OAL Variance

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qciceman

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I would call myself a beginner reloader/handloader. I am not a match shooter, and I don't plan to shoot beyond 300 yards (maybe 400, tops), but am trying to work up a hunting round up to that range.

I'm getting about +/- .005 inches on my OAL when reloading for my 30-06. Is that an acceptable amount of variance for what I'm trying to do?

Thank you in advance!
 
What dies are you using? What bullet?
I would shoot for groups and see, my savage 308 really does not care about oal shooting about .75 moa with the same bullet seated +/- .010
 
qciceman said:
Shooting Hornady 150 g FMJ/BT.
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Yes, +/- .005, a .010 spread, is OK with that bullet. As posted, the ogive is more important to measure to and be consistent. That said, while the Hornady 150 gr FMJ is pretty good for a FMJ, it's no target bullet. You're fine. You'll never see it on target. Other factors will make much bigger differences.

Welcome to THR
 
cp1969 said:
If this is for the hunting load you're working up, you're using the wrong kind of bullet. You need an expanding bullet, not Full Metal Jacket.
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Right. This particlar load isn’t for hunting, but that’s the end goal. My point was that I’m not match shooting, and that I only care about enough accuracy to put a shot in the vitals at 3-400 yards.
 
qciceman said:
Right. This particlar load isn’t for hunting, but that’s the end goal. My point was that I’m not match shooting, and that I only care about enough accuracy to put a shot in the vitals at 3-400 yards.
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I hope you know that once you find the load for that fmj-bt and switch to a hunting bullet you have to start all over again? I would just skip the fmj workup and go right to the hunting bullet if that's the ultimate goal. That hunting bullets oal will be different from the fmj too so all this work unless it's to punch paper for fun is wasted.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I hope you know that once you find the load for that fmj-bt and switch to a hunting bullet you have to start all over again? I would just skip the fmj workup and go right to the hunting bullet if that's the ultimate goal. That hunting bullets oal will be different from the fmj too so all this work unless it's to punch paper for fun is wasted.
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I know I’ll have to work up a new load for hunting. I just wanted to ask some more experienced reloaders whether some OAL variance is okay when you’re not match shooting or shooting at extreme long ranges.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
you have to start all over again?
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Not completely. This will help him practice and get him closer to a start with the more expensive (Don't want to waste any more than you need to) hunting bullets. This isn't a bad way to start when staring from scratch. If he will be using a 150 Gr hunting bullet he could be real close when he gets ready. Might be going heavier in the .30-06 though.
 
Walkalong said:
Not completely. This will help him practice and get him closer to a start with the more expensive (Don't want to waste any more than you need to) hunting bullets. This isn't a bad way to start when staring from scratch. If he will be using a 150 Gr hunting bullet he could be real close when he gets ready. Might be going heavier in the .30-06 though.
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My apologies. I just always follow the new bullet back off and start again. I generally don't go all the way to min but if I'm in the middle or higher ill drop back a grain or two and go back up. I guess sometimes I just need to keep my comments to myself. :)
 
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