The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Why does decreasing the jump across the throat have an effect on accuracy?

Ifishsum · January 23, 2017, 10:18 PM

At one time I experimented a fair bit with different seating depth for my loads and I didn't find it to be a major accuracy factor in most cases. When it did it tended to be with bullets having a longer front taper shape (secant ogive or VLD style) but as always its individual to the rifle. Sometimes things shoot well even though the stats say they shouldn't, and vice versa. For the most part I start at magazine length or .015-.020 away from the lands and only start changing OAL if I am not happy with my results and really want a to make a specific combo work. More often I simply try a different powder or a different bullet to get the result I want.

By nature most of us reloaders like to experiment, myself included. But I'm convinced there are other factors that usually make a much more noticeable difference than seating depth.

January 23, 2017, 10:18 PM	#7
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,035	At one time I experimented a fair bit with different seating depth for my loads and I didn't find it to be a major accuracy factor in most cases. When it did it tended to be with bullets having a longer front taper shape (secant ogive or VLD style) but as always its individual to the rifle. Sometimes things shoot well even though the stats say they shouldn't, and vice versa. For the most part I start at magazine length or .015-.020 away from the lands and only start changing OAL if I am not happy with my results and really want a to make a specific combo work. More often I simply try a different powder or a different bullet to get the result I want. By nature most of us reloaders like to experiment, myself included. But I'm convinced there are other factors that usually make a much more noticeable difference than seating depth.