TPM - Intro to Precision Rifle Reloading - 3 Ways to Find The Lands / Seating Depth For Your Reloads 

Great video, I made the mistake of loading a bunch of rounds that I had to single feed because the didn’t fit in my mag , rookie mistake when I first stared reloading, really happy you mentioned it . 👍🏼🇺🇸

Man your content is some of the best. Thank you for your time and expertise!!!

I have always used the first method along with the sharpie coloring throughout the seated bearing surface. This serves two purposes. 1 - to determine if the bullet had pulled out slightly (from rifling stick/loose neck tension) as the case is removed, and 2 - to demarcate the extent of rifling ramp (transtition from freebore) in order to get an exacting measurement from the top-most rifling scuff mark, which is the "soft" contact point. Also, the first two methods will not work with some large-bore Weatherby chamberings, as the freebore is longer than the total lengths of the bullet and cartridge combined. 😉

Been loadin for auto .308 and mag length is my oal till I got this prc bolt gun so bout to start workin on seating depths a little but as you said they gotta feed from mag and 2.95” in this .300wsm accurate mag is what it is…got 6.5prc brass and n560 on way plus area 419 funnel set…cream of them crop ooo yea!..no more tappy tap tap and sticky stick stick in plastic $4 ones…lmao..and btw way that grey mpa chassis with the m1abrams of scopes looks sick my man…friggin best of the best…I love it…hope my blabbin helps algorithms and let’s you know your doin good work Shawn…I’ll be here through it all..good or bad…matt

There are 3 measurements regarding the Land & Grooves. Jump, Touch, and Jam. Those 3 are very different measurements. Jump is self explanatory. There could be 30 thousandths or more difference between Touch and Jam measurements. Of the 3, JAM is the ONLY ONE you need to stay away from. There are lots of reloaders that load to "Touch" or even a few thousandths into the lands. Those rounds load and eject just fine without moving the bullet in the case. So long as you stay away from Jam, since that is the first point where the rifling will grab the bullet and try to hold onto it.

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This comment is for the viewers that own a Hornady Overall Length gauge as I do and struggle to get consistent readings. I used 3 - 223 bullets, Sierra 69gr. MK , Lepua 69gr. & 77gr. Scenar-L in my new JC Custom barrel never shot for this test. In my initial test the CBTO range for all 3 bullets was on average ( 8 bullets each test ) from 1.865" to 1.895" a total variance of .030". Considering the O'Give is the same for all 3 bullets I found this very confusing. Upon review of the plastic plunger end of the Hornady seating gauge I concluded the large round end did not sit consistently accurate on the base of the bullets primarily due to the fact the bullet bases were not 100% perpendicular to the bullets concentricity therefore giving large variances in the final calculations. I decided to file down the large round plunger end to a smaller round pointed end and my final calculations were reduced to an average of 1.880" to 1.900" a total variance of .010". .010" is a far better measurement when setting initial seating depth tests of + - .020". The Sinclair seating depth gauge used in this vid. is machined from metal which will have far better tolerances than plastic. . It would be nice if Hornady placed a sharp pointed end on their plunger but I guess that would increase the costs.

Great video... I like the first method seems much easier. i was wondering once you find the lands how far back do you seat the bullet. got my answer towards the end of video. Keep up the great work. Will have to try in my AR first and see If I could figure that one out.

Do you find seating depth first and then powder load, or vice versa. I find the seating depth first with a constant powder charge and then find my powder charge with the seating depth I determined. I have heard other reloaders start with powder charge first. Second question. Do you neck turn?

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The "Wheeler Method" is faster and better.

Why not use a tool like a Hornaday Overall Lenght Gauge?