Gtimothy
Member
I need some advice...
I'm just starting to reload for a Rem Model 700 in .308 and have really started to pay close attention to what is going on in each step of the reloading process. Before, all I was concerned about was keeping my wife and kids in ammo that would be reasonable for punching paper. Now I want to take it up a notch.
I made a "dummy" case so I could check my rifle for C.O.L with different bullets. According to the dummy test, using a Hornady 168gr BTHP, I have an C.O.L. of 2.945". If I back it off .02" to get it off the rifling, I come up with 2.925".
According to the reloading manuals I'm using, (Hornady 4th edition) shows MAX C.O.L. of 2.800" and (Lyman 49th edition) a MAX OAL of 2.775". I know the round can be longer to better fit my gun but how will this affect the powder load? I read somewhere that a rifle bullet that is seated longer than the OAL in the manual creates a higher pressure. My question is how do I work up a load using the data in the manual and how do I determine a safe load to start? Reduce by how much, 10-20%? I appreciate your help on this matter and look forward to useful replies.
I'm just starting to reload for a Rem Model 700 in .308 and have really started to pay close attention to what is going on in each step of the reloading process. Before, all I was concerned about was keeping my wife and kids in ammo that would be reasonable for punching paper. Now I want to take it up a notch.
I made a "dummy" case so I could check my rifle for C.O.L with different bullets. According to the dummy test, using a Hornady 168gr BTHP, I have an C.O.L. of 2.945". If I back it off .02" to get it off the rifling, I come up with 2.925".
According to the reloading manuals I'm using, (Hornady 4th edition) shows MAX C.O.L. of 2.800" and (Lyman 49th edition) a MAX OAL of 2.775". I know the round can be longer to better fit my gun but how will this affect the powder load? I read somewhere that a rifle bullet that is seated longer than the OAL in the manual creates a higher pressure. My question is how do I work up a load using the data in the manual and how do I determine a safe load to start? Reduce by how much, 10-20%? I appreciate your help on this matter and look forward to useful replies.