What's the best seating depth for your encore?

[teddy12b]

I've heard people go one way or the other on this topic before, but when you handload for your encore do you seat the bullet as close to the lands as possible or do you keep it at the reccomend overall length from the books?

When you seat the bullet closer to the lands how does that effect the pressure inside the case.  I am assuming that everyone who follows these handloading practices stays within the reccommended safe ranges of powder.

I'm thinking about trying out some handloads for my 30-06 just off the lands because I've heard of better accuracy that way.  Right now I'm getting 1" groups with factory 150gr coreloks and I'll be hunting with those this year, but I'd like to work up something different for next year, preferably with the barnes TSX bullets.

[CallaoJoe]

I just went through a variation of what yer talkin about.  With the barnes bullets, the closer the better from my testing.  Here's a link to my .270 Barnes testing.  http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,101049.0.html

I also just worked up some loads for my 30-06 Encore, but I was using 150 gr Speer spitzers...  Here's that link.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,100566.0.html

[skb2706]

With any break action gun the only limitations are how the chamber is cut. I like to load "as long as possible" and still stay off the lands by .010". Depends on the bullet but generally I find that to be the most accurate.

[encore3006]

With my 30-06 rifle barrel I discovered the best accuracy with the bullet seated with a COL longer than listed in the manuals; approx. 0.010" to 0.030". I also had better luck with weights less than 180 gr. However, my 30-06 pistol barrel loves the 180 gr. Also, my better accuracy is with loads between minimum and maximum charges...simply work it up to suit 

[Bullseye]

Book OAL gets the job done for me.

[teddy12b]

Thanks Guys,
          I've had much better luck in my 30-06 rifle with 150gr ammo than 180gr.  It's like night and day with the 150grs ammo.  I'd like to experiment with the barnes 150gr TSX just off the lands and see how that goes.

Hey CallaoJoe,
        Did you ever chrony your load you were talking about in the other thread?  The one you thought was just over 3000?

[CallaoJoe]

Not yet.  Our deer rifle season opens tomorrow, so I've not had time at the range since then.  Gettin ready to shoot a deer or 2 with either the Encore or the wthby.  Can't decide which I'll use first this year.... 

Hopin to chrony the loads after Christmas...  I just know I won't get a chance til then.  Sorry, couldn't be of more help.

[southern utah]

you might check a barnes manual. They recomend at least 50 thousands freebore on their all copper bullets because they do not deform into rifleings like copper/ lead bullets. The presure goes up if they don't get a jump start.

[Tn Jim]

With my 7-08 and 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, it's .060 off. The closer I got them to the lands, the more the groups opened up. By the time I got to .010 I was shooting patterns, not groups. Go figure.

[crawford769]

my 7mm rem mag ended up liking 140gr rem psp core lokts seated in the cannelure over 140 gr nos bt's and 154gr sst's at any seating depth.  those are the only 3 i've tried so far though.  it might be a flat base thing though.

[major257]

I have found that some barrels differ in what they prefer. If you are reloading and the round chambers well and retracts well I'd stay with it. Your powder content can change the accuracy of the round far more than the .010" your talking about. Just play with one thing at a time until you are happy with the round.