Poll

Is it better to stay with the standard maximum overall length in the books or better to seat the bullets just off the lands?

Stay with the standard.
1 (10%)
Seat the bullet just off the rifling.
4 (40%)
I honestly don't know.
5 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 10

Author Topic: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?  (Read 1241 times)

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Offline teddy12b

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What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« on: February 19, 2007, 11:08:52 AM »
Any Encore handloaders seating just off the lands or are you all sticking to the standard maximum length.  I personally have stuck with the standard length but I haven't tried loading just off the land either in rifle.  I was thinking about trying it and thought I would ask the experts here first.

I don't know for sure.

Offline Redhawk1

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2007, 11:16:46 AM »
I load just off the lands, also if I use Barnes bullets, they recommend starting at .050 off the lands.
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Offline Bill In SC

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #2 on: February 19, 2007, 12:35:30 PM »
Using a Stoney Point, I record the max length of the bullet I plan on using. 

During load development, I will drop back .050 off of that figure unless that is shorter than the book figure.  If the load shows promise, I will tweak it at little running in as close as .020.

Most loads for the Encore in my experience have worked out to be in the .030-.040 range.

Remember...  What works in my barrels may not work in yours.  It's a trial and error process.

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Offline alsaqr

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #3 on: February 19, 2007, 03:11:46 PM »
i usually load about .010 off the lands.  i do this by taking the firing pin out of the bolt and loading a cartridge with the bullet seated way out, then close the bolt forcing the bullet into the case.  Then i measure the OAL and set the seater die for an OAL of .010 shorter.   My new Encore barrel in .30-06 has a shorter forcing cone than my Remington Model 700.   My long ammo will not work in the Encore.   Guess i gotta get a Stoney Point.   

Offline Davemuzz

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2007, 03:24:34 PM »
Well, I voted "I don't know". That's not because I don't know, but because each gun is different. Just off the lands for one gun could be fifteen thou. and just off the lands for another could be 50 thou.

I have pretty good success with Nosler bullets, however I also have good success with Hornady's. Most of my loads are Noslers.

I do have a 243 Encore barrel that I load an 80 grain Nosler to SAMI specs and it shoots sub-MOA. I could fool with it and see if I could make it better, but I dunno if better than 1\2" @ 100 yards will make me happier. I guess it could, but that will hit anything I'm going to aim at out to 300 yards. Maybe if I get bored I'll fool with it. ;D

Offline Tn Jim

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2007, 05:39:28 AM »
I voted "don't know" for the same reason Davemuzz did. My 7-08 shoots best at 50 thousands off. The closer I get to the lands the more the groups open. At 10 thousands I'm shooting patterns, not groups. As you develope your loads, your rifle will show you what it likes.
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Offline teddy12b

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Re: What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2007, 06:29:44 AM »
I've got close to 100 rounds loaded up for my encore in a couple different configurations, but all are to the regular max length.  Once I get a bullet that the gun likes I'll try fooling around with the overall length a little more.