Rookie question re .223

conmaesta

conmaesta

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Ok gentlemen so I've been loading .223 for a bit with great success using Accurate 2015 and 60 grain Hornady Vmax bullets...OAL at 2.260...Now my question is, since I've now changed to Hornady SP 60 grain bullets which are a tad shorter how much should my OAL be??? Should it be the difference in the length of the two bullets? And does the powder charge change? Or does everything stay the same except the change in OAL?
The way I looked at it is the Vmax is .870 in length, the SP is .763 in length..I subtracted the SP from the Vmax which gave me a difference of .107 which I then subtracted from the OAL of 2.260 which was the OAL for the Vmax leaving me with an OAL of 2.153 for the SP....Does that make sense or am I making too much of the OAL for the SP??
Help lol.
 
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You need to check the oal for your gun for every new bullet you use. Also work up a new load for every new bullet. From what I have found its not often 2 different bullets use the same load.

None of the oal I use are listed in any book. They are all to what my gun needs. THe shortest I load is 2.260 because if I did any longer the bullet would fall out. The longest being 2.394"
 
The part that touches the lands is the ogive, since the bullets are different in lenght, odds are their geometry is also different and hence, the position of the Ogive. Looks like you have two choices : if you had a bullet comparator gauge then you could measure the difference between the two bullets ogive's position. Otherwise, take a new measurement with the new bullet in an empty case to see the length where it touches the lands. Also, if you have a bullet comparator (Im pretty sure i'm getting one). Technically you don't have to measure your chamber's OAL everytime because you will always be measuring from the Ogive.
 
conmaesta said:
Sorry, should have mentioned they are both 60 grain bullets...Only difference in the two bullets is length...
Click to expand...

Ya I know. I have loaded 165/8 grain bullets for the 30-06 they are both almost the same weight but seating depth was way different. They are a different bullet so guessing wont do anything but waste bullets. measure the oal for your gun and seat them to that. Also 2.260" seems short to me unless you are loading for an ar15.
 
conmaesta said:
Sorry, should have mentioned they are both 60 grain bullets...Only difference in the two bullets is length...
Click to expand...

I am using the same Hornady bullets as you.
60grn Vmax uses 25.2 grns H4895, and the 60grn softpoint needs 25.6grns H4895 to produce the same precision from my rifle. These different powder weights produce very similar velocities in my rifle.

There is a difference between the bullets and therefore require a different load. Also, I am running both bullets .030" off the lands.
 
You know you dont have to use the published oal right? That is saami spec. You can measure the oal of your gun and use that. Typically you want them .020 - .040 off the lands for hunting rounds. That should help with accuracy as well.
 
hometownhero said:
You need to check the oal for your gun for every new bullet you use. Also work up a new load for every new bullet. From what I have found its not often 2 different bullets use the same load.

None of the oal I use are listed in any book. They are all to what my gun needs. THe shortest I load is 2.260 because if I did any longer the bullet would fall out. The longest being 2.394"
Click to expand...



x2.
 
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