Thread: Seating tests for 147gn ELDM

Only thing on your list that I dont do is neck turn.
I do anneal every firing and dip my brass in graphite prior to charging and seating. If I feel anything iffy during seating I put the cartridge aside and try and find out why.
Annealing imo shows results on the chrony more than it will on paper at zeroing distances.
Who cares if other people shoot smaller groups with your rifle, and to be fair it cant be by much looking at what you have posted. Its you and your rifle you are loading for.



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I'm pretty new to reloading and am currently attempting to work up some loads for my 7mm08 with 16" barrel.

How much of a change in COAL actually makes a difference? I'm loading at 2.800" and was accepting anything +/- 0.005 but that's based on frustration/convenience rather than knowledge of what it actually acceptable/ideal.

It can make a big difference.

If you load up a batch and seat 5 projectiles at 10, 20, 30, 40 etc thou off the lands you will see big differences on paper over the range of seating depths.

Best to work a promising load with different charge weights (working up) then play with seating depth than try to alter both at the same time. Too many variables can get complicated and frustrating.

You can also load up test loads at a set charge weight and shoot groups at different depths then alter charge weight slightly either side to see if you can tighten groups up.
Lots of ways to do it.

Enjoy and good luck.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

It can make a big difference.

If you load up a batch and seat 5 projectiles at 10, 20, 30, 40 etc thou off the lands you will see big differences on paper over the range of seating depths.

Best to work a promising load with different charge weights (working up) then play with seating depth than try to alter both at the same time. Too many variables can get complicated and frustrating.

You can also load up test loads at a set charge weight and shoot groups at different depths then alter charge weight slightly either side to see if you can tighten groups up.
Lots of ways to do it.

Enjoy and good luck.

Good info, thanks @Spitfire!

Any tips on getting extreme consistency out of the seating die? I was getting some at 2.810 COAL so was putting them back through, but most +/- 0.003" (3 thou).

I've started by getting some OK groups at 100m at different charges, and am now considering fiddling with seating depth.

Originally Posted by Edunn

Good info, thanks @Spitfire!

Any tips on getting extreme consistency out of the seating die? I was getting some at 2.810 COAL so was putting them back through, but most +/- 0.003" (3 thou).

I've started by getting some OK groups at 100m at different charges, and am now considering fiddling with seating depth.

Depending on your projectiles they could vary that much themselves, a more accurate method is to measure to the ogive as that is the critical dimension to get consistent, ogive to lands.

Other than that use all the same brass with the same number of fireings, annealing will help with consistent neck tension and hence seating depth.

Originally Posted by Edunn

Good info, thanks @Spitfire!

Any tips on getting extreme consistency out of the seating die? I was getting some at 2.810 COAL so was putting them back through, but most +/- 0.003" (3 thou).

I've started by getting some OK groups at 100m at different charges, and am now considering fiddling with seating depth.

A good micrometer seating die is a help. I use Redding Competition seaters which adjust to 1 thou. Also good to set your die so that the press cams over a touch, which gives consistent seating depth. Measure the first couple then the odd one as you go.

And measure from the ogive, not the tip, as mentioned above. Much less variation there.

Cheers

Thanks fellas for the input! Its always really helpful to scour through these tips and try everything. Im going to put 20 across 600y on sunday at Akarana so that will test if things are improving with regards to general scoring / POI consistency. I want to crack 60points if i can

Im really keen to see if sorted bearing surface does factor in when you're using the optimum seat distance.

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Also good to set your die so that the press cams over a touch, which gives consistent seating depth.

Cheers

Sorry to hijack the thread a little bit.
@Spitfire - I set the seating die by winding down onto an empty case until it gets finger tight, as that's what I was taught to do. Do you mean wind down to that point, then half a turn further, or similar?

The first load I did all lengths were suuuper consistent and have not been able to get as consistent since then. Still generally within 5 thou so I have been leaning towards seating further out and incrementally adjusting. It's a particularly frustrating process though.

Thanks again for the help and apologies for the q's.