.303 head space

[colin miles]

Hi everyone.
Hoping someone can help me out with some advice. I reload a  Wesley Richards .303 with a 28.3" barrel.Now I'm trying to fine tune my loads. I'm using  43.8 gr S341, PMP doppies with 125gr Sierra Spitzer heads. Being reading about head space. Checked mine and the head space is about 6.5mm. Unable to make the headspace any less because already there is anly about 3mm of the head in the neck of the case. Bullet head legth is 22.85mm whereas the 174gr soft point (PMP) is 28.57mm.Difference +/- 6mm. Does this excessive head space make a differnce?? If so, how do I overcome it.? On a good shooting day, these loads can shoot a very good grouping.
Any advice will be most welcome.

[tripodmvr]

With the short bullets ensure that you seat at least 6mm of bullet in the case neck to ensure hold and alignment.

[Jagtersdok]

head space is about 6.5mm.

Colin

i think you may mean "Jump" not "Headspace"
You dont have to worry about the long jump> Good rule of thumb is to always seat die bullet to at least 2/3 of the diameter into the neck.

I have personally loaded for rifles with jump longer than 10mm still able to achieve MOA accuracy

Hope that helps

Headspace is a different entity all together

[Beyers]

Colin
Refer to the following for headspace:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headspace_(firearms)

[colin miles]

Sorry about the use of the wrong terminology, but it appears as though everyone understands what I meant. Correct me if I am wrong, as I understand it, it is okay to have that amount of bullet "jump."
Thanks to you guys for your advice.

[colin miles]

Beyers
Thanks for the link. I see I was way out with my reference to head space.

[Jagtersdok]

No problem at all Collin.

Yes that amount of jump can still give you good acuracy. Very important now is concentricity and allignment when you reload.

Neels