So I'm reloading for my 280, everything is perfectly uniform. Cases, charges etc... But I'm getting differences up to .011 oal in my loaded rounds. .011 probably not a big deal but drives me ape! They still shoot 12 shots into one hole, but why am I'm I getting the length difference? I'm not touching the seater plug at all they just do it themselves.
.011 probably not a big deal but drives me ape!
- Thread starter trapoholic
- Start date
All I've got is my calipers so I'm measuring the entire length. Headstamp to bullet tip.
- Location
- Prince Albert, Sk
12 shots in one hole and you are complaining?
Or , B.S. ing about something.
Or , B.S. ing about something.
When i measure that way im all over the place with my SMKs,
When measured from ogive using a comparator, i get really tight results.
A comparator is needed for you if you want to see you real lenght difference.
You are getting the length difference because of the way bullets are manufactured. When you measure with calipers from the base of the cartridge to the tip of the bullet, you are measuring a part that is not very tightly controlled in manufacture. Bullets are made on presses at high speed in a number of stamping and drawing operations. The tip of the bullet is generally not a part that comes into contact with the drawing dies once the initial draw has taken place. Due to small differences in the thickness of the jacket material and variations in the hardness of the material, the tips of the bullets can vary by small amounts and it is this that gives you the variation you are seeing in the overall length. If you measure to the ogive, this part of the bullet is very tightly controlled in size and so you can get much more consistent measurements for your reloads.
12 shots in one hole and you are complaining?
Or , B.S. ing about something.
100% scouts honor! Pm me a phone number or email for pictures. I'm not arguing with photobucket or any other Nazi hosting site
If the seater plug contacts the lead or plastic bullet tip you crush the tip and get a wide verity of OAL variations. Normally the mouth of the seater plug contacts to bullet at the same point and this makes the seating uniform. And many seater plugs have the bullet tip area drilled out so the bullet tip does not get crushed.
But you'd think a big reputable name like nosler would have tolerances tighter than a bullfrogs ass... I can tell you when you drop a shell of the hood of the truck and it lands white tip down on your toe it makes you bleed... Got a picture of that too ;'D
You can see where it touches the bullet well past the tip
Big bore dinosaur
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- NORT OF COW.TOWN.EH
Have you squared up your dies with the shell holder.?
I use a dime ,, as a spacer.
Try seating a bullet, then turn the shell 180 degrees and reseat. Se if that makes a difference.
I use a dime ,, as a spacer.
Try seating a bullet, then turn the shell 180 degrees and reseat. Se if that makes a difference.
There is a simple way to set the COL to lands distance.
Put a bullet in an empty case, leave it long , then chamber it, measure, chamber again until the COL is the same after several cycles.
If it fits the magazine, great. Now using your seater stem, which are generally 28 tpi (quarter inch fine) or 0.357" per revolution, screw it down 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and your done.
The bullet in the dummy round is now your reference bullet, as mentioned previously the bullets vary in length, what you are doing in the above is finding base to ogive length.
Keep the dummy round in the box of bullets as you will change the COL to chase the lands and/or tweak your powder charge.
I do this every time I clean the barrel, 150-200 rounds.
Put a bullet in an empty case, leave it long , then chamber it, measure, chamber again until the COL is the same after several cycles.
If it fits the magazine, great. Now using your seater stem, which are generally 28 tpi (quarter inch fine) or 0.357" per revolution, screw it down 1/4 to 1/2 a turn and your done.
The bullet in the dummy round is now your reference bullet, as mentioned previously the bullets vary in length, what you are doing in the above is finding base to ogive length.
Keep the dummy round in the box of bullets as you will change the COL to chase the lands and/or tweak your powder charge.
I do this every time I clean the barrel, 150-200 rounds.
Assuming you levered the press arm fully each time, there is no point in trying to redo them, as nothing will change. If they fit in the mag and in the chamber then you are good to go. Let the target tell you how they function.
Like he said.
Sierra tells me that the variation in bullet length in a box of bullets is as much as 20 thou. Hornady tells me it is about 10 thou.
The OAL will vary by this inconsistency above the ogive. It means nothing..
But your seater die doe not push down on the bullet metplat. It pushes down closer to the bullet shoulder, near the ogive. This distance will not vary.
Book length means nothing. It is what suite THEIR rifle. Use the OAL that will fit your magazine and is about 20 thou off the rifling.
