Chasing the lands is STUPID: Part 2 

I’m a double Distinguished master and an old school reloader from the 60’s and always neck sized until I viewed your 2 classic videos. Made a lot of sense and my consistency and accuracy improved. So I’m recently getting into ELR shooting and looking for sub .5MOA groups while chasing lands. Since your previous advice worked very well I tried your seating procedure and now I’m at .28MOA average. Thanks for teaching this old dog new tricks...

I realize that not everyone learns at the same rate or picks up on stuff as quickly as others, but coming from a %100 newbie (me), I'm surprised that there had to be a part 2 video. The first one explained everything really well. Thank you for your knowledge and videos, Erik.

As erosion increases freebore, your node stays in the zone because you went to the longest length within your accuracy node minus 1/1000th. This example helps understand and extend barrels life, chasing lands shortens barrel life. Fantastic video sir!!

I did exactly what you taught in part 1. Worked perfectly! I will never go back to my old way.

Wish I had this video 8 years ago when I started reloading my own freedom seeds!! Really appreciate your content and I just wanted to say from South Africa, thank you sir.

Thank you for your time and experience. Thank you for being patient for those of us who want to learn more.

Wow, I have reloaded for 20+ years and never heard it put into this perspective. You do have me excited to go put this to the test. Thank you for sharing!

Anyone who withholds great information like this is a disgrace to the discipline. Information is free. Skill is earned. Keep making videos Erik

I’ve been reloading since 1969. Been using this technique since. You name it I’ve owned and loaded for it. Your first video one of the best I’ve seen. It’s just so simple and self explanatory. I’m doing load development and precision rifle testing most days for a company just finished for the morning. Just find where the bullet is jammed into the lands or call it zero position. Everything is now one way backwards seating the bullet deeper. So it’s irrelevant what cartridge I’m testing and loading for I simply within seconds find that zero position - jam position then start twenty thou back and proceed with more as required

Watched this video, did a node test based my on my mags because I shoot a ar10. Found the sweet spot .025 off from max mag. Tightened my grouping from .600 to .400. Can't thank you enough.

probably one of the best videos on reloading for precision

Thank you Erik for taking the time to make these videos. They are a big help and I look forward to more

Thank you so much for spelling this out for us. It may seem simple to those who understand it right off the bat but it's taken some time for me to digest and get it all squared away. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to do these videos.

Finally! an explanation on tinkering with seating depth and dealing with mag length. Keep making stuff like this oh wise one...and absolutely want a "Small Groups Matter" shirt

WOW!!! I have been harbouring these questions for a couple years now and you cleared it right up. So awesome.

I've been reloading for a year or so and my results have been less than stellar. This kind of information helps me see things I'm doing wrong that I didn't even know I was doing wrong. Thanks.

Love your work Erik. Makes perfect sense and I love your no BS delivery of the facts. Good Health Mate👍👊✌️

Been reloading 40+ years. These two videos are pure gold,makes this subject very clear,and simple.Thankyou..

so excited to try this!! thanks for taking the time to make these last 2 videos!!!

Super job explaining,makes me excited to reload again.Thanks for your generous attitude and the gift of knowledge on this subject you have shared with us. Selflessness of one makes winners of us all.Well done!

Eric. I recently took up reloading. I hold a degree in Chemical Engineering and I can tell you that your employment of the "scientific method" of experimentation is spot on for creating an optimized round for accuracy. Thanks!!

Eric, thank you for what you share with us. I recently heard that people work to master their craft, whatever that may be, and once they’ve mastered it they often “mentor” others. Thanks again!

Thanks for taking the time to do these videos. Great info.

Just watched these two videos again, I'm so thankful you shared this! This has been the missing key to my puzzle for the last 29 years of why I could get great groups sometimes and horrible groups another. I tried it all, trying to make my rifles shoot and now understand where the problem has been since day one!! I have even sold rifles that probably shot just fine if I had known to do this last step of load development. It kind of makes me sick knowing how much in terms of components I have wasted over the years due to ignorance, but now thanks to Erik and a few others on RU-vid I don't waste a thing!! Thank you so much for this much needed information!!

Erik, I learned about this in the 70s when I was shooting NRA High Power Rifle competition reloading with an RCBS single stage press. I didn’t have a lot of money being in the Air Force. Love your explanations for the hard heads. For me, it gives me the new terms and reasons. In the past, I had to learn the hard way by doing and experimentation. You have made it easy for the new guys to understand. Great Work!

