Newbee Question

[papajoe222]

I'm fairly new to reloading and I'm a little confused when I see references to OAL, COAL. Are they one in the same or does one refer to measuring from the ogive and the other to the cartridge length?

 

[Walkalong]

Cartridge Over All Length. Over All Length.

Same thing. Tip to base. Some people use one, some the other.

 

[Bang!]

C.O.L. COL Cartridge Overall Length

Overall is one word and defined as - in all parts; taken as a whole. One reloading manual, don’t remember which, has it as COAL. See it written more and more as ‘coal’. That one is irritating. People are using many ways to abbreviate cartridge overall length in their discussions but COL appears most correct.

COL

 

[Ironicaintit]

In my notes, I'll use COAL as a completed cartridge measurement, and use OAL when referencing specs of a component.

 

[SASS#23149]

"but COL appears most correct.

COL "

in twenty some years of reloading, i've never used this, or seen it used. Interesting.

 

[otisrush]

And since you mentioned measurement to ogive in your opening post......

I believe the convention is CBTO - Cartridge Base To Ogive - for that measurement.

 

[papajoe222]

Thanks all. Just as I assumed (including COL), but you know what they say it can make you when your assume, something about the first three letters.