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The Range
Ammo & Reloading
Starting Reloading - First Bullet Seating Depth Test Results
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<blockquote data-quote="thor447" data-source="post: 3352455" data-attributes="member: 24867"><p>I recently started reloading as some of you may know (by mountain of questions in other threads). I've been making some rounds and doing some very non-scientific testing lately (Lack of other equipment - chrono, etc.). I learned these past couple of months that the standard RCBS seating die I had does not offer the ability precisely set the bullet seating depth. The adjustment screw on top is not precise and I now see the value of getting a high quality set of dies. With this new knowledge, I purchased a set of Redding Type S match dies. I decided to do some testing with bullet seating depth with my SMK 150gr 6.5 rounds.</p><p></p><p>Rather than buy a new gauge to measure my distance to the lands, I made my own, which has worked out very well. My measurement on my X-Bolt from the closed bolt face to the lands is 2.2105". I made 5 groups of 5 rounds, all with the exact same load (40.6g of H4350), same lot of once fired brass, etc. The only variant was the seating depth.</p><p></p><p>I went to Lexington this afternoon to do some testing at 100 yards. Here's the results.</p><p></p><p>5 groups were: .000, .010, .020, .030, and .040 off the lands. I had a flier on the .020 and .040 targets. Those were completely shooter error. The .030 group is horrendous. I thought I had good form and the shots felt good, but the pattern speaks for itself. I'm just chalking it up to my rifle DOES NOT like .030! Pics are below.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]159802[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159803[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159804[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159805[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159806[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>.010 and .020 were good, with .010 clearly being the best. Honestly, when I shot the .010 group, the first group as the two shots to the left. I made a slight adjustment to the scope and put the next three a little high. Hindsight tells me this was a stupid move, and I should've shot all 5 without changing anything. I'm confident that those 5 rounds would've all been clustered together if I hadn't made any changes. I think .010 is my number. I may load up some .015 and see what they do, but the .010 is good enough for me so I may want to leave well enough alone. Now I just need to get myself a chronograph.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="thor447, post: 3352455, member: 24867"] I recently started reloading as some of you may know (by mountain of questions in other threads). I've been making some rounds and doing some very non-scientific testing lately (Lack of other equipment - chrono, etc.). I learned these past couple of months that the standard RCBS seating die I had does not offer the ability precisely set the bullet seating depth. The adjustment screw on top is not precise and I now see the value of getting a high quality set of dies. With this new knowledge, I purchased a set of Redding Type S match dies. I decided to do some testing with bullet seating depth with my SMK 150gr 6.5 rounds. Rather than buy a new gauge to measure my distance to the lands, I made my own, which has worked out very well. My measurement on my X-Bolt from the closed bolt face to the lands is 2.2105". I made 5 groups of 5 rounds, all with the exact same load (40.6g of H4350), same lot of once fired brass, etc. The only variant was the seating depth. I went to Lexington this afternoon to do some testing at 100 yards. Here's the results. 5 groups were: .000, .010, .020, .030, and .040 off the lands. I had a flier on the .020 and .040 targets. Those were completely shooter error. The .030 group is horrendous. I thought I had good form and the shots felt good, but the pattern speaks for itself. I'm just chalking it up to my rifle DOES NOT like .030! Pics are below. [ATTACH=full]159802[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159803[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159804[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159805[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]159806[/ATTACH] .010 and .020 were good, with .010 clearly being the best. Honestly, when I shot the .010 group, the first group as the two shots to the left. I made a slight adjustment to the scope and put the next three a little high. Hindsight tells me this was a stupid move, and I should've shot all 5 without changing anything. I'm confident that those 5 rounds would've all been clustered together if I hadn't made any changes. I think .010 is my number. I may load up some .015 and see what they do, but the .010 is good enough for me so I may want to leave well enough alone. Now I just need to get myself a chronograph. [/QUOTE]
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