Thank you!! As a new hand loader your info has helped me a ton!! I load precision gas guns and I follow your principles. Makes for common sense hand loading!! Much appreciated. Keep up the great work! Semper Fi

I struggled with your first video and writing off distance to the lands because I’ve had great success with the wheeler method. Glad you brought it up, as well as mentioning being limited by mag length in this video. That really cleared up the confusion I had around what you were saying as I felt it was a great starting point. I think every time you said who cares about the distance to the lands you just meant who cares about keeping track of it or maintaining that distance from the lands as it erodes. This video was excellent. Thanks for the info.

Eric, Figured out the nods , and thanks so much for passing it all on. Sharing is a gift. Doug

This is a real eye opener. Thank you very much for sharing this information!

Thank you Eric, you are an absolute wealth of knowledge and a true gentleman for sharing that hard earned experience with us.

Thank you for doing these videos and sharing the information. Getting it from someone who has "rubber meets the road" experience and proven performance is invaluable.

Erik, this is one of the best series of videos I have watched in reloading. I tried a number of different load development methods and this one makes the most sense and used it on a number of new tubes since. I pay for your Patreon, it has a number of great videos and is well worth it. Thank you for not "keeping" your knowledge and helping us who want to learn.

Definitely would buy a “Small Groups Matter” shirt!

Thanks for the video Erik! This is exactly where I am with my load development. Your video is a great reference for me! Thanks again and keep them coming!

I haven't even got into loading but will be like yesterday and already feel like I've learned an incredible amount just by watching your videos. You make a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. Keep up the good work. Love you brother.

I agree 1000% Erik seating depth will tune any load!! I've been loading for over 25 years. And this makes "chasing the lands crazy simple" 🤯👍Thank you! 🙏

Absolutely! Been learning about how inconsistent factory ammunition effects on accuracy for past 3 minutes months testing many different brands and measuring OTB to sort into testing groups. Purchased some tools and will attempt to research more at the range.

I truly appreciate you, I've hand loaded magnum payload shotgun shells since Steel replaced Lead ....that said theres a ton of misinformation on brass loads and you above all in my 6 month venture have more common sense about the the categories of accuracy than ANYONE... I appreciate your time spent on the subject....

Great information Erik. I've been precision shooting as a hobby for over 20 years. Measuring where the lands are has always left me feeling that I simply did not have the right equipment to do so, or, I was not physically able to operate my measuring tools correctly (calipers, micrometers, etc) and as a result was not able to achieve closely matching successive measurements. Your explanation of the lands as a "moving target" and the lands represented a range rather than a single data point makes perfect sense to me. I've been moving the seating depth in 0.003" increments, and have had some success at squeezing the accuracy out of my rifles. Your process is going to greatly simplify my load development. I just found your channel. I have subscribed and plan to watch everything you have uploaded to RU-vid. Keep up the good work sir!

Just as informative as Part 1 Great refresher course.

Thank you Eric, For me it has always been a combination of chasing speed and accuracy. You have convinced me to chase accuracy and simplify things, Thank you.

I just tried this method in my ar15 224 valkyrie . It took my 1in group down to .5in also took my SD and ES numbers down to single digits , I was impressed. Thanks for your knowledge. Love your videos. Can't wait to get a brake tuner for my 338 lapua when they are available.

Awesome! Makes sense to me. Thanks for bringing up mag limitations.....and the system still works!!!! We appreciate you sharing this hard learned information. Thanks a bunch Erik!

Awesome videos man! You explained it really well. Even in part 1 it was good!

Erik you rock! I followed the doctors orders today and ignored the lands while I searched for bullet seating depth on my favorite powder charge. Guess what? I found a node that's got me shooting 5/16" groups at 100 yds of Berger 168 VLD. That's with a Remington .308 factory barrel. Hahaha!!

Awesome video, I got in part 1. It's refreshing to watch a video that's not BS for a change. I'm smarter now after watching. Thanks.

Thanks Erik, your info is a real asset to me, I'm 74 , been reloading since in my 20s, learning more from you than ever

Erik, I stumbled upon one of your hand loading videos and was impressed, but I thought.... I recognize this guy. Then you mentioned Texas Barndominiums. AH HAH!!!! Demolition Ranch Headquarters! I had been impressed enough to go check out your Texas Barndominiums youtube channel then. But this channel blows me away! I've been loading for about 6 years. I have learned so much from your videos in just the past few days! I wish I lived closer. I'd love to take your reloading class! Thank you for these videos. Truly amazing stuff!!!!

We shoot FTR and have been doing some of what you illustrated. However, love the part about .003" increments. Doing some more testing now tomorrow! Also loved the part about seating depth will tune any load. Fascinating. Thanks for doing this.

