What's the best C.O.L. when handloading ammo for your encore?

[teddy12b]

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.

[Redhawk1]

I load just off the lands, also if I use Barnes bullets, they recommend starting at .050 off the lands.

[Bill In SC]

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.

Bill

[alsaqr]

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.   

[Davemuzz]

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.

[Tn Jim]

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.

[teddy12b]

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.