I just joined the forum and have tried searching for what others have determined their Remington 700 30-06's best jump/free travel was for them. I've done this on my .243 and .270 for various bullet types but am just now starting on my Remington 700. I was hoping this forum could help me determine a better starting point so I don't have to go through so many rounds at the range. How can I look up what others have determined? I know how to find my OAL I just need advice on how far others have loaded from their lands. Any advice is welcome for sure!
Welcome to TFF.
I wish that it were that easy. Unfortunately, it has been my findings that different bullet and powder combinations like different things. I rather enjoy trying different seating lengths once I find a load that I am happy with.
Welcome to the FORUM. Just like howlnmad said, every bullet/powder/length combination will most likely produce different results. It will require some playing/testing with these different component combinations to find what you're looking for. Sometimes the search is totally enjoyable and enlightening, sometimes it's near maddening.
I have never measured off the lands. I find my OLL then screw the seating die in untill the bullet no longer touch's the lands. How much better my rifle's would shoot if I tweked it, no idea. No idea and don't care.
There really is no quick and easy answer. One of my rifles likes 10 thou off the lands and the other likes 1/2 inch of free bore. Both are 243 Winchester.
I've been hunting over 50 years with a 30-06 and have never measured, I just use Remington core-loot or what ever the load instructions call for depending on the bullet I reload. If its Hornady bullets I follow hornady instructions, if its Sierra bullets I follow Sierra instructions and so on. I than follow up with ladder tests to see what my rifle likes.
I use the Hornady OAL gauge to find out what the maximum length should be for a particular bullet, caliber, rifle combination. I play around with COAL searching for the best group, after deciding on powder and charge weight for a particular bullet.
I would stay at least .005" off the lands. Closer to the lands can raise pressures dramatically. Keep an eye out for pressure signs while playing with seating depths.
Thanks! I'm planning on seating initially .015" off the lands and ladder testing to get my best charge. Then I'll seat .020", .015", and .010" off and see what the paper likes best. Sound reasonable? If .010" is best I'll go down some more and see how that groups up. This reloading game makes me feel like a kid again when I'd wake up excited to go out and shoot. Thanks for the advice.
Okay. My last round I developed liked about .050" from the lands...Thanks.
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