"Seating depth will tune any load" Thank you!! Fully agree!

Hey Erik,! You certainly got me excited about reloading! I’ve been hesitant or more like scared to get into reloading, but after last hunting season, season of 2021, I see it as a necessity. I never again want to sweat about not being able to use a certain one of my rifles only because I couldn’t find the ammo. After watching a lot of your vids as well as other channels, but mainly yours! Lol, I feel confident now going into reloading! Most of all, after learning the info you’ve given us, I’m excited! Thank you for the information and time you’ve taken to educate us! God bless and continue to shoot straight!

Great info. I appreciate the tip at the end about factory ammo. Getting all the reloading stuff is a big investment, but getting a few tools to reseat factory ammo has help me get a ton of performance out of factory ammo.

I’m new to reloading and I’ve been struggling. Your videos just make logical sense and I’m going to apply this method and hopefully build a superb round for my rifle. Please make a powder tuning video. Superb video Thank you from the UK

I had watch both of the videos . You clear alot of things up and make it easy for me to under stand better. thank you

I appreciate you sharing your experience and as an avid reloader your teaching is priceless! Thank you so much. Best regards . Ernest J🙏

I just got into reloading, and I can’t wait to try out all these techniques I’m learning. Keep up the great work!

I'm just getting into reloading and I've watched way too many RU-vid vids. He gets to the point with no BS.

Erik, I came across your videos during Covid, as I had more down time than normal, due to travel lockdowns, etc. and used RU-vid and other online searches to improve my reloading knowledge. This is one of the best and most unique videos I have watched regarding seating depth. The trick about factory loads is also useful (or a shooter can buy your tuner). You are the first person I have watched in a handloading video, who references "jam" instead of referencing "touching the lands". It is a very logical and consistent way to find a load starting point and a very repeatable methods for any rifle/bullet combination. When the magazine is the limiting factor, instead of Jam length, then the handloader will need to use the Magazine length (seated a bit deeper than the Max magazine OAL, so that it will feed reliably), as the starting point for load development. Everything you wrote and discussed makes perfect sense. You are a great teacher and you really care about sharing your knowledge with shooters. This information really does help people avoid frustration, and it helps prevent mistakes or even dangerous situations for newer and inexperienced handloaders. I've watched 25 plus of your videos and also I agree with you regarding cleaning. Too many people shoot a very dirty barrel (almost abused). I never seen a dirty barrel, in a well maintained and quality rifle, which shot better than a clean or at least slightly dirty barrel. Plus, cleaning a barrel will help prevent rust/corrosion. Keep up the amazing effort and work. Thank you, Bryan

Makes complete since. That's why a rifle will like some ammo and some it hates. I was so glad when you pointed that out.

I wish someone had told me this 10 years ago. Thanks Erik!

This helped me a ton!!!! I'd love it if you would go over your load development process. Thanks again!

Thanks Erik you have succeeded in getting me excited about reloading again, cant wait to try your method makes it much simpler and makes sense

Thank you very much. I appreciate your advice and your expertise. Both of these videos make total sense and answered my questions on lands. This information will definitely help me find where I should be loading for my rifle. Thank you again.

Finally! Someone that makes sense on this subject. Thanks bro

Another great video Erik. At 22:00 when you ask about 5 different factory ammos...I'm releasing a video today comparing 5 off the shelf with my hand loads and you'll see some interesting results. The basic outcome is EXACTLY what you are saying here! Folks, you don't chase the lands, you adjust for erosion in the barrel IF NEEDED after x100 number of rounds to make sure you are still grouping tight and within a good node as Erik demonstrated here. Also remember that the lands are not eroding "vertically", they are eroding in a tunnel fashion where the erosion is more pronounced at the start of the lands and GRADUALLY decreases (the erosion decreases is what I'm saying) as you move towards the muzzle. To Erik's point, how can you really measure "to the lands" after say 500 rounds? Really nice explanation here Erik.

Lots of watching, but its finally soaking in. Thanks Erik for your contributions to the shooting community.

Your videos on not chasing the lands makes a lot of sense. Thank you for sharing your information and keep up the great work

Your videos are great. Keep em coming. Would be great to see some series based videos... Reloading Series: Component selection all the way to rounds on target, break em out so you have some time to share your insights and opinions. Pair that with a Rifle Series: Rifle, Caliber, and gear and why you shoot what you do, and how to improve. Information like that, in one place, by a shooter of your caliber (pun intended) would really help new or misinformed people who are interested in the sport but struggling to find a path toward improvement. I know I'd watch every one of em.

