Loading bullet out over listed COAL

billbmcleod

CGN frequent flyer
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I am thinking of experimenting on loading bullets out a bit.
I do not have any fancy head space measuring tools but I thought of loading up a dummy round with whatever bullets I am using with very little tension on the neck. I can achieve this tension by using some emery cloth on the inside of the neck and then cleaning it well.
If I then chambered that round in my rifle with the bullet way out it should hit the lands and push into the case. I would then add .020-.030 for safety sake. I would repeat this process with a bit more tension to be sure it is consistent.
I realize this would only apply for a specific bullet and my rifle but that is all I am loading for.
Would this work or is it too much on the side of being a redneck?
By the way this is a 30-06.
Your thoughts please.
 
The book OAL is for their rifle. You are expected to find out what suits your rifle.

Does it have a magazine? If so load a round very long and see if it fits the mag. if not, seat deeper and deeper until it does. That is the max length for any bullet. make a note of that length.

Chamber that round, and then pull it out and look for rifling marks on the bullet. If none, then you have the MAX OAL for the mag and that bullet.

If there are marks, seat another bullet, and then seat it a quarter turn deeper and try chambering that. Repeat until you find the OAL where there are no rifling marks. That is the max OAL for that bullet.

This is not advanced loading. This is basic 101. The OAL in the book might be too long for your rifle.
 
Take the bullet you want to use and drop it into the breech end of the barrel. Hold it into the rifling with a wooden dowel or similar. Put a cleaning rod in from the muzzle end and slide it in until it touches the end of the bullet. Mark the cleaning rod even with the muzzle. Consistency is important here. Remove rod, bullet, and dowel. Put the bolt in and close it. Insert the cleaning rod again, slide it forward until it touches the face of the bolt. Mark the cleaning rod at the muzzle again. Remove the rod and measure the distance between the two marks. That will be your coal to the rifling. Do this with a few bullets to get an idea of the average (and the QC on your bullets) coal. Now remove the magazine box of your rifle and measure the internal length. Compare your measurements, and make your decision accordingly. There are tools to do all this, but this is a way to do it without them. Remember, careful and consistent if you want good data. - dan
 
The link below was written for a CZ pistol but applies to all pistols and rifles and has great illustrations.

Post #3 by Wobbly is very good like all his information. ;) The only difference is the majority of rifle cases headspace on the shoulder and not the case mouth.

Topic: How to determine Max OAL for a CZ Pistol (Read 52411 times)

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=34225.0

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