Loading to mag length

[johnnybow]

Just watching hornady podcast on load development and they mentioned that there is nothing wrong with just loading to mag length and forgetting about messing with trying to get closer to the lands. Anybody just load to mag length and shoot? Thoughts?

 

[Sheltowee]

Just watching hornady podcast on load development and they mentioned that there is nothing wrong with just loading to mag length and forgetting about messing with trying to get closer to the lands. Anybody just load to mag length and shoot? Thoughts?

Depends on the projectile. In my experience, Hammers HHTs, Hornady SSTs, Hornady ELD-Ms and most generic softpoints are not seating-depth sensitive. Barnes TTSXs, SMKs and especially Nosler RDFs were very seating-depth sensitive.

Regardless, seating depth is one of the last variables I'd play with.

 

[std7mag]

For most of my rifles, I'm blessed with some long mag lengths.

While my Weatherby Mark Vs have a decent mag length, the limiting factor is the short ejection port.

Most bullets you hunt with will tend to be fairly forgiving of seating depth.
Berger VLDs are NOT forgiving of jump! They like it up close and personal to the lands.

 

[El Jason]

Anybody just load to mag length and shoot?

Yes.

 

[Jnasa]

For my hunting rifles I just load to mag length with good results.

If you’re wanting to shoot benchrest or really reach out it may be more critical to get closer to lands depending on your rifle and bullet.

 

[howl]

Being an A-Bolt fan, that's SOP.

 

[kodiakisland]

What else are you going to do unless you make the rifle a single shot.

 

[44hunter45]

Just watching hornady podcast on load development and they mentioned that there is nothing wrong with just loading to mag length and forgetting about messing with trying to get closer to the lands. Anybody just load to mag length and shoot? Thoughts?

When I can.
Barnes Originals tend to be fat in the ogive. Interesting because Hornady and Woodleigh round noses of heavier weight will not touch the lands.
I do not use factory crimp grooves unless the stars line up. I have a tool to roll in my own cannelure if I need to. Most times I ignore the groove and just kiss them with the Lee Factory Crimper.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I load to the data’s COAL and have never had to adjust seating depth to find accurate loads.

 

[brockel]

All I do anymore. Load to mag length unless it hits the lands then I seat just off lands. I don’t dick with seating depths anymore. Work up to max powder. If it doesn’t shoot I try a different powder. Simple

 

[sclancy27]

All I do anymore. Load to mag length unless it hits the lands then I seat just off lands. I don’t dick with seating depths anymore. Work up to max powder. If it doesn’t shoot I try a different powder. Simple

Same. I'm basically done with load dev in 10 rounds with one powder/bullet combo anymore. So much time and components saved

 

[mtmuley]

Same. I'm basically done with load dev in 10 rounds with one powder/bullet combo anymore. So much time and components saved

Did this with all my rifles. 20 years plus of the same loads. Easy. mtmuley

 

[grizzly63]

Man,where's the variety and trigger time in that ? JK

 

[brockel]

Man,where's the variety and trigger time in that ? JK

I’ll take smacking steel or rocks over load development.

 

[Redmt]

What else are you going to do unless you make the rifle a single shot.

Aren't all the best rifles single shot?

 

[brockel]

Aren't all the ugliest rifles single shot?

Fixed it for you

 

[Brian in Montana]

Just watching hornady podcast on load development and they mentioned that there is nothing wrong with just loading to mag length and forgetting about messing with trying to get closer to the lands. Anybody just load to mag length and shoot? Thoughts?

I do this in my Savage 110s and Tikka, but not my Remington 700s. In my -06 (a Rem700) it actually doesn't take much before I'm jamming the bullet into the lands. There's just a lot more room in the internal mag of a 700 than there is in a detachable mag of the others.

 

[Redmt]

Aren't all the best rifles single shot?

Thanks for the effort but I made it right again!!!

 

[grizzly63]

"Beware the man with one gun or a single shot"

 

[Redmt]