Most folks believe that closer to the lands is better, and usually try for something between .010 and .030. If you seat them too close, there is the risk of one jamming into the lands and dumping a load of powder in your rifle when you extract the unfired round. John Barsness now believes that seating bullets straight is perhaps the most important thing and focuses on that with a starting distance of .030. Berger Bullets has found that "sweet spots" may vary from very close to a considerable distance. For hunting rifles, they recommend experimenting with distances of .010, .050, .090, and .130. One of these will usually be better than the rest. Then you "tweak" around the best of these to maximize accuracy. To my surprise, I found that some of my rifles shoot best with the longer jumps to the lands.
At least in beaverslayer's Whelen, his throat was so long that he couldn't seat the bullets close. I have rifles like that as well.
At least in beaverslayer's Whelen, his throat was so long that he couldn't seat the bullets close. I have rifles like that as well.