Help Please.
Bullets have gone up in price by 20% and the rifle ranges are full, so am looking for a bit of guidance to save time and money. I have in the past worked up a load by first getting the best powder charge, then fine tuning by varying the seating depth. Now I have purchased a Comparator and Redding Competition seating die and can measure my OAL off the ogive. Will the 'sweetspot' be the same OAL to ogive for differing bullet weights (within safety parameters)? Or for that matter with different powders. Probably not I think, but any pointers will be appreciated.
PS. Its nice to see you guys picking up on the Tikka rifles. They've always been good. So good they didn't need to advertise too much.
Good Luck and Dry Powder.

Other people will give their ideas but here's mine. I got a comparator a while back. I would say that from experimenting with my comparator that most factory ammo is at least .050" off the lands. If you asked me what might be the best 2 guesses for accuracy I'd say try a batch at under .010" (with firm necks in case you bump into the rifling), & I'd try a batch at about .050". I'm sure that seating depth can affect accuracy some but, I can also tell you that when making ammo I've seated a couple rounds real short by accident and marked them and took them to the range--they went to the same point of impact. I think that a great load (bullet/powder) combo will shoot great no matter what the seating depth but, that you may be able to fine tune it some with depth.

Polecat,

My experience is that they will not shoot the same, even with the same measurement to the ogive. There are several types of ogive profiles and bullet construction that give different characteristics to a bullet. I have always shot them down range to see what they will do.

Best of luck, shoot safe
cjw3

Different weight bullets may not have the same sweet-spot, but the distance off the lands thats worked for you in the past would be your best place to start. It has been for me, usually just a slight adjustment in or out.
Good luck
MM

[ 02-04-2003, 07:41: Message edited by: Marsh Mule ]

Kraky said "I think that a great load (bullet/powder) combo will shoot great no matter what the seating depth but, that you may be able to fine tune it some with depth."

Words of wisdom!

Dan

Green&Kraky;
I beg to differ with you, at least with the experience I had with 140 grain Ballistic tip in .277, and 85 grain Ballistic tip in .257 calibers. No matter what powder or powder-charge I tried, these two bullets would not group under 2" at 100 yards until I seated the bullets about 15 thousandths off the lands. Both are sub moa @ 100 yards now. Both bullets had almost the same "Sweet Spot"

[ 02-04-2003, 17:57: Message edited by: Marsh Mule ]

Thanks for the answers Guys. It gives me a steer and it's about what I figured anyway. I'd best load up some rounds and get onto the range. Who said re-loading saves you money? Good job I like shooting. If it doesn't work I can always form a square and volley fire.