Seating depth for .224 75gr.

[Hobie1]

I'm getting some info, parts, and brass ready to build some longer range loads for my Sport.

One thing I've noticed is that some folks have told me to seat the heavier bullets so they'd fit in the magazine. Okay, so I take a Hornady 75gr Match BTHP and use my Stoney Creek(Sinclair now I think) and measure to the lands. With the bullet touching the rifling, there is still about .345 of the bullet in the cartridge. Which basically puts the boat tail at the beginning(where the shoulder starts to taper towards the neck) of the shoulder of the cartridge. Isn't there a common wisdom about not seating too deep or you could expect some pressure problems? Or not?

The thought plickens...

Time for some football!

Hobie

 

[M29since14]

Are you using published reloading data, or just winging it? If you are using published data, just adhere to the specifications for case, primer, and cartridge overall length. There should be no pressure issues. Sure there could be pressure problems in any cartridge if the bullet is seated too deep. Stay with the cartridge OAL listed in the published data - or slightly longer should not hurt.

Are you concerned that possibly the chamber in your rifle is not satisfactory for the published data? If that is the case, and if the factory ammunition is working in the gun, duplicate that length and reduce the powder charge enough to be safe, then work up. If you want a longer length than what will feed from the magazine, as long as you do not exceed the charge weight listed for magazine-length loads, you should not have a problem.

I am not sure what you are asking so I am sorry if the response seems a little dense. I've had great luck with my rifle with 55- and 62-gr. ammunition but have yet to try any 75- or 77-gr. loads. That will come when the weather warms up this spring.

 

[Hobie1]

Thanks.
No, I do take loading very seriously. I've loaded for my rifles and handguns for many years. I only use commercial load data. I don't experiment outside the parameters stated by the various manufacturers.

My post was a question about the excess length of bullet inside the cartridge. But, now that you brought it up, yep I can follow that the excess is accounted for by the powder makers. No problem. I think that using my chrono and maybe talking to the various bullet makers might help.

I'm just seeing if I can squeeze the max accuracy out of my gun.

Thanks again and I'll post my results after my wounds heal.

Hobie

 

[Ron H.]

I'm getting some info, parts, and brass ready to build some longer range loads for my Sport.

One thing I've noticed is that some folks have told me to seat the heavier bullets so they'd fit in the magazine. Okay, so I take a Hornady 75gr Match BTHP and use my Stoney Creek(Sinclair now I think) and measure to the lands. With the bullet touching the rifling, there is still about .345 of the bullet in the cartridge. Which basically puts the boat tail at the beginning(where the shoulder starts to taper towards the neck) of the shoulder of the cartridge. Isn't there a common wisdom about not seating too deep or you could expect some pressure problems? Or not?

The thought plickens...

Time for some football!

Hobie

Sir, it's just the nature of the beast--long .223 bullets have to intrude past the bottom of the case neck when loaded to magazine length. The practice is common in high power competition, and the published data should allow for this. That said, some data are for bullets seated long, as with the Sierra 80-grain Match King data listed in Sierra Edition V. Always check the OAL for the data you're using.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

 

[Hobie1]

Sir, it's just the nature of the beast--long .223 bullets have to intrude past the bottom of the case neck when loaded to magazine length. The practice is common in high power competition, and the published data should allow for this. That said, some data are for bullets seated long, as with the Sierra 80-grain Match King data listed in Sierra Edition V. Always check the OAL for the data you're using.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.

Thanks and I'm GTG! I'll take my time, ask questions, and work 'em up slow and easy.

Just watched the 1/2 time show and say what you want about Madonna, My wife and I thought it was a heck of a show.

Hobie1 over and out for the evening.

 

[JohnK]

I've got a Browning medium action .257 Roberts.

A 120 gr. spitzer almost disappears into the case, when loaded to max length of 2.800".

Bugs me a bit, but the loads shoot well.

 

[kb1903]

mag lenght?

If you are using the 75 grainers for 600, they can be loaded longer than mag length for single shots. If you will be shooting them in the rapid stages, they must fit the mag. I seat my 77 grainers at 2.250. I use 80 grain bullets for 600 yards and load them at 2.550. This is in my Ar's. OAL may vary depending on the rifle and chamber. Keep looking for signs of pressure. Keep to recognized data. keep safe.