Bullet OAL question

Tiker

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Reloading some 308. Using 2.349 inch for OAL measured from ogive.

The bolt is somewhat stiffer to close. When I eject the round, the bullet has marks on it which was not there before.

I shot 6 of these rounds without issue, but is that really ok? Or should I be backing off a bit and making it shorter?

Thanks.
 
I'll check out that video after work.

Definitely reloading for accuracy.

Would it be an issue if the chamber pressure is increased due to touching the rifling? Potential damage to rifle? Barrel? Or just increased recoil? Rifle is a SIG SSG 3000.
 
I'll check out that video after work.

Definitely reloading for accuracy.

Would it be an issue if the chamber pressure is increased due to touching the rifling? Potential damage to rifle? Barrel? Or just increased recoil? Rifle is a SIG SSG 3000.

You really need to do some research on chamber pressure, if you honestly don't understand the effects of excessive pressure.
 
I'll check out that video after work.

Definitely reloading for accuracy.

Would it be an issue if the chamber pressure is increased due to touching the rifling? Potential damage to rifle? Barrel? Or just increased recoil? Rifle is a SIG SSG 3000.
Always best to check for signs of pressure when you're developing a load. Flat primers and hard extractions are usually the first signs you'll run into but there are others. Do some research online. Probably not hurting the rifle unless you're way over. Stay within the load tables to be safe.
 
Jamming into the lands becomes a real problem when there is a cease fire called and the bullet stays in the barrel, but the case and 46 grain of powder extract into the action.
 
Reloading some 308. Using 2.349 inch for OAL measured from ogive.

The bolt is somewhat stiffer to close. When I eject the round, the bullet has marks on it which was not there before.

I shot 6 of these rounds without issue, but is that really ok? Or should I be backing off a bit and making it shorter?

Thanks.

Sounds like you used the loading manual as a receipe book. It isn't. It is a report on what someone else did with THEIR rifle. The assumption is that you will use that information as a guide to DEVELOP your own loads for YOUR rifle.

So first, you decide which brass, primers, bullet and powder to use. You have done that.

Then you decide what OAL to use. I choose between solid engagement into the lands (which you have done) or 20 thou off the rifling. I often try both to see which works best for that rifle. Usually I chose 20 thou off because it is more accurate and because there is no risk of opening the bolt and dumping all the powder into the action/trigger because the bullet is stuck in the throat.

Once you decode on whether or not the bullet should be in the rifling or off, you have to do some trial and error to find what that OAL is for your rifle.

Then you do your load development with various powder charges. With a new rifle/powder/bullet I would load 5 of each in o.5 gr increments from START to 1 gr over MAX and shoot these for groups to find the powder range worthy of exploration.

If I find pressure signs, I bring the rest of the hot rounds home, to be pulled.

To answer your question, you can shoot those rounds that engage the rifleing, so long as they don't show pressure.

If you have a decent quantity, take half of them and seat the bullet 30 thou deeper, and compare the two OALs for accuracy. It might be useful info.
 
Sounds like you used the loading manual as a receipe book. It isn't. It is a report on what someone else did with THEIR rifle. The assumption is that you will use that information as a guide to DEVELOP your own loads for YOUR rifle.

So first, you decide which brass, primers, bullet and powder to use. You have done that.

Then you decide what OAL to use. I choose between solid engagement into the lands (which you have done) or 20 thou off the rifling. I often try both to see which works best for that rifle. Usually I chose 20 thou off because it is more accurate and because there is no risk of opening the bolt and dumping all the powder into the action/trigger because the bullet is stuck in the throat.

Once you decode on whether or not the bullet should be in the rifling or off, you have to do some trial and error to find what that OAL is for your rifle.

Then you do your load development with various powder charges. With a new rifle/powder/bullet I would load 5 of each in o.5 gr increments from START to 1 gr over MAX and shoot these for groups to find the powder range worthy of exploration.

If I find pressure signs, I bring the rest of the hot rounds home, to be pulled.

To answer your question, you can shoot those rounds that engage the rifleing, so long as they don't show pressure.

If you have a decent quantity, take half of them and seat the bullet 30 thou deeper, and compare the two OALs for accuracy. It might be useful info.



Thanks for the info.

I arrived at 2.349 by following this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv-D1mEI514

I followed those steps and kept backing off until I could close the bolt, which was 2.349.

My main concern was how easily his bolt closed. Basically closed on its own, while mine is stiffer to close than if i just used factory Federal Gold Medal.

So I'll take the advice of you and a few members on here and make a batch thats a little bit shorter and shoot to compare.
 
He has taken parts out of the bolt so you won't have spring tension, thats why his bolt will almost free drop into the locked position. Its the only way to get a good feel while using that method.
 
He has taken parts out of the bolt so you won't have spring tension, thats why his bolt will almost free drop into the locked position. Its the only way to get a good feel while using that method.

well, that would explain it. I totally misunderstood that part and neglected how important it is for the testing method to remove the firing pin...
 
Unless you are at or near max loads, jamming isn't going to hurt the rifle.
Seating the bullets another 20 is pretty easy though.
 
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