223 OAL - is that normal what I am getting in Steve 200?

[svt-40]

Last trip to the range after measuring OAL using a cleaning rod and bullet method, and loading some 100 rounds, I got sub-MOA groups. She shot stable 5/8" 5 round groups at 100 yards.

But when I got home and pulled one of the factory rounds from the box for comparison, I was surprised how much longer my handloads were. I set them 0.01 from the lands and here's how they look like.

The one on the left is factory Rem, the rest are handloads using bulk Hornady 55gr SP. Is that normal or am I stretching my luck? I checked and double checked the OAL with this bullet and it's 2.63"/57.6mm. The factory round is 2.25" sharp.

 

[beltfed]

The factory round is loaded so that it will fit into a magazine.

I'm not sure what the cleaning rod & bullet method are, but I would recommend getting and measuring your chamber with a Stoney Point gauge and shooting more consistantly made bullets (without a cannilure) if you want to seat them longer.

 

[762shooter]

The bullet shape of the Hornady bullet allows it to be out farther before contacting the lands as compared to bullets from other manufacturers that use a different bullet shape.

Do your hand loads fit the rifles magazine?

 

[svt-40]

There is plenty of space in Steve 200 magazine. Not sure about other guns.
But even considering more conical ogive of the Hornady bullets, should not they be seated down to cannelure?

 

[gitrdun]

If you're getting the kind of grouping that you describe and you have no problem cycling through the mag., and you show no signs of excessive pressures, then by all means go for it. There is no need to use the canelure. Your longer OAL than factory is perfectly normal.

I should mention that when using the rod and bullet method, make sure that the rod end which contacts the bullet tip is not the hollow end that another rod screws into. This is also my prefered method.

 

[svt-40]

By 'rod' I actually mean a rod with a plug that I turned on a lathe in order to screw into the hole, so the reading is actual. It must really be the ogive shape that throws OAL off standard.

This rifle cycles so smooth it's amazing.

 

[Why not?]

If it fits in the magazine, feeds properly, and chambers...........you're good to go.

Ted

 

[beltfed]

So, if I have this correct, you are measuring off the bullet tip? You know the bullet tip to point of max. diameter can change from bullet to bullet -even in the same lot, right?

 

[220Swifty]

You are that much longer because factory ammo must consider all makes, as well as different chmber throats between makes, as well as mag length. You are fine, as long as you ar chambering them cleanly. I have to single load 75 gr A-Max in my savage 223, they ar retardedly long, but functional.