Does seating depth matter for load development?

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[patrickcolahan]

Interesting test John, I have a problem comparing seating depth performance (accuracy) with only one round per depth. I think a minimum of 3 shots each depth so that one can see the potential precision of each group between the seating depths. Just me, and I know there are many ways to do comparisons. Thanks for sharing.

[brettmorgan]

Now this is pretty awesome to see, I’ve done extensive testing on seating depth with different manufacturers projectiles and some have wide nodes and some well have stupidly narrow nodes so this could be the case, but you know what it shows a huge picture that at least the powder node you are using for the given projectile is working extremely well which finding is half the battle.
I commend you on sharing this John love your channel and what you do with it and congrats on the last day at SWN too massive achievement considering any battles but what you did was commendable 👍🏻

[dougwood]

I really enjoy all of your videos. I just wanted to say I think most of us are watching these on a smart TV with no option to comment. We can "like + Subscribe" but thats it. Youtube should realize this in their algorithm

[Backyard_hunting]

Hi John! From my recent loads I found that with lower pressures and less speed, example: I dropped my speed down 340fps running less powder and now my 140gr nosler does not care where I seat it. Long as -3000 from jam and to short as 180k from jam. It just wants to group. So I am with you on this test. Also fun fact, my ES went down to 2fps from 16fps. 2510fps av 140gr nosler RDF 6.5mmCM using s365 Solchem Powder

[rustynut]

I think it's hard to make a great barrel shoot bad, especially with good bullets that it likes. Awesome demonstration!

[mikecollins]

Seating depth is important for those of us "hunters" who have to shoot at magazine length, maximum :) I usually start there and then fine tune, going in, in .005" increments... seems to me that different bullets are more or less forgiving to depth, verses rifle/ load/ powder, but I'd love to see you do a similar test!

[dalehorkey]

As always thanks for such wonderful content. Question though, with all the discussion I've been hearing lately about all the things that don't matter for load development, it's becoming more and more difficult to say with any conviction what a solid development and reloading process should look like. What have you found in your experience matters?

[dinoc.]

Nice test John, I will also note that the speed stat from the SM is all of 11 SD. Knowing that the speed was slowing with the seating depth, the fact that the SD is still only 11 shows a very forgiving recipe all in all.

[AlexSwan]

Very nice. Just wondering which process comes first, finding the right load or seating depth? How do you know when to start playing with seating depth, as in how do you settle on a load?

[KingLoopie]

Sounds like a test I need to do in my load workups so I can quit obsessing over that 2-3 thou seating depth. I'm glad you showed those clamtainers! A new thing to buy and try! .... So much work ahead.... 🤔😉😀👍👍

[erich]

Plot the elevation vs seating depth in Excel, it there is a trend, it will show up there. Staring too long at a cluttered target will make you imagine things that are not there. I did a very similar test, but only looked at velocity. There was a very strong linear trend to slow down as the jump increases. At long range, this velocity difference is enough to account for an elevation trend on the target.

[userJohnSmith]

I ran some ladder tests for my .284W and 6ARC, both on AR platforms. After some unusual circumstances forcing me to test very deep seating depths, I found my best nodes way down-on both. Not the best groups, but the widest nodes and damn close.

[ruanschmidt]

I've actually tested this method with my previous load development and will confirm with behalf of John that this does work. This was also before I watched John's video on it and just thought "what a coincidence". Mind you, I did this without a chronograph and developed a load within 30 rounds that shot a 0.71 MOA at 220 yards. This was not for benchrest or F-Class shooting, only hunting purposes. I tested the load 2 weeks later to confirm and it ahot right on the money.

[douglasbattjes]

Thanks as always John, Set some of my 6.5 C's at 30 off the lands, and got great results, sub.250 but many one wholes, what's funny is Hornady's 6.5 C's ELD-X are 65 off and shoot .50 groups, really surprised at how good boxed ammo shoots now days. Am reloading the same seeds, but with H 4350

[agmining]

It is significant to notice that the point of impact changed significantly as the barrel heated up and/or the shooter grew more tired. Two factors that sorts the men from the boys in F class shooting.

[jcrows]

I was working on a 243 AI shooting 70 gr Dierras with WIN 760. I tried various loads in increments of .03 of a grain. It was almost there but wouldn't quite repeat groupings. Almost gave up and decided to seat the bullets .002 deeper. The reloading gods were with me. Instant magic.

[USAACbrat]

I was an anti AR 308 shooter until I met the crew of CMMG in a Lake Ozark Bar. I agreed to try one in 2009. well I bought a complete Lower for $249.00 and commenced to building lowers, I am taking it to the range tomorrow to test some handloads. I still don't need another but if I did it would be a Cmmg.

[bretthl]

I'd love to see a ladder test, three or five shots per load, done twice (ie repeated with the same load configuration). I think you'd be surprised the degree to which the shooter influences the test.

[markmanning]

it matters for both head space AND powder compression (or even just powder free space within the cartridge)

[marklayland]

Great video, can you please tell me where you got the clear plastic storage boxes that your ammunition is in, thanks in advance.