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Seating into the lands?
- Thread starter Curly T
- Start date
g.willikers
New member
Does it matter?
What's more important, how long the barrel lasts or how well it shoots?
If the results are what you want, is it really important how long the gun lasts?
They are replaceable.
Only you can answer the question.
What's more important, how long the barrel lasts or how well it shoots?
If the results are what you want, is it really important how long the gun lasts?
They are replaceable.
Only you can answer the question.
Thanks for the feedback.
No it probably doesn't matter as it's accuracy that's the primary goal, was mainly curious as to what might be happening to the barrel.
Rebarreling might be quick an' easy stateside, here in South Africa its a shlep, with a fair bit of paperwork involved.
Thanks!
No it probably doesn't matter as it's accuracy that's the primary goal, was mainly curious as to what might be happening to the barrel.
Rebarreling might be quick an' easy stateside, here in South Africa its a shlep, with a fair bit of paperwork involved.
Thanks!
Rebarreling might be quick an' easy stateside
Rebarreling is never quick and easy, unless you are using a Savage with a retaining ring, most barrels are pinned and not that easy to remove. Best done by a gunsmith and a bit expensive.
The only problem I see with jamming the bullet into the lands is the concentric shape of the reloaded case. If the bullet is not loaded to be perfectly concentric it maybe jammed at a slight angle as opposed to perfectly centered. I have found that giving the bullet a slight jump 0.020 to 0.050 has always helped in my accuracy loads, results maybe different for others however.
I find the additional pressure spikes from loading into the lands has never helped me. But it is your choice to make. It may actually help with slower burning powders.
Stay safe and shoot straight.
Jim
Last edited:
My question is whether seating into / on the lands effect barrel life negatively?
I would expect it to impact barrel life less than:
- how hot you load
- how quickly you fire (or how hot you allow your barrel to get)
Lots of things can impact barrel life. I always estimate pressure increases 7K PSI when you seat into the lands, but how close you seat to the lands can also increase pressure.
Bullet seating depth is a lesser factor to me.
Curly T,
You'll probably want to read Berger's tech note on this topic if you haven't already. Apparently they used to recommend throat contact seating as standard for VLD's, but subsequently found out it doesn't work well in all rifles.
Firing with the bullet in the lands raises pressure around 20% as compared to giving them some jump, but that makes no difference if the load is developed with the bullet making that contact. On the other hand, if it's a load that was a book maximum with bullet jump, then your pressure is likely above book and the higher associated temperature will likely cause throat cracking to appear earlier.
Always extract an unfired or squib load of this type with the muzzle pointing up to avoid getting the aforementioned action full of powder. Some ranges don't allow muzzles to point up anymore, so I might avoid such a load at those ranges.
You'll probably want to read Berger's tech note on this topic if you haven't already. Apparently they used to recommend throat contact seating as standard for VLD's, but subsequently found out it doesn't work well in all rifles.
Firing with the bullet in the lands raises pressure around 20% as compared to giving them some jump, but that makes no difference if the load is developed with the bullet making that contact. On the other hand, if it's a load that was a book maximum with bullet jump, then your pressure is likely above book and the higher associated temperature will likely cause throat cracking to appear earlier.
Always extract an unfired or squib load of this type with the muzzle pointing up to avoid getting the aforementioned action full of powder. Some ranges don't allow muzzles to point up anymore, so I might avoid such a load at those ranges.
You'll probably want to read Berger's tech note on this topic if you haven't already. Apparently they used to recommend throat contact seating as standard for VLD's, but subsequently found out it doesn't work well in all rifles.
Unclenick is right as usual. I have found the Berger method of determining optimum distance off lands pretty well spot on.
Thanks for the feedback chaps!
Unclenick, I slowly worked up to the load, the bullet touching the lands right from the get go. It's a 175 vld going at 2575 out of a 26" barrel. No pressure sighns whatsoever.
I developed this load in a way pretty similar to what Berger suggests.
It's VERY accurate, I use it for cropping / culling.
I was merely curious on how (if so) it would effect barrel life as opposed to a bullet with jump.
Thanks!
Unclenick, I slowly worked up to the load, the bullet touching the lands right from the get go. It's a 175 vld going at 2575 out of a 26" barrel. No pressure sighns whatsoever.
I developed this load in a way pretty similar to what Berger suggests.
It's VERY accurate, I use it for cropping / culling.
I was merely curious on how (if so) it would effect barrel life as opposed to a bullet with jump.
Thanks!