Exceeding Max C.O.L?

[Texas_XD]

Still new here folks so please bear with me. I did try using the search function but didn't quite find what I am looking for. Anyway, here goes nothing:

I recently bought a Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 and decided to try reloading my own once fired brass. Followed all the normal steps, including trimming the case etc. I loaded them to the max COL listed for the cartridge, 2.800; 45gr H414 and 139gr SST's but used WLR primers instead of Rems, hence the lighter powder load.
I decided to take a resized dented case I didn't feel safe reloading and make me a depth gage of sorts. Sliced vertically through neck into shoulder and insert bullet I'm using (SST), slip into mag, load as usual, careful ejection and measure. After doing this 10 times, resetting bullet each time after measuring, I constantly come up with 2.888 with an occasional .001 variance. So hopefully, that is enough info to work with or get us started and now to the questions:

1. Is this within SAAMI specs and safe to continue using this rifle?
Just get nervous when things don't agree while tampering with stuff that goes boom.

2. Is it okay to exceed the recommended Max COL by close to this amount?
I am wanting better than what I am getting now for accuracy, 1.2-1.4" groups (factory fodder), and would like to experiment with say 2.850 or .038 off the lands.
Got plenty of room in that blind mag, even fed the over-extended home-made depth gauge with some room to spare.

Anyway, sorry for the new guy questions, but I'd rather be safe than testing out my medical coverage.

 

[ocabj]

Overall length can very from rifle to rifle as needed and depending on the bullet.

If you are seating long, it is fine as long as it is for that specific rifle. Don't expect to use that same ammo in another gun, unless you can verify that the other gun has freebore similar to the rifle you originally loaded the cartridge for.

 

[The Bushmaster]

If it is any help I'm running my COL just .010 short of the lands on my .30-06 Browning and having no problem at all... But like ocabj said I can't let my son use the rounds in his Remington....

 

[Texas_XD]

If you are seating long, it is fine as long as it is for that specific rifle. Don't expect to use that same ammo in another gun, unless you can verify that the other gun has freebore similar to the rifle you originally loaded the cartridge for.

Perfect! I keep one rifle per caliber, not counting .22's, so unless something mega changes, it will be my only 7mm-08. Just wanted to make sure.. it's amazing how the lil' things will cause you to freeze right up!
Thanks for the speedy answer.. gotta love this forum.

 

[scrat]

Typically you do not want the bullet out too long where it is in to far to the rifeling. Now i read a while back and even tried it my self. Take a practice cartridge a not so good one. If you can run something through the case neck just to make it not that tight for the bullet. i have a 30-30 inside case diameter i believe without looking at specs is something .306. i have a rod measuring 307. so i push it through the case. now i seat a bullet about 15 thousands to 30 thousands of an inch longer. now i place the bullet in the barrel of the gun and chamber it slowly. then pull out the cartridge. What happens is the gun chambers the bullet to match the actual chamber. Now take a measurement from that cartridge as your chambers max overall length. I believe this is in the lee reloading manual. anyhow it works.

 

[Hazzard]

My Savage 7mm mag tends to like a COL that is also over SAAMI spec. It likes the bullet almost kissing the lands and if I do my part, 1/2 MOA is more the norm than the exception. I've been using the same load for years and have not experienced problems. The key is to make sure that you are careful to develope the load in slow increments and watch carefully for signs of pressure. And as others have said, any load is only for the particular rifle you develope it for. Scrat's method for finding COL is similar to the one that I use.