Seating depth - does it even matter?

[Packmansion]

Yes it matters. Biggest difference I’ve seen personally is kissing the lands vs not.

While not backed by any real data just general observations. I do agree with this. When im kissing the lands my groups have been tighter. I would argue for practical real world hunting the difference is not enough to matter. Sub moa is more than enough.

 

[huntnful]

Yes it matters. Biggest difference I’ve seen personally is kissing the lands vs not.

More erratic behavior when just touching the lands?

 

[solarshooter]

While not backed by any real data just general observations

Now you're just trolling me...

 

[khuber84]

More erratic behavior when just touching the lands?

Kissing or just touching is a relationship that changes very quickly. Throats move, that's a fact we all can agree on. Load 100 rounds at "just touching lands" and but he time that 100 rds is through the gun, that base to ogive can now be up to 9-12 thou off lands(extreme case scenario, as 28Nos)

 

[huntnful]

Kissing or just touching is a relationship that changes very quickly. Throats move, that's a fact we all can agree on. Load 100 rounds at "just touching lands" and but he time that 100 rds is through the gun, that base to ogive can now be up to 9-12 thou off lands(extreme case scenario, as 28Nos)

Yeah that’s why I don’t load into the lands anymore. Even though it normally shoots lights out. I’d see quick velocity drop as soon as I shot the lands out a little bit and some erratic dispersion. Much more simple to just stay out of them. Like in my little test. Held nearly the same velocity with a .200 jump difference.

 

[solarshooter]

Yeah that’s why I don’t load into the lands anymore. Even though it normally shoots lights out. I’d see quick velocity drop as soon as I shot the lands out a little bit and some erratic dispersion. Much more simple to just stay out of them. Like in my little test. Held nearly the same velocity with a .200 jump difference.

Also, once you've gone to extract a round and the bullet has stuck in the lands and you dump powder all over the inside of your action and trigger, you'll think twice about loading close to the lands haha.

 

[huntnful]

Also, once you've gone to extract a round and the bullet has stuck in the lands and you dump powder all over the inside of your action and trigger, you'll think twice about loading close to the lands haha.

I absolutely know it’s happened to people exactly as you described.

I’ve taken a chambered barrel off on its own, not attached to the action, so you can actually measure this stuff. Loaded a bullet really long, and shoved it by hand .080 into the lands. Pried it out with a screw driver and had no change in BTO measurements. And that’s only with .0015 neck tension.

So once I tested that a couple times I wasn’t really scared much of sticking a bullet. Considering I would only jam like .010-.015.

But I’ve seen it happen to someone else in person. Powder everywhere. Bullet stuck in barrel and have to knock it out with a cleaning rod lol.

Not sure how his ammo was loaded exactly. But yeah, it was a mess and pretty avoidable by just jumping the little bastards lol.

 

[justin davis]

Yes it matters. Biggest difference I’ve seen personally is kissing the lands vs not.

Yea interesting. I’ve actually seen some of my best groups and shooting to be around .040-.050 off the lands.