Ok went out to the range to test seating depth. I've never ever mucked with it before. I've always just used the SAAMI OAL and did OCW then stuck with that load. I'm about to load up 1K rounds and thought before doing that I'd spend a little time and do a length study.
So the load I'm using:
175SMK
Lapua Brass
44.3g Varget
Remington 9.5 primer
2.800 OAL Control
Rifle:
Remington 700 LTR 20" bbl
AICS Stock
Viperskins
Holland Radial Muzzle Brake
S&B PMII 5-25 DT CM CW
Badger 20MOA Rail, Seekins x-high (1.25") 34mm rings
Firing Position: Prone
Conditions:
1940 ft DA
77.8 Deg F
I then shot a 4 shot group with each tested load and varied by 0.010" for each load. I also threw in another 2.800 load that I ran on my mandrel die to see if doing that extra step could help and result in more consistent neck tension. (I was hoping not as I buy Lapua brass for its consistency and always dig finding out when a reloading step can be skipped). I didn't go over 2.840" as I wanted to make sure and be very safe when loading into 10 round AICS magazines. In the end looks like I'll load up my 1K rounds at 2.810" OAL. Which should be good and easy since I reset my die to be zeroed out at 2.800. Just dial her to +10 and I'm ready to go. However in the end I'm glad I put in the time to do this but based on the group sizes here and the difference that the whole test shows I don't see a whole lot of value to be gained in doing this. That being said the value in the extra confidence that my load is good by doing this is not zero.
Here were my results:
2.800 Control Load:
2.800 Run over the mandrel die:
2.810:
2.820:
2.830:
2.840:
So the load I'm using:
175SMK
Lapua Brass
44.3g Varget
Remington 9.5 primer
2.800 OAL Control
Rifle:
Remington 700 LTR 20" bbl
AICS Stock
Viperskins
Holland Radial Muzzle Brake
S&B PMII 5-25 DT CM CW
Badger 20MOA Rail, Seekins x-high (1.25") 34mm rings
Firing Position: Prone
Conditions:
1940 ft DA
77.8 Deg F
I then shot a 4 shot group with each tested load and varied by 0.010" for each load. I also threw in another 2.800 load that I ran on my mandrel die to see if doing that extra step could help and result in more consistent neck tension. (I was hoping not as I buy Lapua brass for its consistency and always dig finding out when a reloading step can be skipped). I didn't go over 2.840" as I wanted to make sure and be very safe when loading into 10 round AICS magazines. In the end looks like I'll load up my 1K rounds at 2.810" OAL. Which should be good and easy since I reset my die to be zeroed out at 2.800. Just dial her to +10 and I'm ready to go. However in the end I'm glad I put in the time to do this but based on the group sizes here and the difference that the whole test shows I don't see a whole lot of value to be gained in doing this. That being said the value in the extra confidence that my load is good by doing this is not zero.
Here were my results:
2.800 Control Load:
2.800 Run over the mandrel die:
2.810:
2.820:
2.830:
2.840:
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