Yet another seating depth question

bdbrown66 · Jun 13, 2016

Hello, all. I've been working on some loads for my AR-15. Worked up a ladder using H335 powder and Sierra BlitzKing 55gr bullets. Found a pretty good sweet spot, just a little below max load.

After doing this ladder test, I discovered that I had seated the bullets deeper than what the load specs called for. Instead of a COL of 2.25", I seated them at 2.225".

My question is, should I use the load that I found on the previous ladder test, only with the COL at the correct 2.25", or should I leave it at 2.225"? Or, do I need to work up another ladder test, using the longer 2.25" COL?

Thanks in advance,
Brian

jimbires · Jun 13, 2016

Brian , if it shoots well , and feeds well , use it . the book COAL is only a sammi spec to be sure the ammo will fit any chamber . your rifle could like longer or shorter than this .

DrMike · Jun 13, 2016

jimbires":egy7jlsj said:
Brian , if it shoots well , and feeds well , use it . the book COAL is only a sammi spec to be sure the ammo will fit any chamber . your rifle could like longer or shorter than this .

This!

steve4102 · Jun 14, 2016

The listed OAL in manuals can and should be ignored.

Find and use the best OAL for your firearm and your choice of bullet.

My Nosler manuals don't even list tested OAL, it is that unimportant to the handloader.

kraky1 · Jun 15, 2016

I have a 300 WBY ultralight that drove me crazy for many years. All my other weatherby's shot great by having the bullets hung out to magazine length. I tried almost every decent bullet and powder combination at that length and could get nothing to shoot better than 2 Moa.... groups at 200 yards were like 6 inches.
Finally after a couple of years of on-and-off tinkering and almost wearing my Barrel out.... I decided to go really deep on the seating.... like the ogive was barely out of the case mouth.....Shazam. .... my splatter Matic went under a moa with a number of bullets and powders. It's hard to admit being a doofus and so set in my ways.... but I sure learned a lesson ....I've never seen another gun change that much.... but with a thin 26-inch barrel and muzzle brake to boot I guess that thing could get whipping pretty good.... I just needed to get the right vibration on the node.