How close to lands?

T

tractorman

Member
I am learning reloading and have been loading for my 243 win. I have been going by books for OAL but am wanting to start fine tuning my loads. How close do I need to be to the lands before I get pressure spiking? I believe my seating depth is around 2.779.
 
Each rifle is different. I load most at OAL. Just did some shooting for my ex brother in laws 270. We ended up at 58gr H4831 and factory OAL. .005 out further and the group opened to over an inch. Try a different primer, sometimes that's the ticket without having to seat long.
 
Well I am switching bullets. I have been shooting 70 gr NBT but I am going to try a 105 gr berger vld. Dont know if I am going to be able to stabilize it. It is in a 9 1/4 twist factory rem. I think it will be close. I need all the length I can get with the 105. The 70s are at 2.62.
 
You still never mentioned how close you are now??

Do you have a way to measure off the Ogive of the bullet?

Most hunting rounds you wanna try and stay around .020 off.

Berger has a little write up on their site about the VLDs.
 
Thanks dm found the article. Waiting on the bullets to get here. When I get everything together and do some measuring I will check back in. Bear with me please as I am still learning. I try to get as much info as I can before I try anything.
 
Originally Posted By: tractormanWell I am switching bullets. I have been shooting 70 gr NBT but I am going to try a 105 gr berger vld. Dont know if I am going to be able to stabilize it. It is in a 9 1/4 twist factory rem. I think it will be close. I need all the length I can get with the 105. The 70s are at 2.62.

Hey! Just a heads up... with those 105 VLD's Before you go to seat a bullet pull the seater plug out of your seating die and check to see if your seating plug will touch the side of the bullet or if the tip of the bullet bottoms out in the plug.

I bought some Berger 6mm 105 GR. VLD Target bullets and could not seat them as my seating plug was hitting on the very point of the bullet and deforming the tip. I only had done one when I seen the problem.

Don't know if the bullet you are switching to is the same shape or not.

DAB
 
Redding makes them also. I would just start them out seated to max magazine length or around 2.82" and see where you are at as far as lands are concerned.......
 
If you do not know what your length-to-lands of each type and wt. of bullet used make this little tool.
Go to accurateshooters.com right column find bulletins go the July 11, 2012 article: Tool Tip make your your own Length-to-Lands gauge might help you. Like said each rifle chamber is different, got to know what yours is then start from there on seating.
 
Originally Posted By: tractormanI am learning reloading and have been loading for my 243 win. I have been going by books for OAL but am wanting to start fine tuning my loads. How close do I need to be to the lands before I get pressure spiking? I believe my seating depth is around 2.779.

It is easier (and safer) to start on the lands, work up the loads, and then pull back if you don't like what you are getting.

Most rifles will group better on the lands.
 
Well I am going to try the method listed above, had never thought of that. Rough info I got today was 2.878 (COAL)length to lands with the 105. Fireformed brass and bullet marked with a pen was the method I used. Number obtained with the average of four trys. Going to mess with it some more to really get it dialed in. Looks like my mag length is going to be around 2.8 though.
 
That is why I suggested just staring at max mag length and saving some time. I can load to 2.82" in mine, and that is what I have the 105 A-maxes and 95 Bergers seated at.........
 
Originally Posted By: DABOriginally Posted By: tractormanWell I am switching bullets. I have been shooting 70 gr NBT but I am going to try a 105 gr berger vld. Dont know if I am going to be able to stabilize it. It is in a 9 1/4 twist factory rem. I think it will be close. I need all the length I can get with the 105. The 70s are at 2.62.

Hey! Just a heads up... with those 105 VLD's Before you go to seat a bullet pull the seater plug out of your seating die and check to see if your seating plug will touch the side of the bullet or if the tip of the bullet bottoms out in the plug.

I bought some Berger 6mm 105 GR. VLD Target bullets and could not seat them as my seating plug was hitting on the very point of the bullet and deforming the tip. I only had done one when I seen the problem.

Don't know if the bullet you are switching to is the same shape or not.

DAB



I pulled the seater plug I believe I will be ok per my toothpick measurement.
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But I will be on the lookout.
 
Originally Posted By: tractormanWhat twist do you have? How fast are you pushing each of those?

That is in my 700 SPSV, 1-9.125" twist. Both are just over 3000fps and very accurate.....
 


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