I've been reloading for several decades and have always seated my high powered rifle bullets just off the lands by .001 to .002 and do so as it has delivered accuracy of single hole groups that prior to this method wasn't the case. However, recently I was informed by an honest to goodness expert stating this is not the way to improve your groups but to reather seat to industry C.O.A.L. depth. He states all the bench rest shooters are now using C.O.A.L data now. Additionally, my loads are always near, or in fact compressed. I'm not experiencing any pressure issues what so ever and can not find plausable reason for his, as a matter of fact method. What can any of you offer to either attest to mine or his method.

Don't fix it if it aint broke!

I am no expert to be sure but, I think originally bench shooters loaded into the lands to help keep the bullets enterance into the lands as straight as possible and improve ignition. Today they have improved their runout and use powders and loads that give very consistant velocities without high initial resistance. Loading back from the lands also helps prevent the occasional dupmed powder in the action that results from the range officer calling a cease fire and having to open the action on an unfired cartridge.
This is speculation, as I said I`m no expert.

What 303 guy said. I usually seat to 0.010" off the lands. When you seat that close, just make certain that you run all of your cartridges thru the magazine & chamber to check for feeding & chambering.
Bear in Fairbanks

decades of experience has taught you what you know and you are getting 1 hole groups sounds like you should be advising them.

My rifles don't shoot best at the lands but, in this instance and for YOUR rifles, it seems YOU are the "expert"!

I question your other expert and suggest you do too. I'm no expert but I know better than what he is telling you for a couple of reasons. First, few, if any, serious BR competitors shoot factory cartridges and SAMMI provides NO specifications for wildcats. Second, all serious BR rifles have custom chambers and throats as specificed by the buyer so no such standards could possibly apply.

The 6mm PPC chambers in some factory sporting rifles are NOT cut to the same dimensions as those used in serious BR. And no serious BR gunner would even try to succeed in match shooting with any factory rifle, no matter the chamber it may carry.

You are doing good. Few of us can even equal what you're obtaining now, much less beat it.

quote:

Originally posted by gamestalker:
I was informed by an honest to goodness expert stating this is not the way to improve your groups but to reather seat to industry C.O.A.L. depth. ...

Hey gamestalker, Welcome Aboard!

I'd suggest your "expert" is very concerned about one day having to shoot against your groups. Basically, he either didn't understand what you are doing, or he is Full-of-Beans.

Best of luck to you.

What's that Bertrand Russell quote that 458Win (Phil Shoemaker) uses as a signature line?