Darn OAL gauge!!!

[Skgreen]

I have no idea how many rounds I've ran through my Savage 12FCV in 2 years I've had it,,, Several thousand,,, and around 350 just this past weekend,,, Finally have a couple good loads worked up and I'm shooting the best I've ever shot,,,

I've played with the idea of getting an OAL GA and comparator set for quite a while, but figured I wasn't in that league yet, so why bother,,,

More or less out of curiosity, I finally broke down and got 'em today.

Everyone's heard tales of 'beginners blues' with obtaining accurate OAL's, So I wasn't expecting my experience to be much different.

Took about 3 dozen readings total with 2 different projectiles,,,,,,

The instructions said not to push too hard,,, So, I wasn't,,,,

The first couple dozen readings were a bit odd,,,,, I had to be doing something wrong as they varied quite a bit, and averaged roughly 20 thou shorter than my 55 gr VMax reloads using Hornady's OAL of 2.250.

Can't be,,,, Can,, not,,, be,,,,

Chambered some of my reloads,,,, No, nothing binding/catching/dragging,,, No marks on bullet,,, Free and easy, just like always,,,,

Triple checked everything,,, Yep, case seating fully in chamber the exact same way each and every time,,,

But,,

Apparently,,,,,, I wasn't pushing hard enough,,,

Using 1 finger, with a little more pressure,,,, I can push the bullet up inside the barrel about 3/16 - 1/4 past the end of the case before it stops,,,,

Pushed the bullet back out, took a look,,, (1) very light scratch on it down it's side,,,

Tried again with a 68 gr,,, Yep,,, Same thing,,,,

Well,,,,,,, that's not good!!!!!!!

I was thinking about getting one of those 'aftermarket' barrels,,,

I reckon it's about time!!!

 

[z7]

You are shooting good, so don’t change! now you know your bullets are jumping a mile, but if they are accurate does it matter?

But, if you want a new barrel, get a nice one and shoot even better

 

[Blue68f100]

The first couple dozen readings were a bit odd,,,,, I had to be doing something wrong as they varied quite a bit, and averaged roughly 20 thou shorter than my 55 gr VMax reloads using Hornady's OAL of 2.250.

Can't be,,,, Can,, not,,, be,,,,

Chambered some of my reloads,,,, No, nothing binding/catching/dragging,,, No marks on bullet,,, Free and easy, just like always,,,,

Triple checked everything,,, Yep, case seating fully in chamber the exact same way each and every time,,,

But,,

Apparently,,,,,, I wasn't pushing hard enough,,,

Using 1 finger, with a little more pressure,,,, I can push the bullet up inside the barrel about 3/16 - 1/4 past the end of the case before it stops,,,,

Pushed the bullet back out, took a look,,, (1) very light scratch on it down it's side,,,

Tried again with a 68 gr,,, Yep,,, Same thing,,,,

Well,,,,,,, that's not good!!!!!!!

I was thinking about getting one of those 'aftermarket' barrels,,,

I reckon it's about time!!!

Stopping that far out normally means the base is expanded a little causing it to not drop fully in. Do you have a case gauge to check your loaded round? Have you checked for concentric on the bullet? If this is off very much it will cause contact on 1 side but not all the way around. This also will explain for stopping short. Do you have some new brass to use for this test?

 

[Skgreen]

I hear ya, but something just seems a bit 'unnatural' about shooting with that much jump!

It wouldn't matter much if any for certain types of hunting, but,,,, I don't hunt, so 'paper-punchin' is all my Savage see's,,,

A faster twist would also let me spend more money on those fancy-pants heavy projectiles,,,.

 

[Skgreen]

Hello Blue:

I'm using the Hornady OAL ga with a Hornady's 'modified case'. No case bulge. Projectile is '~loose~' in the case neck

All my reloads check out just fine in my chamber ga.

Just didn't realize the throat had eroded so much until I used the OAL ga.

 

[Ifishsum]

I recently retired a .223 barrel because it started shooting the occasional unexplained flyer more often than I could accept. I used basically two loads for it (53gr SMK and 69gr SMK) and did not have the OAL comparator when I first developed them, both were simply loaded to mag length for the AR. Anyway just for kicks I checked that barrel with the OAL gauge after I took it off, and like yours the flat base of the 53gr SMK was at least a quarter inch clear of the case mouth before contacting the lands. Surprised it still shot as well as it did but I've found that many .223 bullets just aren't that sensitive to jump (within reason of course). Sounds like it's indeed time for yours as well. Good thing Savage makes it easy enough!

 

[Blue68f100]

Hello Blue:

I'm using the Hornady OAL ga with a Hornady's 'modified case'. No case bulge. Projectile is '~loose~' in the case neck

All my reloads check out just fine in my chamber ga.

Just didn't realize the throat had eroded so much until I used the OAL ga.

That happens if you shoot a gun a lot. I've shot out 1 barrel in one of my AR's and the round count on a second is getting near where it may not be too far behind. Some bullets are not jump sensitive so you find a bullet it still likes.

You can remove the barrel extension nut and move the chamber back 1 thread, re-cut the chamber and keep shooting for a while longer. I've done this to several barrels all ready. But not very many have the equipment to do this. I'm one of the lucky ones with some nice machinery setting in my shop. And still adding from time to time.