357 mag pressure

[Ranger J]

My .357 mag barrel as most others has a long chamber and seems to shoot better with heavy (180 gr) bullets loaded 'long'.  My question is that if these bullets are loaded further toward the rear of the bullet than normal how does this effect the pressure generated in a heavy load as there would be more empty space between powder and bullet?  Will this have any effect at all?

RJ

[quickdtoo]

Given the same load, seating to a shorter COL will increase pressures, longer decreases pressure, up until the bullet is touching the lands which increases pressure by ~7200psi, which in the 357 Handi isn't possible. This applies to smokeless powder.

Tim