I went to the range today with my .270 WSM Savage and a collection of loads. My original load for this rifle was set at a COAL of 2.815 using 70 gr of Magpro and a 140 Accubond. I was getting groups of .3-.4 MOA and a velocity of 3150 fps. My modified case came for my Stoney point tool the other day and I determined my rifle to be 2.900 to the lands with the 140 Accubond. So I loaded some up at 2.870", some at 2.860", some at 2.850" and some at 2.830". All loads were the same at 70 gr of Magpro. Apparently, this rifle doesn't like to have the bullet seated close to the rifling since the longest seated produced groups about 2", and with groups shrinking the further off the lands until the rounds seated at 2.830" again yielded me a group of .25 MOA like my original load. So I guess I will stay away from the lands with this rifle and maybe just fine tune a bit from 2.810"-2.830". Doesn't this seem a bit unusual??

No replies, hmmmm. I guess the anti- WSM sentiment is rearing it's ugly head !!!

I have had my best results in my .270WSM with an OAL of about 2.83" with Nosler Ballistic Tip and Accubond bullets. Got good enough results that I have not tried seating them out any farther.
Just to show there are pro WSM shooters on the board.

Heck I'd seat em to the bottom of the case with those velocities, no pressure signs and those kind of groups! If it's working that well why fight it. In fact I may have to try it..........DJ

I should probably crawl into my asbestos coveralls before I post this heresy, but here goes.

This issue has nothing to do with WSMs but with cartridges in general. I have had the same results that you write of.

In the face of all the posts to the contrary, I think the "seat-close-to-the-lands" is bullshit. Like an urban myth, people have repeated it to each other so often that's it's now accepted as fact.

Take a look at any M96 or M38 Swedish Mauser. It's so damn far to the lands, you're lucky if they start halfway to the muzzle! I guess nobody told them 'the rule', because they often display astonishing accuracy.

In my own rifles, most of them shoot better seated well off the lands. Now, I'll have to ask you to keep this a secret, just between you and me, lest the acolytes burn me at the stake...but I don't think there is a rule. I'll just continue to use whatever works for me, and suffer no guilt whatever.

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I'll just continue to use whatever works for me, and suffer no guilt whatever.

I think that is what all of us do, TW... I had gotten in the habit of seating with only about .005 - .007" of freebore, but experience with my .308 Norma has changed all that... read my post and you will see what I am talking about.
Besides, factory ammo shoots extremely well nowadays, and it is all "shake, rattle, clink", if you know what I mean... I think they seat bullets so the oal is short intentionally to keep pressures down, and the rounds still shoot very well!

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In the face of all the posts to the contrary, I think the "seat-close-to-the-lands" is bullshit. Like an urban myth, people have repeated it to each other so often that's it's now accepted as fact.

Maybe, but certainly NOT in the case of my Howa 1500 in 6.5x55, which will not shoot any decent group with a bullet less than 120 grains (which can't be loaded to at least 3.10" OAL.) I am talking groups over 3 inches for 3 shots at 100 yards for loads seated to "recommended" OAL. My most accurate loads are 3.15", and at that, I am not sure if they are close to the lands yet!

I can't get anywhere near the lands with my 270WSM in the T3. If I do, I have to use it as a single shot as the COL is too long for the magazine.

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In the face of all the posts to the contrary, I think the "seat-close-to-the-lands" is bullshit. Like an urban myth, people have repeated it to each other so often that's it's now accepted as fact.

I too share this belief. There's a lot of reloading practice that is of very marginal value. Neck turning for example....let me take a page from Layne Simpson..."the only guns that benefit from this practice is ones that shoot 1/2" already."

Seating close to the lands falls in the same category.....maybe for a benchrest shooter but it hasn't proven itself to me for the type of accuracy I'm looking for in a hunting gun.

Bowhuntrrl, I have 6 270 WSM's and they all perform just as you described. On several the mag box won't let me get very close to the lands anyways, unless I want to use it like boilerroom said, as a single shot! I don't know about the distance off the lands as a rule, I have several rifles that shoot very well with the bullet very close or even just kissing the lands, but I haven't tried these rifles with COAL's keeping the bullet far away from the lands either.

At any rate, I have both 270 WSM's and 300 WSM's and they both shoot well with bullets seated well off the lands just like you described.

Good Shooting--Don