Nigel,
I think the point I'm trying to make is that the rifle in question had a long throat, the reference to "just shy of the lands" was to emphasise just how long that throat is.
In my 500 J, seated to the cannelure and lightly crimped, a 535 Woodleigh is "just shy of the lands", that is more of a reamer design I would think.
We are from different backgrounds here, you are predominately a hunter, I am a target shooter first and foremost, because I never seem to get time to hunt. If I was a hunter mostly, then I would not want my ammunition to touch the lands either, we can both agree on that.
But, in my situation, I need and want every advantage on paper I can get, and for me, that is without question, having bullets seated to within 10 thou of touching the lands "just shy" if you will. I load for calibres from 222 Rem to 500 J, and I use exactly the same loading principles for every calibre, and it's what works for me. I'm not saying every should do what I do, I'm not that up myself, just saying what works for me, nothing more than that.
Everyone's idea of what a "Tack hole" is is different as well. With exception of my 416 Ruger (at the moment), every rifle I own will shoot 3 or 5 shot groups under an inch at 100 yards, even the 500. That is acceptable to me, 2 inch groups are not acceptable to me.

Hope that clears up where I'm coming from.

Regards,
David.