I am so glad you broke this down! The target is TRUTH!!!! It's so sad to see folks waist time and money based in what they read online about lan spacing. Even worst, is folks getting discouraged and confused. Lan chasing may work for some BUT please people don't get lost in the sauce, target tells thre truth everytime! This man speaks the truth!

Ran into some problems finding a decent load on 6.5 grendel. Used the simple method you describe and tested it on two different powders worked awesome. Over the years I've tried ALOT of other methods and spent countless hours tweaking this and that and prepping brass. This was dirt simple and effective. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Thanks for being si thorough, i had questions i didn't know how to ask but you covered it all.

I’m literally dizzy from all the common sense! Haven’t heard any for quite awhile. Thanks for the video 👍🏻

New long range shooter, have been chasing the lands. Thank you for saving my sanity and $$. Great first vid, sorry you had to make another.

It totally made sense the first time. You are looking for a small group node. So you start from jam and work back till you find it, that's your seating depth. Who cares what was in the middle (lands). Then as the barrel wears you test to see if it moved or not by shooting 3 thou less seating depth. Boom done, on to the next thing!

Thank you Erik for sharing your knowledge. I plan to use this method. Great stuff, thanks again!

Great follow-up señior Cortina. And I await the Small Groups matter Tshirt!!!

I thought your 1st video explained things perfectly well.....anyhow. In your next vids, I would appreciate you explaining in some detail about how you FLS, which dies you use & have used etc. Thanks for sharing Eric. I've been reloading for years & am at the stage where I'm happy to go with what has been proven to work.

Thank you for your knowledge Professor Cortina !!

Thank you is all I can say, I’m just starting to hand load ,mainly just as a hobby but all I hear is how far off the lands or .010 off is where you want to be, this video cleared up so many questions. Thank you. SGM tee shirts would be awesome.

I agree with the last guy, show a powder tuneing video

I’m still laughing about the “new shirt idea”. Thanks for sharing though. Simple enough. Mind blown!

Very well said, excellent information breakdown. I wish I knew someone like you when I first started reloading. All of the work that we put in chasing loads using only a neck die and case trimer way back when. Thanks for sharing a simple well thought out approach to accuracy Sir 👍👍🇦🇺

So very well explained, thanks Eric !

THIS!!! Especially for my hunting rifle where the "jump" is constrained to a minimum of .072" in order to fit the magazine. Then, seat tuning incrementally deeper potentially pushes my load to more than .100" jump. Ouch! No, I'm not chasing the lands, lol. I'm chasing a sub-MOA group! (still)

I got everything but the t-shirt. Thanks for the vids.

Thank you, Erik! I appreciate you taking the time to explain it further in depth. You nailed it again. I like your approach too determining seating depth. All common sense to me. But I don’t have any of the old ways burned into my thoughts about Bullet seating depth. Your approach makes it easy for me to do and not put undue pressure on a task that doesn’t need to be complicated.

These videos are gold! Ive been experimenting with seating depth all wrong. I also really like your explanation in the last video of ignition equals es/sd and seating depth is for group size.

5:26 "That is..............Stupid." LOL I love it!

great work, now do the powder tuning vid :-)

Good explanation. Thanks for the help. Enjoyed the video.

Fantastic explanation of no B.S. reloading. Thank you for your honesty, integrity, and sincerity...love you man.....

That’s it! I’m taking to the streets to protest with my sign that says “SMALL GROUPS MATTER”.

Gold stuff. Now, I'm gonna re-visit some factory loads and mess with seating depth, just to have fun and see if I can observe a node and see it move as I seat the bullet deeper, by 3/1000 increments.

Thanks for sharing... made sense when you mentioned mag length constraints and then factory rounds.. it’s just a starting point.

Love these videos... wish I had more time in testing to truly test but I’m in Construcion too and you know how tough it is to hit the range

I would like to see a video on bullet runout and the factors that cause it and the fixes.

Follow the accuracy node, not the throat erosion - simple enough.

Mr. professor Cortina, I watched the movie and I can't believe it. For two years I have been trying to make a sweet load and sometimes it's good and other times it's bad. Now I will try to do as you say and I hope that I will finally enjoy shooting. Thank you for the lesson and best regards from Poland.

From someone new to reloading, I thank you for sharing your knowledge. I hate load development because I never knew which to start with, powder charge or seating depth compared to what? Like you said, the lands move. This method is doable and I will be measuring off of jam and then doing .030 increments on seating depth until I find my node. Thank You again.

Great stuff. Thank you. I thought you hit the nail on the head the first time. What I would like to know is: what neck tension do YOU shoot with? Do you use an expander after sizing?