Has anyone re-seated bullets longer and checked accuracy after doing so? - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Has anyone re-seated bullets longer and checked accuracy after doing so?

Posted: 8/18/2018 2:15:13 PM EDT

I have some Hornady factory ammo and would like to use it as a basis for varying seating depth. All the bullets are seated deeper than I want them to. My idea is to use a kinetic bullet puller to jog the bullets forward, then use the seating die (no crimp) to seat them to the lengths I want to experiment with. Have any of you ever loaded up some ammo, come to realize they ended up seated a little deeper than you wanted and done the same thing? If so - is there an accuracy difference?

I know I could just load up new ammo, but I was thinking of using the stuff I already have for experimenting.

Posted: 8/18/2018 2:34:40 PM EDT

[#1]

Yes. Some bullets, especially the VLD type, can really benefit from seating long. This is because the bearing part of the ogive is so far to the rear compared to a normal bullet that with a long jump they often strike the lands at a slight angle. But it will all depend on your chamber and a given bullet.

I wouldn't try this in a semi FWIW.

Posted: 8/18/2018 3:07:14 PM EDT

[#2]

Thanks 0 but I wasn't asking so much as seating the bullets closer to the lands, but tapping out the bullet and then re-seating it. Does it affect neck tension and decrease accuracy?

Posted: 8/18/2018 3:30:14 PM EDT

[#3]

Have done this exact thing and have seen no difference in performance. The kinetic puller works well for this.

Posted: 8/18/2018 3:42:53 PM EDT

[#4]

I would guess you will just get lower pressures and differences in accuracy based on that.

Posted: 8/18/2018 4:59:56 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:
Have done this exact thing and have seen no difference in performance. The kinetic puller works well for this.

View Quote

Oh cool - thanks. I think that's what I'll do with the last of my factory ammo then.

Posted: 8/18/2018 5:08:18 PM EDT

[#6]

You may want to check throat dimensions before you willy nilly go messing with seating depth.

In an auto loader it may not matter much due to magazine restrictioning OAL, but in a bolt gun you may run into problems. I heard you can get pressure spikes with direct contact to the lands and groves upon firing.

My bolt gun won't shoot factory ammo well due to its normally shorter OAL. My longer handloads do remarkably well though.

Posted: 8/18/2018 5:46:59 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I would guess you will just get lower pressures and differences in accuracy based on that.

View Quote

Pressure for rifle cartridges decreases a little with small increases in overall length, but it can go up dramatically if you end up in contact with the lands.

Quickload includes this guideline for its data inputs: "WARNING: With bullet seated to touch rifling, add 7200 psi to start pressure!"

If you're going to start seating bullets long, it would be wise to actually measure your rifle's throat length with an appropriate tool, or at least back off the charge 5-10% and work up again.

Posted: 8/18/2018 6:10:22 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
You may want to check throat dimensions before you willy nilly go messing with seating depth.

In an auto loader it may not matter much due to magazine restrictioning OAL, but in a bolt gun you may run into problems. I heard you can get pressure spikes with direct contact to the lands and groves upon firing.

My bolt gun won't shoot factory ammo well due to its normally shorter OAL. My longer handloads do remarkably well though.

View Quote

Savage 10T bolt gun, and I won't be seating into the lands (I have the Hornady LnL gauge). Like I said: All I was curious about in this thread is if you can slide the bullets out some, re-seat them, and if the accuracy will be affcted.

Posted: 8/18/2018 6:26:39 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:

Savage 10T bolt gun, and I won't be seating into the lands (I have the Hornady LnL gauge). Like I said: All I was curious about in this thread is if you can slide the bullets out some, re-seat them, and if the accuracy will be affcted.

View Quote

Oh.
Well, then, the answer is yes.

Posted: 8/18/2018 6:27:44 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Savage 10T bolt gun, and I won't be seating into the lands (I have the Hornady LnL gauge). Like I said: All I was curious about in this thread is if you can slide the bullets out some, re-seat them, and if the accuracy will be affcted.

View Quote

I've read that back in the day, when highpower was shot with issue ammo, the military teams would bump the bullets to break the seal. Supposedly more consistent neck tension improved their results.

There are also some people who load large quantities of match ammunition, deliberately seating very long. When a match approaches, they seat the bullets the rest of the way, in the belief that it results in more consistent neck tension. Something to do with cold welds? I don't know if its true, but some people believe it.

Posted: 8/18/2018 7:59:40 PM EDT

[#11]

If you pull the bullets, will need to resize the necks, to gain back the bullet tension/remove any factory crimping.

Posted: 8/18/2018 8:38:03 PM EDT

[#12]

I would use a collet type puller. I have had a Forster for decades but would but the Hornady cam one if shopping today.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Has anyone re-seated bullets longer and checked accuracy after doing so?

Armory » Reloading

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