I don't understand the variability I am getting with OAL in 223 Rem

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Lone_Gunman

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I am loading 75g Hornady BTHP ammo on a Lee press. I have tried it with both Lee and Hornady dies, and am getting an overall length variation of about .015". This seems like lot of variation. Why am I getting so much difference? Will this affect my accuracy?
 
The problem is in the seating stem of your seater plug. The tip of the bullet is not setting in the seater plug properly.....


...or...


The bullets are not very uniform.
 
Here's a pretty good thread that covers that very subject:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=249716

The only suggestion I didn't see is:
After you've seated the bullet, lower the ram, rotate the shell aobut 1/2 of a turn, and run it back up in the seating die again. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.

Also, check your calipers.
Measure a round.
Run the jaw in & out a few times after you've measured a round.
Then measure the same one again.
Often you'll get a slightly different reading unless ya got a real good caliper.
.
 
Get a "Stoney Point" or other bullet comparator and see if the bullet is seating to the same lenght from case base to the ogive. This is the critical setting if you are trying to get a set distance from the leade or want to see if the bullet is seating the same depth in the case. The case to tip lenght is only important when seeing if the cartridge fits in the magazine, nothing else.

Bullets vary in lenght/geometery, and the seating cup should seat off the ogive not the tip. If your seater does hit the tip as some bullet designs allow, drill it out a hair deeper to prevent contact.
 
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