Matt Dillon
Member
Folks, it has been awhile since I determined the OAL for a cartridge, and I was wondering if anyone had a good method to do so. I am developing 2 loads for a Mosin Nagant M44 (7.62x54). One for a spire point .311 180 grain bullet, and one for a round nose .311 180 grain bubllet. I have "smoked" the bullet tip with either a candle or a sharpie in the past, then closed the bolt, then attempted to see the rifling on the tip of the bullet, then backed off the oal to be 2-5 thousands of an inch less than that. I have had to repeat this process several times, then average the readings in order to get a good starting OAL. Does anyone have a good method that improves on this? I have gotten bullets stuck in the past, and was wondering if anyone had a better method. Thanks so much in advance!