Any Luck With The Hornady COAL Gauge?

[Max Owner]

Hey all.

Broke out my Hornady COAL gauge tonight and tried it out.

Was getting some real inconsistant reading for my Savage 223. I know its based on the amount of presure applied to the "bullet push rod"

Any thoughts?

Spooksar tried the old put a bullet into a case and close the bolt. Got a reading of 2.480" Using the Hornady gauge I am around .110 to .140" less.

Heavy sigh.....

 

[one-mad-dog]

I use a Hornady COAL gauge set all the time. It's great for assuring that all your reloads (with the same combination of case and bullet) are the same COAL. It's also great when you want to set up again to duplicate a previous load and COAL.

 

[Max Owner]

According to the instructions it say to apply about 4lbs to the push rod to get proper seating length. Not getting that part right.

Must be my technique..............

 

[Rod B]

I broke the threaded end on the red anodized tube.

I contacted Hornady & they sent me a replaement part n/c.

 

[Taylor-Made]

I dropped mine on the floor and put a slight dent in the case mouth. Surprisingly I found it easier to use afterwards because it holds the bullet a little tighter now. I like mine

 

[hgeo33]

According to the instructions it say to apply about 4lbs to the push rod to get proper seating length. Not getting that part right.

Must be my technique..............

It takes a bit of playing around to get it right. It is very easy to push the bullet in to far and force it into the rifling giving you irradic results. Try the following:

set the rifle in a rest and level it.
put in the COAL gauge
at the muzzle end insert a cleaning rod without a jag or brush

use the cleaning rod to apply a resitance as you push the bullet in. You should be able to feel it just engage the rifling. Using slight pressure on the cleaning rod + some one the bullet push rod and gently moving the bullet back and forth you can feel where the bullet just touches the rifling. That is the spot that I take my measurement.

Once you get the hang of this you should get very consitent results.

Spooksar tried the old put a bullet into a case and close the bolt. Got a reading of 2.480" Using the Hornady gauge I am around .110 to .140" less.

Never had much luck with this method as it is tough to have the right neck tension. To much and you push the bullet deep into the rifling . To little and as you pull the bolt back the bullet sticks and either falls out or the measurement is altered.

 

[Max Owner]

Thanx Hgeo.

Gotta give it a try.