Bullet seating depth
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Reloading
Forum Name: Reloading .303 British
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URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14443
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 2:51pm
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Topic: Bullet seating depth
Posted By: Canuck
Subject: Bullet seating depth
Date Posted: February 18 2026 at 7:48pm
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What do you guys use as a measurement for 303 bullet seating depth? How far off the lands? I'm investing in a Hornady bullet seating gauge and modified case to try get the best accuracy I can. ( Also will be working with 30-06 and 7.62x51NATO). I do realize that throat wear on these older rifles is a consideration, but the rifles I plan on experimenting with have excellent rifling right from the throat to the muzzle. Thx for all opinions expressed! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Replies:
Posted By: britrifles
Date Posted: February 19 2026 at 2:14am
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I’ve got the Hornady OAL gage and it works quite well. I also have the companion Hornady Bullet Comparator, this allows measurement from cartridge base (case head) to bullet ogive. It’s not really necessary, but gives you a means to more precisely determine jump to the lands. It’s not likely that you will be able to load 150 or 174 gr .303 spitzer bullets to get within .030 inches of the lands without seating them past magazine length. To do this, a boat tail bullets will have very little grip from the case. You will have to single load anything longer than about 3.07”. It’s somewhat of a compromise with having sufficient length of bullet bearing surface held by the case neck and getting the bullet ogive close to the lands. Bullets like the Sierra SMK with its tangent ogive are very forgiving of a long jump to the lands, even as much as 0.30 inches off the lands. These barrels typically have long throats and they get longer the more rounds are fired. When I pulled the BSA barrel off my primary shooter, the throat had extended such that the 174 SMK was out of the case neck before it contacted the lands. The trick is to use light finger pressure when pushing the bullet into the lands, don’t force it. |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: February 19 2026 at 8:25am
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Thank you sir, that's exactly the information I was needing! ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 19 2026 at 10:58am
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^^^ THIS. I actually seat so that there is one full caliber diameter in the case neck,excepting any boat tail present & let the length overall fall where it may.  Yes its a compromise, but its a working one. When I test seated several different bullets to contact the lands,none of them had enough in the neck to hold, much less stabilize, or center them! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: February 19 2026 at 11:23am
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The last batch I loaded were Hornady #3031 174 SP's. I seated to the center of the cannulure. Range results are promising, most hit in the 9 ring at 100 meters (109 yds.). 1942 Faz No.4/MK2 with excellent almost fresh rifling. Numbers matching bolt/action/barrel. PH4 rear sight, .015" front sight blade. Sitting position on a very cold winter day with a light east/west breeze and cold fingers. ------------- Castles made of sand slip into the sea.....eventually |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: February 19 2026 at 11:28am
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I ignore the cannelure completely!  I don't crimp,& so don't need the cannelure for that & this in turn frees me up to seat to whatever I want. I have polished down all my expander balls so they give a higher than factory grip on the bullet with the case mouth instead.this has reduced my neck & bullet run out as well, which is a good thing. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |