I'm still kinda new at reloading and have been struggling with some bullet seating depth issues that I hope some of you guy's might be able to clear up for me.

In regards to distance off the lands, I bought a COL tool that a fella over on the Predator Masters forum sells, basically it serves the same function as the Stoney Point OAL Gauge. When I tried to get the COL (CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH) measurements with the bullets Ogive touching the Lands for the 2 bullet choices that I want to load up for my Mod.7 7mm-08 this year, the Hornady 154 gr. RN & Nosler 140 gr. flat base, I come up with COL readings of 2.837 and 2.824 respectively.

The 2 reloading manuals that I have and all other data I've found all list the max COL for the 7mm-08 as 2.800", so even if I seated to a depth of .030 off the lands my Hornady load would still exceed the 2.800 Max COL at 2.807. I guess my question would be does that matter and is it safe as long as the rounds fit in the magazine and chamber Okay?

My other question is in regards to using the Lee Factory Crimp Die. The way I understand what Richard Lee has to say about its benefit in the Second Ed. Modern Reloading Manual is that by using the FCD, one gets uniform shot start pressures, and that is also the purpose of seating bullets at given distances off the lands as well. So if this is the case, and I'm going to use the FCD with my Collet Die anyway, do I even need to be concerned with how far off the lands my bullets are at all.

I hope this doesn't sound too confussing to Y'all.

Appreciate any help you may have to offer.

Thanks,

YB

1. "is it safe as long as the rounds fit in the magazine and chamber Okay?"

Yes. Don't sweat OAL too much, it's just a starting point. If your ammo feeds and shoots good the OAL is also good.


2. "by using the FCD, one gets uniform shot start pressures"

Sorta. Actually, it is more accurate to say we may get MORE uniform pressures with a proper crimp but it's not absolutely uniform, nothing in this activity is that clear cut. And don't get heavy handed with the FCD, it's a good tool but you can deform the bullets if you crimp them down too much.

...what Jim said. You will find your magazine size to be more of a limiting factor for COL than anything else, especially if you start playing with the longer bullets like the 140 gr. TSX.

Bob

Hey Bill

You are on the right track. The OAL listed in the manuals is a length that will fit in any gun of that caliber ever made and has no bearing on your gun. I never look at them anymore since I find the lands for each of my guns and then decide for myself where to seat the bullet.

The LFCD is a great tool but like Jim says don't overdo it. It is certainly advantageous, IMO, to seat the bullets where you want as you determine with your gauges and also crimp with the LFCD. A light to medium crimp will do.

Thanks Guy's, I appreciate the help

YB

Our host, Saeed, did a study of the Lee Factory Crimp Die some years ago. He reported that it produced a small but measurable increase in accuracy.

This question about the LFCD comes up here from time to time, but people here seem to ignore Saeed's report--probably because they don't know about it.

Here's the URL for it:

http://www.accuratereloading.com/crimping.html

Hi LE270,

And thanks for the link. That's some interesting data.

YB

I find the lee FCd to be a very effective tool for some of my loads. You technical guys may laugh at this but I have been reloading for 25 years and have made some discoveries that you wont read about ok. I crimp LFCD my 110 gr 107 dia bullets (designed for the mi carbine. ) in 308 loads for my rem 7400 autoloader. I crimp for safety sake but these are the most accurate loads in this gun . Sometimes moa Less than 1 inch 100yds on a good day Also use in MI garand loads too with the little 110 grainers and very accurate loads at 100yds.