Maynard cartridge and bullet seating depth.

[dfbowers]

Another question for the guys with experience.
I have been front stuffing all my life but new to brass cartridge reloading. I have done a lot of reading on the importance of not having any air space in BP cartridges but not much out there on bullet seating depth, at least when it comes to BP loads. In looking at some original Maynard rounds it appears as though some would allow a huge space between the ogive and start of rifling. Is this standard practice or is it important to have the bullet ogive in slight contact with the rifling?

In reading articles about other types of BP cartridges, it appears as though it can be trial an error with seating depth to achieve optimum accuracy as well as avoiding pressure spikes in the rounds by seating depth to high.
Thanks..
Don

[Eggman]

I think your thinking here is right on. That air gap thing between powder and bullet you what to avoid as you said. I believe that Maynards like a small light bullet (caveat - Hoyt liner in my Maynard) and the gap between bullet nose and rifling is not an issue. I do use a harder lead which maybe prevents any stripping. Nice groups from my gun this way.

[ms3635v]

I have been shooting a 2nd Model Maynard in the NSSA since 1984. I shoot a 400 grain Moose Smith/Maynard bullet (soft lead) in full capacity brass cases. I use 35 grains of GOEX 3F. This combination allows the bullet to sit on top of the powder. When I push the cartridge into the chamber and close the breech, the top band of the bullet is forced into the rifling. The bullet doesn't have to jump from the cartridge to the rifling. This combination has worked very well for me. One thing to keep in mind is that you should listen to the advice of other Maynard shooters to hear what works best for them, that way you will have some ideas on what you may want to do with your Maynard. Best of luck.