How much is not enough (seating depth)

[Laguna Freak]

Because field work is my primary use, I've always subscribed to the "1xbullet diameter bullet shank in the case neck" rule of thumb.

Today I tried out a new bullet in one of my rifles. It was a completely arbitrary load, with no change to the seating stem which was set for my standard bullet and load, just to get an idea if the rifle liked that particular bullet. It did.

This evening I loaded up 5 more for verification and noticed there isn't much bullet shank in the case neck (though I didn't measure how much, I'm guessing .2"ish)

If I was a bench shooter I wouldn't care, but what do yall consider minimum bullet engagement in the case neck for your field work?

Lots of good counsel offered by everyone.

For me, I have little concern about seating depth because I use a Lee FCD on all rifle loads.

However, I do exhibit a propensity to fill the full neck with bearing surface, especially when specifying throat depth on a new build. This in a new build is simply to provide allowance for throat erosion.

 

[Laguna Freak]

That Thor is a good example of a bulket that has too much engagement at 3.7" - should be at keast 3.850 to get out of donut area.

I respectfully disagree. I have heard about the dreaded donut for years and have never experienced one in 4+ firings of Winchester brass holding 180's in a SAAMI chamber 300 WSM loaded for 0.070" jump, and Remington, Winchester, and Hornady brass in 30-06 holding 150's with bearing surface below the neck junction to achieve similar jump. Both examples = bearing surface below neck junction. IME, donuts are only available at the donut shop.

 

[muffdvr]

I had a 30-06 that would jump about .250 at Sammi spec OAL
I seated the bullet about .230 which would still jump about .1
Rifle shot better seated way out there

 

[FEENIX]

I do not want to misconstrue your comment, please elaborate.

@Willys

 

[ARlife4me]

my ocd has me using enough bearing surface for the entire neck. in most cases a minimum of .200".

 

[Koda_]

A screenshot of a book I grabbed from a discussion on this somewhere a while back. Sorry I do not know the book its from.