Just got into reloading .308 have a question about the over all length after seating the bullet. I set the press to seat the bullet and leave me with an OAL of 2.810 but I end up with a number of cartridges over and under the 2.810". The die isn't loose. Having said that all my initial loads work without issues and I'm very happy with the accuracy.
OAL question
- Thread starter glennv
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sniper58
Member
If you measure a bunch of your bullets, you will probably find quite a difference in their length.
I had the same issue as you when I started reloading again 10 years ago. Once I knew that the bullets were different lengths, it stopped bothering me so much. I use my collimator now, and find that everything's usually within +- .001"
I had the same issue as you when I started reloading again 10 years ago. Once I knew that the bullets were different lengths, it stopped bothering me so much. I use my collimator now, and find that everything's usually within +- .001"
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Measuring base to tip will give you different measurments all the time.
Because not every bullet in a box was made in the same bullet forming die, and the shapes are slightly different.
Your seating die contacts the bullet on the curvature of the ogive, not on the tip of the bullet where you are trying to measure it.
To accurately measure it, you will have to measure off the ogive, where the seating die stem contacts it to shove it in the case exactly the same every time.
The tool would be called a bullet comparator.
Like this.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/...87_a_7c7313_a_7c749002933_d_749002942_d_20531
rc
Because not every bullet in a box was made in the same bullet forming die, and the shapes are slightly different.
Your seating die contacts the bullet on the curvature of the ogive, not on the tip of the bullet where you are trying to measure it.
To accurately measure it, you will have to measure off the ogive, where the seating die stem contacts it to shove it in the case exactly the same every time.
The tool would be called a bullet comparator.
Like this.
http://www.brownells.com/reloading/...87_a_7c7313_a_7c749002933_d_749002942_d_20531
rc
LiveLife
Member
+1. Here's an article on "determining exactly how long a specific bullet may be seated in the case before it touches the rifling" and use of the comparator - http://riflemansjournal.blogspot.com/2009/10/reloading-seating-depth.html
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