Bullet Seating Depth

I wouldn't fret it either way.  I don't worry about neck tention much, I partial neck size to a crush fit, and get as close to the lands as my mag box allows.

This is my SOP.

Kentucky Windage Said:
I have a 22-250 factory barrel that I have been developing test loads for.  I am finding that I need to seat the bullets really far in order to get close to the lands.  These loads still fit in the mag, but I am wondering how far a guy should seat bullets out of the case with respect to proper neck tension and seating depth in the neck of the case itself.  With a 50gr V-max, the bullet is seated roughly half way into the neck.  Should I be less concerned with having the bullet close to the lands and more concerned about how far the bullet needs to be in the neck of case? Or does it not bother you guys to have the bullet seated semi-shallow in the case?  Your two pennies would be much appreciated, thanks>

marksman Said:

Kentucky Windage Said:
I have a 22-250 factory barrel that I have been developing test loads for.  I am finding that I need to seat the bullets really far in order to get close to the lands.  These loads still fit in the mag, but I am wondering how far a guy should seat bullets out of the case with respect to proper neck tension and seating depth in the neck of the case itself.  With a 50gr V-max, the bullet is seated roughly half way into the neck.  Should I be less concerned with having the bullet close to the lands and more concerned about how far the bullet needs to be in the neck of case? Or does it not bother you guys to have the bullet seated semi-shallow in the case?  Your two pennies would be much appreciated, thanks>

doesn't sound like any issues yet. go with a collet crimp and have fun

Kentucky Windage Said:

marksman Said:

Kentucky Windage Said:
I have a 22-250 factory barrel that I have been developing test loads for.  I am finding that I need to seat the bullets really far in order to get close to the lands.  These loads still fit in the mag, but I am wondering how far a guy should seat bullets out of the case with respect to proper neck tension and seating depth in the neck of the case itself.  With a 50gr V-max, the bullet is seated roughly half way into the neck.  Should I be less concerned with having the bullet close to the lands and more concerned about how far the bullet needs to be in the neck of case? Or does it not bother you guys to have the bullet seated semi-shallow in the case?  Your two pennies would be much appreciated, thanks>

doesn't sound like any issues yet. go with a collet crimp and have fun

How important is it to crimp?  I have never done it to a single round, and I have never had a problem.  As of right now, I am not planning on doing it either.  Any negatives?

Seat the bullets how the gun likes to shoot them best, if for hunting make sure they load in magazine and feed. With the new bullets now days it is easy to seat them out to the lands and not fit magazine proper. Don't worry about how much bullet is sticking in neck or out and you only need to crimp if shooting a gun that recoils bad which causes the bullets to maybe get longer in magazine or cylinder. Most dies can be set to neck size only and or full lenght size. It seems most guns like bullets set very close and maybe touching lands. I don't like to crimp because it can cause damage to bullet , the case if done wrong and effect accuracy. Never really saw any troubles in my many years of reloading for hunting and competition.

Food for thought.

espringers Said:
holy wall-eyes... where did that pic come from?  looks oddly like bonzers in grand forks.  however, as fine as they were... i don't ever remember seeing one quite like that in my 8 years there. 

Plainsman Said:

I think your seating depth is ok, and crimp dies are cheap so try it.  I tried it with 22-250, 308, and 300 Win Mag.  They didn't shoot as good.  Can't tell you why it helped with the 223 in the AR, but it did.