Hi, I am just getting into reloading and there are some things I do not understand. First the book I am using is Modern Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee. I am reloading rounds for a Rem 700 SPS 30-06. I am using once fired Federal brass that was fired from my rifle, CCI Primers, Varget powder and Hornady 165gr SST bullet. I am using a RCBS partner press with RCBS FL dies. The OAL in the book states 3.340 and for 165gr jacketed round with Varget powder min OAL 3.300. I have measured Federal and Winchester Factory ammo they measure 3.195 and 3.150 respectively, I realize different powder and different bullets and when I follow the RCBS instructions with the RCBS dies I get an OAL of 3.216. Please help what should me my OAL for Federal Brass Varget powder and Hornady 165gr SST?
OAL for Hornady 165 SST and 30-06
- Thread starter stinkycod
- Start date
Go by the book measures, not factory round measures. Factory rounds are made to go 'boom' in any rifle, wheres the book values are for a more tailored round.
The book OAL is the max. you want. Don't go over or you may run into chambering issues as the bullet may be hitting the lands before the bolt locks.
If your bullets have canelures (sp?) you can generally crimp on that and you're ok, but that's not 100%. Use a micrometer to confirm.
The book OAL is the max. you want. Don't go over or you may run into chambering issues as the bullet may be hitting the lands before the bolt locks.
If your bullets have canelures (sp?) you can generally crimp on that and you're ok, but that's not 100%. Use a micrometer to confirm.
Thanks, I am a NOOB. How can I tell if they are just off the lands? again this is for 30-06, the bullets are hornady SST there is a sunken knurled ring around the bullet, should this ring be above or below the case mouth.
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The 'sunken ring' is the canelure (sp?) I mentioned. If you crimp anywhere in there you should be fine, but again, confirm with a micrometer (caliper).
If you want to set the bullet so it touches the lands, seat a bullet (no crimp) high in a shell. Chamber the round. The bullet will be pushed back in the case to where it touches land. Set your seater die to that height.
Enjoy.
If you want to set the bullet so it touches the lands, seat a bullet (no crimp) high in a shell. Chamber the round. The bullet will be pushed back in the case to where it touches land. Set your seater die to that height.
Enjoy.
hometownhero
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Load .020 off the lands of your rifle. With all of my reloads none of them are what the book says for oal.
Exactly, ignore the COL of the factory rounds, and in the book, they aren't based on your particular rifle. The only other concern is if you are using boattailed bullets, you need to make sure that you have enough of the bullet shank in the case neck.
Standard OAL is meaningless because your chamber is unique.
To tailor your rounds to your chamber then measure your chamber using a dummy round. You can make one by sacrificing a piece of brass. With a fired piece of brass you could simply lightly squeeze the neck with a collet die or some pliers just enough to grab so the bullet so it doesnt fall in/out when seated by hand. Then run the dummy through the chamber and work the action a couple times. This will ensure the bullet seats back to the Chamber OAL.
Your best groupings will be in a 20 though window. So start your load development using a 10 thou jump. Then with your best load try playing with OAL. Suggest 20, 40 , 60 jump tests and you will likely find the best performing combo some where in there. If this length fits in your mag, then give it a whirl. PS, I found many times that 40-60 thou jump works well for these style of bullets in factory chambers.
Hodgdon site suggests around 47-50.5gr of Varget. Start low and work up in 0.5gr intervals. My two bits.
To tailor your rounds to your chamber then measure your chamber using a dummy round. You can make one by sacrificing a piece of brass. With a fired piece of brass you could simply lightly squeeze the neck with a collet die or some pliers just enough to grab so the bullet so it doesnt fall in/out when seated by hand. Then run the dummy through the chamber and work the action a couple times. This will ensure the bullet seats back to the Chamber OAL.
Your best groupings will be in a 20 though window. So start your load development using a 10 thou jump. Then with your best load try playing with OAL. Suggest 20, 40 , 60 jump tests and you will likely find the best performing combo some where in there. If this length fits in your mag, then give it a whirl. PS, I found many times that 40-60 thou jump works well for these style of bullets in factory chambers.
Hodgdon site suggests around 47-50.5gr of Varget. Start low and work up in 0.5gr intervals. My two bits.
I placed a 165 gr SST Bullet in a once fired federal brass case and chambered it several times using different cases and bullets and get a consisannt result of 3.434 OAL This exceeds the max OAL for 30-06 even if I go th the max OAL of 3.400 the round.
Good. Now you have verified some data. Maybe consider that the "max OAL" is what the manufacturers used for feeding and mag design in a lot of different firearms. When customizing ammo for your gun the standard OAL data is not needed (unless you are loading these rounds to be used in other guns of which I assume you are not).
What you are measuring here is the free bore the manufacturer has allowed in the chambering of the barrel. Now, assuming you have made only a slight pressure on the brass/Bullet combo this would indicate the Chamber OAL "to touch". If you have seated the bullet tight it may indicate 20thou jam or more. So if you have definite indication of lands imbedded in the bullet then you have jammed the bullet.
If you have a tight fit on the brass then play with a majic marker on the bullet. Load a round and see if you can identify where the bullet just stops touching the lands when chambered. This is the OAL for the cartrige/bullet combo. Small changes here make a big difference.
If the OAL to touch value exceeds your magazine length then you will have to set your bullets back so you have flawless loading. Try placing a couple "touch" rounds in the mag to see if it cycles flawlessly....do so with care and attention of course when using loaded rounds.
Is this becoming more clear Stinkycod?
What you are measuring here is the free bore the manufacturer has allowed in the chambering of the barrel. Now, assuming you have made only a slight pressure on the brass/Bullet combo this would indicate the Chamber OAL "to touch". If you have seated the bullet tight it may indicate 20thou jam or more. So if you have definite indication of lands imbedded in the bullet then you have jammed the bullet.
If you have a tight fit on the brass then play with a majic marker on the bullet. Load a round and see if you can identify where the bullet just stops touching the lands when chambered. This is the OAL for the cartrige/bullet combo. Small changes here make a big difference.
If the OAL to touch value exceeds your magazine length then you will have to set your bullets back so you have flawless loading. Try placing a couple "touch" rounds in the mag to see if it cycles flawlessly....do so with care and attention of course when using loaded rounds.
Is this becoming more clear Stinkycod?
