Newbie question about reloading

Winchester 1886

Winchester 1886

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HI,
I am starting reloading this week.
I had several hundred bullets included with the used kit I bought.
Those bullets are round nose like Hornady Interlock in 170gr. and 180gr.
I know those are made for 30/30 rifle but I heard that you can reload them for use in .308 rifle,for plinking.
The question is,what is the OAL,minimum and maximum of the loaded shell,
to make a safe reload?

Thanks a lot
 
Bullet weight is bullet weight, goes not matter what they were designed for. Where it comes into play is using a bullet ment to expand at 1700 fps , and push it at 2700 fps, it will fragment on game. I would use the 30-30 bullets at reduced velocity in a .308. Just use the faster powder listed for .308 , and starting load. You may even get away with 4064, rl 15, varget , etc...as for length, use book values for .308 180gr rn and you will be fine.
Frank
 
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Minimum overall length is really not a factor. A bullet could be loaded flush with the case mouth like a wadcutter. Don't compress the powder, because that will spike pressures! Sure the cartridge will fire and get down the barrel, but that 1/2" of free run makes the bullet highly unstable. This part of the chamber before the rifling starts is called the lead. Handloaders are trying to get the bullet almost touching the rifling, not the opposite.
 
Well, minimum oaL IS a factor, but there can't be a standard, it's just the way things are.
For example, if you loaded a 180 grain in a 308 so it just barely poked out of the case, it would very likely raise pressures dramatically. If you did the same with a short bullet like a 130, or 110 grain, the effect would be less pronounced.
The bullets profile further complicates matters, as spire points are longer in profile for a given wieght.
For example, it may not be possible to seat a short round nose out to max OAL in some cartridges, it would fall out!
In general your best plan, regardless of bullet design is to seat the bullet as close to Max OAL as possible, given the magazine limitations of your rifle, the design of the bullet, and the Chamber limitations of your rifle.
Max OAL is itself, an arbitrary figure, something that 'should' be good in all rifles.
 
The OAL listed in manuals is the max not the min. So as a start use the case overall length listed in the manuals. The listing is intended to meet factory round specs and be able to feed through mags. If you want to experiment with shorter lenghts then you must reduce powder! As stated above you generally might? want a longer OAL to get closer to the rifling in the barrel.
 
I am new to reloading too and following the instructions on the RCBS die set, you screw the die down until it just touches the empty casing at the top of its stroke, then back it off a turn. Using 180gr round nose speer hot cors in 30-06 I was getting a OAL of 2.995 inches using 57gr of IMR 4831. The max OAL was 3.3 something inches.

My question is, is the round nose bullets are shorter, so I shouldn't worry about the amount of powder in there I think, but will accuracy suffer if I am not max OAL? Should I cheat the bullet out as far as I can towards the max OAL? Am I gaining anything if my main purpose is hunting as opposed to target shooting?

Thanks
 
Setting up the die as you mention does not address OAL - it just sets up the die so it doesnt hit the case shoulder. Bullet seating - and OAL- is established by the knob or screw at the top of the die. Start with it way out, and "bump' it down until you get the desired length.
On the subject of OAL - most bullets have cannelures (knurled ring) to help the reloader establish OAL. In the absence of a cannelure, most bullet manufacturers have recommended (max) OAL's. Failing that, use published data in the manuals as a max. Trying to get real close to the lands, as a novice reloader, can lead to problems! As a novice you should strive for consistency from cartridge to cartridge, and batch to batch. One component to this is meticulous record keeping. BTW - You will find that playing around with bullet weights, and then powders, will have a much greater effect than OAL.
Back to the original post, Hornady makes RN's for a number of calibers other than 30-30. I'm not sure one can assume they are a low velocity easily mushrooming bullet. I wouldnt hesitate using them in 308 at design velocities - I've used them in 303, 6.5, and 7 mm successfully. Might be worth an email to Hornady to confirm.
 
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more info needed...

In general your best plan, regardless of bullet design is to seat the bullet as close to Max OAL as possible, given the magazine limitations of your rifle, the design of the bullet, and the Chamber limitations of your rifle.
Max OAL is itself, an arbitrary figure, something that 'should' be good in all rifles.

Well worded info John.
For me it raises new questions...

I am learning too. It helps to know the reason the rule is there.
Cause I find the rule stated different from different sources.

So help me on these 2 points and I am sure it will help others.
I load .38 for a .357 revolver.

1) The max OAL for 38 is less that 357.
This is cause there is 38 only revolvers too.
So the max OAL is what gun makers must consider so all ammo (if made to max OAL length) will fit.
So I can load 38 special longer that Max OAL and be safe in a 357 gun.

2) Every gun is different.
The most accurate .38 load in my smith model 27 - 2 is a HBSW at 1.378"
The most accurate .38 load in my ruger 3 screw blackhawk is a RNFP at 1.558"
 
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