Soft seating?

dangthathurt · July 15, 2015, 08:10 PM

I just read that John Whidden, a winning shooter, "soft seats" all of his bullets. By using a lighter neck tension, he loads his bullets long so when they encounter the rifling they push back a bit into the case.

So, assuming your rifle enjoys the bullets in the lands, does anyone else do this?

Mobuck · July 15, 2015, 08:36 PM

Only works for "range" rifles.

pete2 · July 15, 2015, 10:22 PM

Benchrest shooter, not a good idea in a hunting rifle. It may work til you have to unload it and the bullet stays in the barrell and you get 46 grains of 4831 in the action and magazine. Guess how I know this.

WVMountaineer · July 15, 2015, 10:27 PM

pete2 X 2

stubbicatt · July 16, 2015, 07:28 AM

Unless he has changed his discipline, Whidden is not a benchrest shooter. He is one of the finest position shooters in the country, and if I'm not mistaken has won the Wimbledon a time or two. He uses a sling and lays on the ground. Pretty sure he shoots a fast twist 243.

As far as soft seating goes, it has its place in target shooting, and is a favored technique for barrels whose throats erode quickly as one does not find himself chasing the lands to arrive at a consistent seating depth.

USMC 77-81 · July 16, 2015, 08:30 AM

I would only 'Soft seat' for a single shot target gun. Light neck tension in any multiple shot gun could and probably would result in bullet set back and, the each subsequent round would have more and more set back. Most reloaders want consistency which includes consistent OAL.
1st Marine Division, 3rd Marines, Horno, 53 area.

old roper · July 16, 2015, 10:34 AM

John Whidden has advantage most of us don't.

http://www.whiddengunworks.com/

I use bushing dies on all my rifles and I don't call it soft seating but I don't use same neck tension on my 30-338mag as I do my tight neck 6ppc. If I was going to load 6ppc in a magazine I would change things.

July 15, 2015, 08:10 PM	#1
dangthathurt Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Posts: 54	Soft seating? I just read that John Whidden, a winning shooter, "soft seats" all of his bullets. By using a lighter neck tension, he loads his bullets long so when they encounter the rifling they push back a bit into the case. So, assuming your rifle enjoys the bullets in the lands, does anyone else do this?

July 16, 2015, 10:34 AM	#7
old roper Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2007 Posts: 2,155	John Whidden has advantage most of us don't. http://www.whiddengunworks.com/ I use bushing dies on all my rifles and I don't call it soft seating but I don't use same neck tension on my 30-338mag as I do my tight neck 6ppc. If I was going to load 6ppc in a magazine I would change things. __________________ Semper Fi Vietnam 1965 VFW Life member NRA Life Member

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July 15, 2015, 08:36 PM	#2
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Only works for "range" rifles.

July 15, 2015, 10:22 PM	#3
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	Benchrest shooter, not a good idea in a hunting rifle. It may work til you have to unload it and the bullet stays in the barrell and you get 46 grains of 4831 in the action and magazine. Guess how I know this.

July 15, 2015, 10:27 PM	#4
WVMountaineer Senior Member Join Date: January 11, 2015 Posts: 330	pete2 X 2

July 16, 2015, 07:28 AM	#5
stubbicatt Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2007 Posts: 1,707	Unless he has changed his discipline, Whidden is not a benchrest shooter. He is one of the finest position shooters in the country, and if I'm not mistaken has won the Wimbledon a time or two. He uses a sling and lays on the ground. Pretty sure he shoots a fast twist 243. As far as soft seating goes, it has its place in target shooting, and is a favored technique for barrels whose throats erode quickly as one does not find himself chasing the lands to arrive at a consistent seating depth.

July 16, 2015, 08:30 AM	#6
USMC 77-81 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2012 Location: Northern Idaho Posts: 254	I would only 'Soft seat' for a single shot target gun. Light neck tension in any multiple shot gun could and probably would result in bullet set back and, the each subsequent round would have more and more set back. Most reloaders want consistency which includes consistent OAL. 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marines, Horno, 53 area.