Barnes seating depth and tuning different weight bullets

[COElkChaser]

I've been working up a load with 168 gr TTSX in my 30-06. I found that my rifle likes a big jump to the lands - with 54gr of H4350 I can see groups go 2.25" @ .050" off the lands, 1.10" @ .100" off, and 0.55" @.150" off the lands. I've repeated the performance of the .150"

54gr H4350, 0.150" off the lands


Before I had this info, I loaded some 130 gr TTSX using the Barnes recommended 0.050" off the lands, varying Big Game powder from 59.0 to 62 gr.

What would you all do - Seat the bullets deeper to a depth .150" off the lands? Or shoot what I have and then dial in the best performing group for seating depth?

Put another way - Would you expect different weight bullets (of the same brand and model) to perform best at the same seating depth? Or are they independent?

 

[jryoung]

I'd run the .150", you've got great groups.

As to the lighter bullets, anytime anything changes in a load, from seating depth to changing brands of primers, to powder amounts I would expect results to change. Everything is an experiment.

 

[Fire_9]

I always like to start close and work away from the lands. The norm has always been to tune the powder charge and then the seating depth but I think you’re starting to see more guys do it the other way. Start with a moderate load and find a good seating depth first and then find the right charge

 

[Deleted member 16014]

I would run the same seating depth test on the 130 if you want to use it, otherwise you won't be able to isolate the variable.