Oal

johnnyreb65

johnnyreb65

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started loading ;.223 with varget and it says to put OAL to maximum length;. Now I know OAL effects fitting into mags but how does it effect pressure? I'd rather set OAL just a tad lower than what they say as I use the same reloads for a few different rifles;.

Thanks
 
Yes, it does effect pressure for the very reason, if you shorten the OAL, you are taking up space in the cavity and thus increasing pressure. If you increase your OAL you actually decrease your pressure ! In some loads, shortening the OAL could put your load to over pressure on a max load, so yup, it's important !
 
If you seat a tad deeper, it should not make any difference, especially if the "long" version was close to the rifling.

But if your load is at max, or over max, make only a few rounds and test them for pressure signs.

If your original load is close to the rifling, seating a bit deeper will reduce pressure.
 
Thanks all;. it gets confusing as my reloading books says ;.223 has an OAL of 2.26 which is what the recipe calls for;. However I've seen recipes with an OAL of 2.28;.;..main reason I'm asking is i wanted to back it off to 2;.57 as my press is inconsistent with OAL cause it depends on how much pressure I apply;.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
Thanks all;. it gets confusing as my reloading books says ;.223 has an OAL of 2.26 which is what the recipe calls for;. However I've seen recipes with an OAL of 2.28;.;..main reason I'm asking is i wanted to back it off to 2;.57 as my press is inconsistent with OAL cause it depends on how much pressure I apply;.
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If your seating depth varies with how much pressure you put on the press handle, either something is set up wrong, or you have some defective equipment.
 
stubblejumper said:
If your seating depth varies with how much pressure you put on the press handle, either something is set up wrong, or you have some defective equipment.
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X2, And you'd might as well not handload until you remedy that. I use Wilson hand dies, so I can't offer help there.

What are you loading for? Check your mag length. Varget takes up lots of space, best to seat out as far as possible. Providing your rifle doesn't mind, accuracy wise.
 
It doesn't vary that much;.;. For example I have it set at 2.223" it may vary from 2.221 to 2.223 only about a thousand of an inch in either direction.
 
Jmiverson said:
X2, And you'd might as well not handload until you remedy that. I use Wilson hand dies, so I can't offer help there.

What are you loading for? Check your mag length. Varget takes up lots of space, best to seat out as far as possible. Providing your rifle doesn't mind, accuracy wise.
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So going over OAL listed in the manual is OK providing it fits in the mag?
 
stubblejumper said:
If it fits the mag, and functions well, there is no issue exceeding the COL listed in a manual. I generally ignore the COL listed in the manuals altogether.
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I have watched with interest members at our Club that far exceed the OAL in .223 with very accurate results at 100 yrds, however it is one round at a time and I have to wonder if there will be issues later.
 
stubblejumper said:
If it fits the mag, and functions well, there is no issue exceeding the COL listed in a manual. I generally ignore the COL listed in the manuals altogether.
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Me too. Either I make it fit the mag, or I load to about 20 thou off the rifling.

For pistol, same thing. Usually totally unaware of what the book suggest for OAL. I am loading for my gun, not theirs.

That said, I start low and work up, looking for accuracy, so pressure problems relating to OAL are not an issue.
 
Go by the bullet manufacturers listed OAL for that particular bullet. That is where I start and then after I have the most accurate powder charge figured out I change the OAL slightly to see if it improves.
The couple thou difference in length from cartridge to cartridge is probably caused by measuring from the bullet tip. If you use a ogive measure it will be more consistent.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
It doesn't vary that much;.;. For example I have it set at 2.223" it may vary from 2.221 to 2.223 only about a thousand of an inch in either direction.
Click to expand...

If you are using a digital hand caliper to measure OAL, slightly tilting the round in the jaws will affect the measurement by more than that alone... and could also be accounted for by improperly seated primers, as most center the primer on the jaws.
 
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