Hornady O.A.L. Gauge and Bullet Comparator

[Bigturk]

Hi guys,
I am gearing up to reload 223 for my Ruger American. I have purchased the Hornady OAL Gauge and Bullet Comparator to measure my rifle for proper OAL with the specific bullet I plan to shoot. Following the instructions, I have placed the OAL gauge with modified 223 case in my rifle. With a dowel in the other end of the barrel I gently push the bullet on/off the lands and lock the gauge in place.

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Then using the Bullet comparator and my calipers record the distance from case end to Bullet Ogive. It is very difficult to get repeatable readings. Amount of pressure pushing bullet against lands has a big impact on length. After much practice I am getting from 1.860 to 1.870 inches, so on average 1.865 inches for the Calhoon 55 gr DBL Hp bullet.

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Do you have any experience using this OAL Gauge and specifically on a Ruger American in 223?

Interestingly I have measured some factory rounds that I have on hand, 5 rounds of each measured:
American Eagle 55 gn FMJ vary from 1.848 to 1.861
Winchester 45 gn HP measure 1.870 to 1.876
Remington Bulk 55 gn FMJ range from 1.852 to 1.868

My confusion comes from this data, all of the Winchester are longer than my measured OAL. Will all of these Winchester rounds be touching the lands of my rifle? They seem to chamber and eject without resistance.

I am asking for your experience loading 223 and if you have any data to share from your own 223 chamber.

Thanks

 

[tgt40]

You can smoke the Winchester rounds with a candle or (easier and maybe better) colour the bullet with a felt pen, chamber the round, eject and look for marks on the bullet. If the bullet touches the rifling you'll see it.

 

[hometownhero]

I can't get results within .003-.005 on my caliber with the hornady oal gauge and comparators. Just push consistently into the lands same as if you had a partially sized case with a bullet stuck in the end. When you close the action the rifling will push the bullet into the case and you would have your max oal.

 

[Bigturk]

Update:

I cleaned up the plastic rod on the Hornady OAL gauge and removed a couple of burrs on the threaded end. I was not pressing the bullet into the lands earlier. The bullet will stick into lands and I have to push bullet back using dowel in barrel end. I can consistantly get 2.010 inches from case end to bullet Ogive now. This is very similar for different bullet shapes and thus the reason to use the bullet comparator.

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I will be limited to OAL that the mag will handle and this picture is with the longest loaded round that I have to try. It measures 1.885 inches using the bullet comparator. This looks to be close to the limits of the magazine. In the pic above you can see a max length mark on the upper left edge of mag. At 1.885 this round will have approximately 25 thousands bullet jump to the rifling. That is likely a good starting point to work up some load data. Time to shoot some lead down range as soon as some snow melts.