Cartridge OverAll Length: COAL...
Mickey Dim 468--You asked,
The minimum OAL for the H4350 in my .243 said 2.650 for a 100 Gr bullet and the maximum recommended length is 2.710, so I set it at 2.665 and that is how much I seated the bullets.
The 30.06 is similar in that the minimum for the H4350 is 3.250 for 150 Gr bullets and the maximum recommended length is 3.340, so I set it at 3.295 for those. Does that sound like it should be ok?
COAL (or sometimes, just COL, or OAL; it's all the same thing) is not dependent on which powder is used. It depends on, first, the length of the bullet you've chosen, compared to how much room there is in your rifle's chamber before the lands of the bbl (barrel) begin. The bullet should normally NOT be touching those lands, so you set it into the cartridge case enough so that it doesn't.
The SAMMI COAL (SAMMI is the governing body in the US for specs for commercially available ammunition, and firearms) for your .243 Win cartridges is 2.710". The SAMMI COAL for the .30-'06 cartridges is 3.340". (Both according to my new Lyman's 49th edition reloading handbook.) Keep your COAL's below that and in a commercially U. S.-made rifle you're golden.
Secondly, COAL is also governed by the length of your magazine, unless you have a single-shot, or a tubular-magazine rifle. The cartridges have to fit into, and feed out of, the magazine, properly, and they won't do this if they're too long. So you may be limited in your COAL by your rifle's magazine. Likewise if you're crimping the case mouth into the cannelure of the bullet, you're limited in your COAL by the width of the cannelure. (Re-reading this, I just remembered that the Lee Classic doesn't crimp case mouths, so skip that consideration.)
Thirdly, and most important from an accuracy standpoint, the bullet should have only a short "jump" to make between the cartridge case and the lands of the barrel, when the cartridge is fired. This is perhaps more advanced than you want; experienced target-shooting reloaders experiment with each different bullet they use, to find exactly how many 1/1000's of an inch off the lands their rifle "prefers" with that bullet and that powder charge. They may go longer than SAAMI spec for the COL for this, but we're usually talking single-loading bolt actions here.
Anyhow, bottom line on COAL, you're keeping between the recommended minima and maxima, so your rounds should work just fine.
Scooping powder: Sounds like you're trying to do it very carefully and consistently, and that's good. Follow Lee's directions for correct powder charge, until you get a powder measuring dispenser, and a scale. At that point you'll need a reloading reference book, also, but for the present Lee's directions will serve you well.
Re the difference between your reloads and commercial rounds: you'll have to find this out by experience.
Probably the difference in POI (Point Of Impact) will not be great, but you may very well be in for at least a little 'scope adjusting, so bring along the appropriate tools for that. Hint: Don't change the 'scope setting after each shot--take 2, 3, 4 shots with no flinches and no trigger jerks, off of sandbags, before deciding to make a change.
Finally, the important item: Congrats on the coming grandchild!!
If your boy has good stuff in him he'll manage some way, and your role in being a good Grandpa is important to the youn'un's growing up right, so do your best. With Help, you can be about half the man your dog thinks you are, and that'll be enough. Being a Grandpa will be more significant for the future of the world than any reloading you do or don't do, for all your life.
But, enjoy the reloading, too!
