.223 OAL question

[RocketBoy]

I have a Stevens 200 in .223. I thought I would try some loads with the 75gn Hornady A-Max.

I made a OAL guage with a brass rod and some collets.
I also made a case with a split neck to chamber the bullet against the lands.

The OAL gauge shows 2.544 in
The case after chambering shows 2.550 in.

Now after chambering the bullet I marked on the bullet where the top of the case was and pulled the bullet out. When I measured it, it shows only .130 of the bullet contacting the case neck. My understanding is that I should have a least 1 caliber (.224) of contact.

Is it too dangerous to try the load with only that much contacting the case?

I also have some Hornady 75gr BTHP but they have a wider ogive and contact the lands sooner so more of the bullet is contacting the case but everyone says the A-Max is "THE" choice. Better BC i guess?

 

[manitou210]

All the fellows at range I shoot at did not have good results with Hornady A max's the hornday HPBT Match work okay and group in the high 4s and work to 1000y but the 75gr bergers VLD are the best fior 1000y in a 1/9 twist 1/8 or 1/7 80gr sierra's work great
manitou

 

[CyaN1de]

I asked about the A-Max bullets last week and the consensus was that they liked to be jumped about .015.

Do not get stuck on one bullet just because you were told that it is THE bullet to use. Try some others such as Sierra 69grn, Hornady 68grn HPBT Match and Berger's.

That factory barrel is going to have a longer throat than a custom chambered barrel so you are at the mercy of the legal dept of Savage for seating depth until you spin on a match grade.