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223 overall length


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I'm sure people's guns are different, but I've always had the best results loading my 223 to near the max OAL of 2.260". I made a batch yesterday and they were all about 2.256" which is near enough for me. After a bit of a tussle with the press, one of them came out as 2.200".

 

Is this still safe to shoot or should I pull it? (Bearing in mind I don't have a puller.)

 

Cheers.

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There is no doubt the safest option is to pull it.

 

There are a lot of other things one should consider. A bullet seated lower than normal may increase the peak case pressure. Most of the time it does but there is a scenario where it may have the reverse.

 

Firstly are your current rounds showing any signs of pressure i.e. slight flattening of the primer. If so then seriously consider the safest option. If there is no signs of pressure then you should have some leeway and one round a little low (60 thou) is not that much and you could leave and shoot it. This one round may impact at a slightly different place but I doubt you will notice at normal distances.

 

Most manufactures of rifles use the same receiver and barrel stock for a range of rifles. This means the amount of metal around the case and down the length of the barrel is more for a small case and bullet. This results in a bigger threshold before an action comes apart. HOWEVER, I would never advocate relying on this!!!!!

 

If you are working at the limits – let the primer be your primary indicator, then don’t push your luck.

 

When I teach reloading I hammer into people the pressure curve of smokeless powders i.e. the relationship between ‘burn’ rate and pressure. In my humble opinion if you don’t understand this you should NOT be reloading......

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A set of vernier calipers is how most people measure OAL that I know of. You can spend £20-£200 but they all pretty much do the same job

 

AH I have those, although I believe to measure OAL properly a bullet comparater is used to measure from the base to the O give? not the tip

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AH I have those, although I believe to measure OAL properly a bullet comparater is used to measure from the base to the O give? not the tip

I just keep things simple... set of good digital calipers. I ain't doing too bad :lol: did set off a primer whilst loading last night though, scared the **** outa me and the mrs :lol: :lol:

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I can only recommend what I have, which is the hornady set,it clamps onto your vernier then zero it and measure away. I have seen a micrometer type one which looked fantastic but I'm on a budget and the hornady set came up first,Secondhand. I only use mine when I get new bullets to set up my dies,I then lock the dies up and don't touch them again.

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Some erroneous statements here. Reducing COAL in itself does NOT necessarily increase pressure. Loading closer to the lands may do and loading on the lands WILL do. Peak pressure isn't reached until about 5 millisecs or 2 to 3 inches of travel have been covered by the bullet and whilst over compressing the load may well spike the pressures dangerously, merely reducing the COAL will not. In fact, full cases up to say 104% of available volume (ie slightly compressed) often shoot more consistently without any additional pressure signs.

It all depends on the bullet and propellant used plus the degree of compression. What is more likely in the case of a load that is not overly compressed is that the barrel time changes may alter POI.

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Here is a technique I use.

 

Look at the picture on the right where the case has been slit up at the neck

 

https://www.larrywillis.com/OAL.html

(Note if using the latest Firefox it is going to stop you loading this page - I have informed the site owner)

 

use a set of verniers to measure the length of the re-positioned bullet to gain a true OAL

 

The whole article is good to read and I use the digital headspace gauge myself but is a very expensive option if you don't do a lot of reloading for different firearms/calibres

 

(Edit - this measured OAL is to the lands which is not optimal nor desireable as Savhmr has pointed out)

Edited by rem708
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The split case technique can be surprisingly accurate. I have a few COAL gauges but the split neck cases that I made up to start with are still as reliable as the others providing that at least 10 readings are taken and the average used. The readings shouldn't be more than a few thou apart or different at all if done correctly.

 

It's generally advised not to use verniers to measure COAL on their own as bullet meplats vary a fair bit. I'd advise something like the Hornady L-N-L bullet seating comparator gauge to set your lands measurement and use that as a reference to seat from. I have the Sinclair one here too (the Hex one) but find it about as much use as a chocolate teapot!

Edited by Savhmr
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