I have some thoughts about seating depth and tools that maybe someone with more knowhow can add to or steer me right. I have the Stoney Point comparator with dummy rounds for .223 and .300 wsm and also an RCBS "precision micrometer" for the .300. Almost all my experience is with the .223 since the .300 is a new gun for me and I've only reloaded a few rounds for it. First, I agree with the posts (here or maybe other forums) saying that the Stoney Point tool gives inconsistent readings when inserting the dummy cartridges. I can get what I think are significantly different measurements even with the exact same bullet no matter how careful I try to be, especially with the .223. Second, you'd think that when you've found, say, .02 off the lands for one bullet the cartride length to that point will be the same for any other bullet with the same type of ogive. That might not always true, however. For example, the Ballistic Silvertip 50 to the lands on my gun measures on average 1.963" and the Ballistic Silvertip 55 1.973". This type of discrepency might be a function of the measuring tool, bullet construction, or both, or other things. I don't know. Third, I don't think there really are hard and fast rules about how far off the lands is optimal for a given caliber, anyway. The concensus seems to be for a .22 caliber that about .02" off the lands is best. I have two favorite accuracy loads for my .223 (at 100 yds). One is the Silvertip 50 with 23.4 grains of xmr2015 at an oal of 2.232" (1.820" -1.823" by the comparator, or .14" or so off the lands), and the other is the Silvertip 55 with 27.5 grains of Varget at 1.952" on the compartor (or about .02" off the lands). As an aside, for some reason the Silvertips consistently outperform Sierra, Speer and A-Max 52s in my rifle. Anyhow, this is a huge "off the lands" difference. Of course, 40 grain bullets have no chance of even coming close to the lands but there are some very accurate loads for those, too. I've also read that some people think the same round can have two (or more?) seating depth "sweet spots" and I have no reason to think they can't. Overall, I'd say that there are so many variables that messing around with different powders, charges, bullet weights, etc is critical to coming up with an accuracy load and the "off the lands" issue is just one of several considerations. By the way, my .223 is a 700 vs which has had absolutely no problems (not to start this war again!)except for the heavy trigger, was accurate out of the box and has no mods except a Jewell trigger. I also put a Weaver v24 scope on it which has got to be one of the best bargains out there. The .300 is a model 70 ss which is a long-range "project" gun. I have an HS Precision stock for it and will eventually rebarrel it and also get a Jewell trigger.