[cajun47]

just eye ball it?

[brickeyee]

Read a loading manual?
They have a suggested overall length for the load.
This may need adjustment (either way) depending on magazine length, distance to rifling, etc.

[Kimber1911_06238]

consult a reloading manual and measure the OAL with calipers

[Walkalong]

Yes, you need a manual. That said. What caliber/bullet/gun etc. would help.

[jbm]

I agree you need to get a good manual and check it, but don't forget to check the magazine length (you didn't say what you were loading for, so I'm assuming it's a rifle). A number of my rifles will chamber rounds longer that what will fit in the magazine. My AR-10(T) is a good example. With it, I can't get the bullets into the lands and still have them fit in the magazines.

JBM

[cajun47]

its for .44 mag. i bought the $20 classice lee loader.

[GunTech]

If you are shooting match rifle, it's typical to load to the lands if you can. Your magazine length may limit this. Som guns shoot better with the bullet a certain distance off the lands, which is why match reloading dies often have a micrometer seating die.

You have to experiment.

[NuJudge]

That ring around the bullet that looks like the edge of a coin: crimp the mouth of the case into that. Even for single shot firearms, .44 Mags need to be crimped because the powders need a crimp to burn right. Particularly for revolvers, the bullet needs crimping or else they will pull forward, and tie up cylinder rotation.

Read the manual too.

CDD

[The Bushmaster]

Crimp into the cannelure and buy a MANUAL....Read it...Might I recommend Lyman's 48th Edition...:D

[rcmodel]

And buy a dial caliper while you are at it.
You will need that too!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j219/rcmodel/KTOG/1224.gif
rcmodel

[tasco 74]

when loading for magnum handgun pay CLOSE attention to MINIMUM OVER ALL LENGTH... get some calipers as rc said.. a guy can into trouble by seating a magnum round to far into the case.. there is some real good advice here!!

[cajun47]

"Crimp into the cannelure"

what is a crimp and cannelure?

o god what did i get myself into.

i bought the lee anniversary kit, will it crimp?

i have lead cast bullets. i don't see anything that looks like a coin.

[strat81]

STOP RIGHT THERE.

Buy this before you do anything else (like hurt yourself):
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=484416

Reloading without reading the manual is a recipe for disaster. These aren't Lego blocks. You're dealing with explosives, propellants, and pressures on the order of 20,000-50,000 PSI. Read the book first. Reloading isn't rocket science, but it's not for the uninformed.

[GunTech]

Most manual list the maximum catridge over all legth (COAL), which may or may not be where you want to load. The COAL is usually basics on typical magazine length and throat cut by commmercial reamers.

As noted, with revolver ammunition where the bullet has a canneleur, it is usual to load so that the brass mouth is even with the canneleur, allowing crimping into the canneleur if desired.

In the case of pistols, round COAL is often a factor when it comes to reliability, and may be restricted by magazine length.

The same is true of rifle bullet, but some bullets are sensitive to seating depth and accuracy can vary. Some bullets perform best when seated directly against the lands, and may require COAL much longer than the stated maximum.

In general, unless you are interested in extreme accuracy and detailed load development, it is usually easiest to load to max COAL, or to the canneleur if it is shorter. With some light bullets, it may be necessary to load short, and some believe you should have the bullet seates into the case by at least the diamter of the bullet.

Hope that helps.

[Sgt.Dusk]

Take factory ammo and set OAL by that
and dont go to maximum loads.
I think that is a safe way to start.
If your bullets dont have crimping groove then you just have to
force a crimp slightly against/into the jacket/lead.
I think that is simply said :)

[Steve C]

what is a crimp and cannelure?

To crimp is to reduce the diameter of the case at the mouth by either tapering the case or by rolling the case mouth against the bullet or into a cannelure or crimping groove.
http://www.members.aol.com/scoll63101/public/cr

[snuffy]

its for .44 mag.i bought the $20 classice lee loader.
44 mag what? revolver, rifle, single shot, semi-auto??¿

i have lead cast bullets. i don't see anything that looks like a coin.

Lead bullets, what weight, what configuration? That means round nose, semi-wadcutter, wadcutter, or pointed.

As you can see, you've started something that requires a lot of specific details. In order for us to not waste our time answering broad ranging questions, you will have to provide more details.

Most of us are willing to spend time helping novice reloaders out, but help us by providing as many details as you can.

[goemado]

I sure hope this post is a joke intended to get people riled up. Because if it isn't, please follow other's advice and read one or two reloading manuals before loading your first round. You really should know the answer to your question before pressing your first round.

If you're serious in your question and you don't read up (or find someone who can show you the first time or two) - you are setting yourself for potential danger/injury.

Be careful.

[mjrodney]

See the attached photo for a look at a cannelure. It's the ring you see around the body of the bullet.

[SamTuckerMTNMAN]

I set mine just short of the lands, rifle grooves, assuming rounds fit into magazine. use dry erase marker and slide in un LOADED test cartridge (meaning no power or primer) and adjust as necessary so that lands marks do not appear on bullet, but as long as possible to minimize bullet jump distance. on AR, magazine well sets the distance because it is shorter than optimum COAL.

st

ps - .308 bolt is maxxed out to a flea hair short of lands, but NOT ON lands at all.