I'm reloading .308 win for the first time and when I'm using recommended OAL for 175 gr Sierra Matchking (2.800'') I can't close the bolt on my Savage and it leaves a mark on the bullet. With a commercially loaded (2.795'') round it closes fine. I tried with 2.790'' and it still don't close. How much can I shorten my round?
308 acceptable OAL
- Thread starter morgancoin
- Start date
Have you tried chambering a sized empty case? If it fits, make a dummy round and shorten it .005 at a time till it goes in. The bullet you are using may be the same weight, but may have a slightly differant profile. I use 3 or 4 differant loads for my various .308's, and i have a dummy round for each of them. That way when I change my die setting's I just throw in the dummy round and set the die to that.
Or else what? The recommended COL is a COL that will generally fit most magazines and cycle in most actions, loading slightly shorter isn't going to cause dangerous pressures with a load that would be safe with a slightly longer COL.
That isn't possible. The bullet diameter measures .308", so the case neck diameter can't possibly measure .308" with a bullet seated.
That is what I would do.
Make sure you are not crimping. Over crimping can bulge the shoulder, which will prevent the bolt from closing.
In your first post you said there was a mark on the bullet. If the mak is from the rifling, it proves it was hitting the lands, but is it still hitting the rifling as you seat it deeper?
In your first post you said there was a mark on the bullet. If the mak is from the rifling, it proves it was hitting the lands, but is it still hitting the rifling as you seat it deeper?
I am not crimping, I checked for that. The diameter of the neck was the same as the one for a commercial ammo. I will try tonight the make a shorter dummy round to see how much short I need to go. I was loading with 40 gr of IMR 4895, so it was a weak load.
The length of the chamber (headspace) has no relationship to the OAL of the loaded round. One is an apple and the other is a spaceship.
The OAL is a useless and pointless measurement. Seat the bullet so that the round chambers without the bullet touching the rifling. The OAL will be whatever it is.
How do you know what bullet the commercial ammo you like uses? Just cause you have a bullet of the same weight doesn't mean it is the same bullet. The relationship of the ogive shape to the rifling is really what determines seating depth.
OAL has little to do with it.
I was in a similar boat to you, OP (you'll even find my thread near the front page here from last week). I was convinced my Axis had too short a chamber for 2.800" .308 rounds but with added research, I found that overall length was not the problem at all. The problem was the sizing of the cases. A single pass through my RCBS sizing die was not enough to press the case down enough to chamber nicely (I suspect the problem is near the base of the cartridge - not getting closed down enough and so it sticks as it chambers). All of my tests absolutely suggested the problem was overall length, but once I took a case through the sizing die 2 or 3 good firm presses, I was able to *easily* chamber a produced round of 2.800" whereas a 2.750" round would not chamber when I only gave it a single quick stroke in the sizing die.
From what you've said, it sounds like this may very well not be relevant, but I wanted to just add these notes in case you're interested. You can at least disprove my theory in a matter of minutes and it's one less unknown to tick off the list of possible issues.
From what you've said, it sounds like this may very well not be relevant, but I wanted to just add these notes in case you're interested. You can at least disprove my theory in a matter of minutes and it's one less unknown to tick off the list of possible issues.
Sounds like the rifle is made so that commercial ammo has a short jump to the rifling. This might help accuracy.
This means that when you make ammo the bullets will be seater deeper, than say a Remington, which tends to have a very deep throat.
I find that throat erosion runs around 5 to 10 thou per season, so be prepared to seat bullets farther out, as time passes.
Seat deeper until bullet barely gets marked, then seat 20 thou more.
This means that when you make ammo the bullets will be seater deeper, than say a Remington, which tends to have a very deep throat.
I find that throat erosion runs around 5 to 10 thou per season, so be prepared to seat bullets farther out, as time passes.
Seat deeper until bullet barely gets marked, then seat 20 thou more.
Newbie here, just trying to help. Sounds like your just jaming the bullet into the the rifling because its not seated to the right depth for your rifle. Someone said above make up a dummy round and try it. Look on u tube for videos on how to make your own over all length guage and try it out a few times or buy the proper one. Just remember mesurment like these are not taken from the tip of the bullet. Henry at Budget can get you the proper tools to get the best mesurments.
I've had this happen, also. A 243 I had would not accept a full length resized case, shot in another rifle.
The solution was to anneal the old cases, then a normal pass through the RCBS sizing die and they fit perfect.
The problem was the old cases which had probably been loaded a few times, had become hard, and they sprung back from the sizing die.
Tests results
Finally it works!!! And with 2.800'' AOL I can almost close the bolt just by staring at it! The difference is that this time I full length resized and before I just neck sized the brass. This brass was shot in this rifle and without bullet it was pretty easy to close the bolt. The mark was on the bullet (not rifling mark but a strange horizontal mark juste on one side) so I tought it was not a brass problem at first, but I was wrong. I still don't understand why it did that but now I am happy. My next problem is that now I have 30 brass to resize but they are primed. Is there a safe way to remove the primers?
Finally it works!!! And with 2.800'' AOL I can almost close the bolt just by staring at it! The difference is that this time I full length resized and before I just neck sized the brass. This brass was shot in this rifle and without bullet it was pretty easy to close the bolt. The mark was on the bullet (not rifling mark but a strange horizontal mark juste on one side) so I tought it was not a brass problem at first, but I was wrong. I still don't understand why it did that but now I am happy. My next problem is that now I have 30 brass to resize but they are primed. Is there a safe way to remove the primers?
Powderfinger61
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Take the decapping rod out of the die, the proceed to resize the brass
