OAL sizing question

[henry d]

I used my Hornady OAL gauge today and found that I got readings within 10 thou of each other.

2.165 -169-159-161

 

Should I take an average size of all 4 readings or dipense with the high and low then average the other two ? Then take off 20-25 thou off and work from there ?

I only used very light pressure and didn`t stick the bullet in the lands.

 

Max. OAL is given as 2.130 :blink:

 

Thanks for any answers

[AndyCM]

Hi Henry,

You are getting keen with this reloading game eh!

It is easy to damage (shorten) the bullet just by measuring, depending on which ones you are using.

What you have suggested sounds ok to me.

Earlier the week I did six measurements, averaged those and then -0.015 to get my max.

In the past I have done ten, but it depends on what bullet you pick fromthe box....a long one or a short one, and how much, or easily it damages in the process.

 

I pulled a vmax in a kinetic hammer recently and the tip was mashed!

 

Knowing the measurement is good although best accuracy (fitting in the magazine) is sometimes a lot shorter.

Cheers

AndyCM

[Guest RemmySPS]

In the past I have done ten, but it depends on what bullet you pick from the box....a long one or a short one, and how much, or easily it damages in the process.

 

I pulled a vmax in a kinetic hammer recently and the tip was mashed!

But you don’t measure the OAL from the tip of the bullet, you measure it from the Ogive, this ensures a more perfect measurement as the tip isn’t touched at all. And as you are only talking about a few thou’ difference from the base to the tip, then this is cancelled out by measuring from the Ogive.

 

Henry if you measure the bullet too many times you will find that you can actually push the OAL gauge collet thingy into the soft copper and can get ever decreasing lengths from the same bullet.

Just measure it as carefully as you can without using pressure and you will find that you will develop a “Feel†for things.

[markbivvy]

had the same trouble when i started, using ballistic tips.

then got a bullet comparator , problem solved.

measure the heads before you use them this will give you an idea of the difference before you have loaded any.

[henry d]

OK, thanks for the info guys

 

Just a bit of background I used to be an engineer and have a feel for measuring with various calipers/gauges etc. I can see where the inadequacies are but it is good to run things past other people just for their input........and sometimes we can`t see the wood for the trees.

 

Andy - Using V-max bullets, around 2 thou difference before and after measuring OAL and this could easily be me or a temperature drop, so all OK there I think.

Remmy - I understand measuring from the ogive, however the bullet "free travel" will, I think, be fine due to me using V-max bullets. As for the "collet" there doesn`t seem to be one with the Hornady gauge, unless we are misunderstanding each other :blink:

Mark - I will be getting a comparator......at some stage.

 

EDIT** The V-max bullets are 5 thou difference between each other just from a random sample straight from the box.

 

Once again

[markbivvy]

EDIT** The V-max bullets are 5 thou difference between each other just from a random sample straight from the box.

they are H.

can be a pain in the bum unless you know.

good luck.

[Quist]

You can smoke the bullet with a candle to see where it engages the lands. That can give a greater accuracy because the reloading press also bears on this area and not on the tip of the bullet. & then back off a measured amount from this.

Before you rush off and reload a few hundred, its worth checking that the COAL doesn't snag in the magazine though.

[Guest RemmySPS]

Sorry Henry was moving ahead of myself. I don’t mean the Hornady gauge itself. I mean these thingies (inserts) that fit into the Comparator for measuring the distance off the lands.

http://www.midwayuk.com/apps/eproductpage....leitemid=231904

 

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=485

Edited June 2, 2009 by RemmySPS

[henry d]

Before you rush off and reload a few hundred, its worth checking that the COAL doesn't snag in the magazine though.

 

Absolutely

[henry d]

Sorry Henry was moving ahead of myself. I don’t mean the Hornady gauge itself. I mean these thingies (inserts) that fit into the Comparator for measuring the distance off the lands.

http://www.midwayuk.com/apps/eproductpage....leitemid=231904

 

Yep, they`re on the list as I will be doing the SP`s next and I will need them for those puppies

[plinker]

try speer 50g tnt they were developed for the 222 and i have found them to be incredibley accurate and a devasting hunting round, i dont load any vmax in the triple any more.

if you want to use vmax i bet you will achieve better results with 40g instead of 50g (222 1in 14 twist)

[henry d]

try speer 50g tnt they were developed for the 222 and i have found them to be incredibley accurate and a devasting hunting round, i dont load any vmax in the triple any more.

if you want to use vmax i bet you will achieve better results with 40g instead of 50g (222 1in 14 twist)

Cheers P, I want to get the whole reloading thing straight in my head, build up a load, or several, and then when the bullets are all gone, experiment lots more