Adjust powder or seating depth first?

[lukeyn]

Well Just like the title says, which do you guys adjust first when perfecting the handload. The amount of powder drop or the depth you seat the bullet/c.o.a.l.?

 

[azhank]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

I made a similar post a couple weeks ago and most people said powder then seating depth.

 

[gunsnjeeps]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

Yep, find the most accurate charge weight then adjust length to see if it improves.

 

[sniperaviator]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

OAL's given in Hogdens website are minimums. Pressure reduces as you go longer. But, when you touch the lands, pressure spikes back up. Just keep all this in mind.

 

[Gene Poole]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gunsnjeeps</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Yep, find the most accurate charge weight then adjust length to see if it improves. </div></div>

You want to find the optimal charge weight (OCW) not the most accurate. Optimal charge is the charge at which the bullet leaves the barrel while the barrel harmonics are such that the shape of the barrel is closest to the at-rest shape.

 

[aloreman]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

start with the bullet touching the lands find your sweet spot in your powder charge and then try seating them a few thousanths shorter at a time till you find how much jump your barrel likes

 

[lukeyn]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

Ok, I was unsure. I found the best powder weight at 43.5/43.6. Then adjusted the seating depth. The closer to the lands the worse the accuracy.

 

[Hookturnr]

Re: Adjust powder or seating depth first?

I'm a powder first guy too with the exception of one gun. My 204 needed to be seated way out to the lands before i could get anything to shoot well in it.