OAL Gauge Questions

[TargetTerror]

I'm going to start working up some loads for my 30-06 and 308 which I hope to pick up soon. I know that consistent bullet measurements are best taken off the ogive, rather than the meplat. I've also read that seating just off the lands is the best way to get good accuracy.

I'd like to get the some tools that make measuring both OAL and distance to the lands easy. I see that Dillon carries the following Stoney Point comparators and OAL gauges:

http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/24083/catid/8/Stoney_Point_Bullet_Comparator
http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/24093/catid/8/Stoney_Point_Bullet_Comparator_Inserts
http://www.dillonprecision.com/content/p/9/pid/24073/catid/8/Stoney_Point_Overall_Length_Gage
http://www.dillonprecision.com/cont...toney_Point_Overall_Length_Gage_Modified_Case

If I understand how these tools work, I need all 4 of these items to measure distance to the lands, and OAL of the cartridge, right? Is there anything else I'd need?

 

[Jim Watson]

That is the outfit I use for the purpose. Note that Stoney Point has been taken over by Hornady and you might get the same stuff in a Hornady box. Sinclair has similar gear, no doubt very nice, but also more expensive.

Obviously you must have the calipers to use with the gauges, dial or digital is most convenient, I have to keep a magnifying glass near my old vernier.

 

[rcmodel]

I'm going to start working up some loads for my 30-06 and 308 which I hope to pick up soon.

Might want to get the guns first and find out if it's even possable to seat to the lands on them, before you spend all that money on measuring tools you may not be able to use.

Quite a few newer rifles have so much free-bore you can hardly reach the lands with a cleaning rod!
Let alone a loaded round that will fit in the magazine.

rcmodel

 

[TargetTerror]

Might want to get the guns first and find out if it's even possable to seat to the lands on them, before you spend all that money on measuring tools you may not be able to use.

Quite a few newer rifles have so much free-bore you can hardly reach the lands with a cleaning rod!
Let alone a loaded round that will fit in the magazine.

I'm thinking of a Savage model 10, as there is a used 10fcp in a shop near me. Do you have any experience with those guns as they pertain to bullet depth seating?

 

[Jim Watson]

As rcmodel says, don't get the cart before the horse. You can have brass sized and primed but wait until the rifles are in hand before you start tinkering with loads. There are a lot of little refinements the target shooters use, cited by Internet Experts and gunzine writers, that will never show up in the typical mass produced sporting rifle.

 

[TargetTerror]

Thanks for all of the info, but I must admit now I'm a bit confused as to how to begin with rifle loading (pistol loading seems downright simple by comparison). I figured that I could start my loads by seating off of the lands , rather than going by OAL first and then adjsuting seating afterwards. Is this is a poor idea, and if so, why? (obviously I'd begin by seating a ways off the lands, not right next to or on them, so as to avoid pressure spikes)

Also, wouldn't the comparator be desireable regardless so that I can get consistent OAL measurements off of the ogive?

 

[rcmodel]

If you have the money, go for it.

But I've reloaded an awful long time, and I don't own one, so I guess I haven't missed it much.

You can find the lands in any rifle, if the bullet can possibly reach them, by seating to max length and smoking the bullet with a candle flame. Keep seating deeper & smoking again until the rifling stops rubbing the soot off and you are "exactly" to the rifling.

Lock the die down on it, and you are seating to "exact" length.

A thread-pitch gage, or a trip to the hardware store for some "nut trial fitting", and a little math, will tell you how much a full turn, or a 1/2 or 1/8 turn of the seating stem will change the depth in thousandths.

The seating die seats off the ogive, so OAL is meaningless anyway if you are not going to follow suggested OAL in your loading manual!

So far, you are out almost nothing, and already know all you need to know to load very accurate rifle ammo.

rcmodel

 

[30Cal]

On most factory rifles, you'll exceed the max magazine length before you get close to the lands.

 

[USSR]

On most factory rifles, you'll exceed the max magazine length before you get close to the lands.

True with a short action .308, but not with the long action .30-06.

Don

 

[Owens]

Try this from Sinclair.

http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=RESDTCO&item=09-600&type=store

I like it. Add a caliper if you don't already have one. Measures on the ogive.

 

[Bullet]

The Sinclair bullet comparator is what I use to measure from the ogive or just calipers to measure to the bullet tip (mag length).

 

[USSR]

I also use the Sinclair "Nut" bullet comparator that Owens described, in conjunction with the Stoney Point (now Hornady) OAL Gauge.

Don

 

[HJ857]

I feel that you're on the right track, but everyone has their own method. I find the comparator and the length gauge to be a low cost and easy to use peace of mind method of getting very reliable numbers.

Seating to an OAL seems like a fool's task anymore since measuring from the ogive is far more reliable and accurate, as you are already thinking. Even if you aren't able to seat to an ideal length off the lands, at least the bullet seating will be far more consistent if you use the ogive.

hanks for all of the info, but I must admit now I'm a bit confused as to how to begin with rifle loading (pistol loading seems downright simple by comparison). I figured that I could start my loads by seating off of the lands , rather than going by OAL first and then adjsuting seating afterwards. Is this is a poor idea, and if so, why? (obviously I'd begin by seating a ways off the lands, not right next to or on them, so as to avoid pressure spikes)

Also, wouldn't the comparator be desireable regardless so that I can get consistent OAL measurements off of the ogive?

 

[dennisH87]

you need a stoney point bullet seating depth gauge. Get the one that has a curved shaft. dont forget to buy the modified case that comes with it too. It is threaded through the primer and reamed .002 on the ID.