shootig with bullets close to the lands

I shoot all my rifles with bullets close to lands. Some jammed slightly. It won't hurt your barrel at all. Go with what is most accurate.

What caliber are we talking about?

With Bergers you will need them close to the lands or jammed into them in order to find good accuracy. I've never heard of it hurting barrel life before, I don't know how it could.

-matt

don't worry about barrel life with regards to land distance...it's not an issue.

On the Berger bullets, depending on which ones you're using, you'll have to test what distance they like. VLD's for example are distance sensitive so loading x distance from the lands may not work well. Go to the Berger site and they indicate proper load development with the VLD bullet. Hybrids are less sensitive to land distance so going say, .020 out will probably work as well as .040 out.

Line and Designs | Berger Bullets

The "problem", with being close to the lands, is not "barrel life". It's more about "your life". You have to "develop loads", carefully, when you're "close to the lands". OVER PRESSURE IS THE "PROBLEM". Work up, slow, and watch for signs of over pressure. Ya need to get a guage. Pick a bullet, and measure to the ogive, when it "touches the lands". Back off app. 2 thousandths, and "carefully" work up your loads, at that length. Pushing a full load into the lands, can be FATAL to your gun, and "possibly", you. Just, me.Josh. Still ten fingers, and 2 eyes. 25 yrs, reloading.

remember pressure issues!! - Better yet ASK if you have no idea what I am talking about!!!

JoshcBoucher said:

The "problem", with being close to the lands, is not "barrel life". It's more about "your life". You have to "develop loads", carefully, when you're "close to the lands". OVER PRESSURE IS THE "PROBLEM". Work up, slow, and watch for signs of over pressure. Ya need to get a guage. Pick a bullet, and measure to the ogive, when it "touches the lands". Back off app. 2 thousandths, and "carefully" work up your loads, at that length. Pushing a full load into the lands, can be FATAL to your gun, and "possibly", you. Just, me.Josh. Still ten fingers, and 2 eyes. 25 yrs, reloading.

Click to expand...

That is why a lot of people advocate seating to the lands and finding max load then back off before proceeding with load development.

I agree with finding them with somethingl like a modified case and then backing the bullet off a little. Then figure out your best powder load. Then, adjust your seating depth.

This is "actually" the safer approach. "moving 2 thousandths", is "tough:ie Hard to do, if you don't do it carefully, and with the right gauges. When you "start at the lands", you may be "pushing the bullet into the lands", because of a "bad measurement". If your "max load", starts there, "backing off" any amount, will "help lower pressure". hdbiker1 is "more correct" than I am, given your "experience level". I've been "at this" a while, and always double check with 2 different Mic's, when I set up. Don't forget to check your die "sets" a lot, when you're loading. They CAN move! Loading to the "thousandths", is a whole different game, and can drive ya nuts! Get some really good gauges, and be careful. A good "little safety factor", isn't a bad idea. I've got some loads,at 2k off the lands and shoot "little holes", that are well below my Max load.

hdbiker1 said:

That is why a lot of people advocate seating to the lands and finding max load then back off before proceeding with load development.

Click to expand...

I didn't want to start another thread I hope you don't mind me asking here ? What would be the minimum amount of bullet in the brass ? Pushing my bullets out to the lands I notice the bullet engagement in the brass is getting short. I worry feeding from a magazine bullet setback may happen?