[Mr White]

I understand what ".xxx off the lands" means, but how do you determine the OAL where the bullet would rest "on the lands", so you can make it .xxx shorter than that?

[SUBMOAS]

Get yourself a Stoney Point Case O.A.L. gauge.
http://www.tjgeneralstore.com/stoney_point_gages.htm

[ocabj]

I use the Stoney Point tool.

Some people use methods involving partially seating a bullet into a case and then closing the bolt on the case. I'm sure someone who uses this or a similar method can better explain it.

[USSR]

I use the Stoney Point tool.

+1.

Don

[Walkalong]

The Stoney point tool works real well. For a shortcut until you get one, you can load a dummy round with loose neck tension (just enough to hold the bullet) and load it long. Chamber it and take it back out. It will be a few thousanths into the lands at that point. You can see how far by the marks on the bullet. To little neck tension and the bullet will pull back out some when you remove it. Too much and it will jam too hard into the lands.:)

[The Bushmaster]

Yup..What Walkalong said and it might help to lampblack the bullet. Just use a match to blacken the bullet...The marks show up better...;)

[T-Mac]

Stoney Point OAL, here too.
.And, It still takes some experimenting with OAL to figure what seating depth is best with what load & what brand/style/weight of bullet. At least it gives you a known reference point.

[Texas_XD]

I did close to what is reccomended.. I was told to resize a case, then using a dremel or hacksaw, cut a double slot down through the neck just into the shoulder. Seat a bullet by hand into case and work the bolt. Be careful when extracting so it doesn't bump nothing on the way out. I did this about 5 times, reseting the bullet out, measuring each result and came out with a constant 3.28 OAL for my Ruger .30-06, +/- about .002 variance. So I am experimenting with 3.23 OAL or .05 off the lands with plenty of play room left for adjustments.

[30Cal]

You guys do it the hard way.

Load a cartridge with the bullet seated out long. Stuff it into the chamber with your thumb. If you have to use a screwdriver or thumbnail to get it back out, then it is touching the lands. Seat it deeper by 0.005" and repeat until it drops out from gravity alone. At that point, the bullet is clear of the lands. Seat it an additional 0.xxx" deeper (whatever jump you want to set) and load away.

[Walkalong]

You guys do it the hard way.

That may resemble us.:)

[Texas_XD]

You guys do it the hard way.


Yep.. I'm new to reloading so hard way is only way I know, for now. ;)

Now if ya'll would just publish the book : "1001 tips & Tricks to Reloading"
my life would be soooo much easier! :rolleyes:

[Mr White]

Thanks for the tips. For now I'll try loading some dummy rounds long and measuring them. I'll get a Stoney Point eventually.

In an AR, what is a good distance off the lands to load to for accuracy? I've seen .005" talked about a lot. Is that a good place to start?