Walkalong, I always like your Pics
Not to steal your thread, I want to offer another method I have used.
An easy method to determine OAL can be done using a Digital or Dial Caliper and a new pencil cut about a 1/2 inch longer than the barrel.
With the barrel removed, put just a bullet into the chamber until it stops and hold it there.
Now put the cut pencil into the muzzle until it touches the bullet nose and measure the amount of pencil sticking out of the barrel.
Use the step feature on the BACK of the caliper and note the measurement.
Remove the bullet and re-assemble the barrel/gun.
Now put that same pencil into the muzzle until it touches the breech face and again measure the amount of pencil sticking out of the barrel.
The difference between the two measurements is the MAXIMUM
overall length that will
CHAMBER in THIS barrel/gun/bullet combination.(Fixed it, hows that
)
Walkalong, feel free to reduce all these words to 2 pictures!
Note: The cut pencil must be square cut on both ends, not sharpened.
This works for rifle too...with a really long pencil though.
For my critics: If using a DIGITAL caliper, zero it on the 1st measurement and it will read the OAL on the 2nd measurement, no math required...or a micrometer