that depth is 1.5" plus, why? Even reducing by .005" the group opens way up, 59.0grs H4831 has been .7" or better @ 3.325" the same charge at 3.320" was 1.8". What makes one so touchy about seating depth? From my measurements 3.3255" is .005" off the lands, I have went as far down as .040" off and it groups very bad under .005" off.


Thoughts?

 

[JD338]

You are going to have to find the sweet spot for your rifle. I ususally have good luck .015-.020" off the lands. My 338 RUM is loded to a COL that just clears the magazine box, there is a lot of free bore and I just don't worry about it. Mostly because it shoots sub .5 MOA. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[HeathSexton]

Thanks JD. That's the weird thing, I started at .010" off and it was bad. I shot 3 shot groups going down by .005" all the way down to .040" and they were all 1.5" or better. I thought, what the crap and went to .005" off and bam, great groups. I have just never saw one this picky.

I just thought it was odd that .010" off the lands was 1.8" and .005" off the lands has been under .7 for 3 groups and .9 with a different charge.

 

[JD338]

Heath,

I agree with you. Ya just got to find the sweet spot and than life is good.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Sore rifles are entirely more sensitive than others when it comes to many different variables.
Just the way it is. :|

 

[bullet]

Camber, throat and lands in combination certainly can combine to make for a finicky rifle in some cases while other rifles can shoot tight group with varying COAL's using the same load chain. :mrgreen:

 

[HeathSexton]

Bullet, I was reading about your 116 in .300 mag, my 116 30/06 is like your's in the fact that it likes to be clean, best groups are in the first 20 rounds with mine.

 

[bullet]

Bullet, I was reading about your 116 in .300 mag, my 116 30/06 is like your's in the fact that it likes to be clean, best groups are in the first 20 rounds with mine.

Mine is broke in pretty good now I can go 50 - 60 rounds now and still hold a tight group if shooting the same bullet and powder. Shooting one gets it to that point.

 

[HeathSexton]

Mine barely copper fouls at all, I mean just the slighted hint of blue on a patch, however it carbon fouls like a crazy man beast! I brushed it out the other day and it looked like it was puffing smoke, LOL, I actually started laughing it was so bad. Does your 300WM carbon up like that?