COAL on .308 Win question

[UKWildcatFan]

Loading Hornady 150g FMJBT and the Speer manual is using a COAL of 2.800". However when I seated my first one that COAL didn't even seat to the beginning of the crimp groove. Could this be in part to the differing ogives/etc between bullet manufacturers? I normally seat mine to the mid part of the crimp groove (2.725").

Thanks,
Alex

 

[Shmackey]

To quote a brilliant reloader:

Crimp groove shmimp groove.

 

[rcmodel]

To quite another brilliant reloader.

"You can't use a Speer Reloading manual to find the suggested OAL of a Hornady bullet!"

Every manufactures bullet ogive's are shaped slightly different.

As are cannelure locations.

All that changes seating die adjustment to get the same OAL, and then the OAL for one bullet brand will put the cannelure somewhere it doesn't need to be with another brand bullet.

What you need to do is seat to the cannelure with a starting load, with the brand of bullet you have.

And call it good until you work up the load and figure out what works best, in your rifle.

rc

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Ok, thx. I'll seat them to mid crimp groove as that worked well last time at the range.

 

[interlock]

i found the hornady ogive and bullet shape is very angular. any piont behind the point and before the shank is likely to be thinner with the shank and ogive transition more pronounced. best bet would be to smoke one and then turn your die down a quarter to take them just off the rifling... if they will fit in your magazine

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Loading Hornady 150g FMJBT and the Speer manual is using a COAL of 2.800". However when I seated my first one that COAL didn't even seat to the beginning of the crimp groove. Could this be in part to the differing ogives/etc between bullet manufacturers? I normally seat mine to the mid part of the crimp groove (2.725").

Thanks,
Alex

Your Speer manual is giving you the OAL they used in developing the load data using a Speer bullet. Unless you're using the same exact bullet the OAL in the Speer manual us almost useless to you. Now, if you had a Hornady manual it would give you the correct OAL for that 150gr Hornady bullet you're loading... You are just fine with an OAL of 2.725", that's a very slight difference between what they list and what you are getting. (unless you are using a charge weight that's over the Max charge in the manual)

 

[jwrowland77]

Just looked in my Hornady manual and they had a COL of 2.700 for the 150gr FMJBT for the .308 Win.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Thx, really appreciate it everyone.

 

[Captcurt]

Thx, really appreciate it everyone.

It is better to find it out now than in the field. I had a bullet get stuck in the leade and pull out of the case when I went to unload my gun. Had to drive 30 miles to get a cleaning rod.

 

[blarby]

Could this be in part to the differing ogives/etc between bullet manufacturers?

Yep.

Another fantastic reason to invest in a precision mic from RCBS.

Other than the trim-mate, its the most useful tool i've purchased yet for my reloading bench.

Switching seat depths on your bullet seater was never easier........ I used to dread using different bullets due to what you are explaining... now its a few simple measurements, and one or two basic adjustments.