Seating depth - does it even matter?

[Packmansion]

"I’ve yet to see any respected expert who is familiar with statistics claim that a 3-shot group is adequate to quantify a rifle’s precision. In fact, after rigorous statistical analysis, Ballistipedia.com says, “If you’re shooting 3-shot groups … then you are wasting bullets.” While many keyboard snipers love to cite how tiny their 3-shot groups are, they often fail to mention that their groups impacted at different spots on the target. The exact center of each bughole shifts around a bit relative to the point of aim. Again, let’s refer to MacDonald’s illustration below and we can see that the 5-shot groups on the left are each smaller than the composite group in the overlay, but we can also notice that the center of each of the 5-shot groups’ shifts around slightly."

Great article on testing:

Precision & Group Size – Statistics for Shooters Part 3

This article is going to dive into the most effective ways to quantify the precision of a rifle and...

precisionrifleblog.com

 

[Castle Rock]

I'm not watching a 1 hour interpretive dance about reloading. Id recommend you watch the Hornady video on this. It’s based on a study with a substantial body of data from their engineers.

Hornady is absolutely correct that seating depth isn’t as critical with their bullets because their quality control is so shitty that it doesn’t matter.
On the other hand, it will be a revelation when you use some Berger bullets in a custom barrel, their consistency will show you exactly what’s going on

 

[Packmansion]

Hornady is absolutely correct that seating depth isn’t as critical with their bullets because their quality control is so shitty that it doesn’t matter.
On the other hand, it will be a revelation when you use some Berger bullets in a custom barrel, their consistency will show you exactly what’s going on

Are we still talking 3 shot groups?

 

[Wrench]

Hornady is absolutely correct that seating depth isn’t as critical with their bullets because their quality control is so shitty that it doesn’t matter.
On the other hand, it will be a revelation when you use some Berger bullets in a custom barrel, their consistency will show you exactly what’s going on

Let's not forget hornady is asking you to use a lot of their product to prove you're super average.

 

[Packmansion]

Let's not forget hornady is asking you to use a lot of their product to prove you're super average.

Thats not what they are saying.

 

[Castle Rock]

Are we still talking 3 shot groups?

If you have read anything I have posted on here you would understand that that is not the way I roll

 

[Castle Rock]

Let's not forget hornady is asking you to use a lot of their product to prove you're super average.

Let's not forget hornady is asking you to use a lot of their product to prove THEY are super average.

 

[Packmansion]

If you have read anything I have posted on here you would understand that that is not the way I roll

So then you agree with Hornady!

 

[Packmansion]

This was a great watch for sure. Some interesting numbers! Take away from it what you wish

My takeaways:

1. This is a 20lb+ straight shank barreled F class rifle with a smaller cartridge, shot by a shooter with a wall of medals. If I think my 10lb magnum rifle will shoot the same, I'm wrong. And if I think I will see the minute differences that he is seeing, I'm wrong as well probably.

2. Average 5 shot groups of .41-.46". The "best" 5 shot group seating depth shot from a .25" group to a .63" group.

3. Once groups were taken to a sample of 33 shots, the WORST small sample size depth, actually became the best, most stable load.

4. From "worst" to "best", the variation is about 10%. I put those in quotations because you can switch sample sizes around and also vary which one is the worst or the best.

5. After 100 rounds of seating depth testing, he almost came to an inconclusive result.



Interesting test for sure. Also why I quit messing with seating depth so much. It'd take me 500 freaking rounds to legitimately prove a 10% change in group size with a magnum rifle. And taking a group from a .7 to a .6 isn't going to kill me any extra animals until you get a LONG ways out.

 

[Castle Rock]

So then you agree with Hornady!

You just don’t get it, I agreed with them in the previous post you quoted