Hello, I have just started reloading. I full length resized some federal brass and have started to work up a load but I have a problem with the overall length. I have a set of Lee dies and set the Die seating length to 2.710 which worked on 2 of the completed bullets but the other 2 are 2.717 and 2.704. I have run them back through the die and the AOL doesn't change. Does 0.010" + or - matter ? I thought once the die was set they would all be the same length. I am using Hornady 87gr soft points
1st time reloading a question on .243 AOL
- Thread starter jodi
- Start date
deeangeo
Well-Known Member
If you’re measuring from the tip (point) of a lead bullet to the case head, there can be variations of +/- .006”.
The bullet seating plug pushes the bullet into place on the ogive of the bullet, not the point.
Exposed lead tips do vary, so it’s better to use a ‘Comparator tool’ measuring the cartridge from bullet ogive to case head. Consistency is much more precise measured this way.
The bullet seating plug pushes the bullet into place on the ogive of the bullet, not the point.
Exposed lead tips do vary, so it’s better to use a ‘Comparator tool’ measuring the cartridge from bullet ogive to case head. Consistency is much more precise measured this way.
Orion
Well-Known Member
Orion
Well-Known Member
Hopefully your cartridge cases will have zero variation in the heads. Bullets are something else though.
Woodsmoke
Well-Known Member
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
Even ballistic tipped bullets can vary if you measure from the case head to the bullet tip.
I have just checked 60 bullets!!!!!! and they are all with in 0.002" for a Hornaday 87g Bullet they range from 0.931" to 0.933" so they are good to go, so the lead soft point doesn't seem to be a concern. Is it something I'm doing wrong? surely you shouldn't get a 0.015" difference
Measuring bullet lengths may show very little variation, however, the shape of the Ogive may vary. The slight variation in shape will cause a variation in OAL . As has been stated the seating die doesn't seat using the tip.
I think most of us measure a number of bullets to the Ogive and select one of average length for setting up.
Once your seating die is set leave well alone, you'll waste hours trying to make each round the same OAL.
As was already recommended an OAL gauge is invaluable .
Hope this helps. Happy reloading.
I think most of us measure a number of bullets to the Ogive and select one of average length for setting up.
Once your seating die is set leave well alone, you'll waste hours trying to make each round the same OAL.
As was already recommended an OAL gauge is invaluable .
Hope this helps. Happy reloading.
As has been agreed by the other knowledgable fella answering you here, DON'T get flustered about even 10thou' +/- in the C.O.A.L of loaded cartridges when you have pure lead tipped bullets therein 'jodi'. I bet we have ALL been there at some point early on in our dim, dark loading histories. I recall having had just this type of brain fart when, early on in my reloading career I bought myself a Remington700 H.B.V.S. in .223 cal. and had worked up a real humdinger of an accurate load with the terrific 50gr. .224 Sierra Blitz lead softpoint projectile. It is STILL a brilliant copper cup and lead core load. That bullet has a fairly long and tapered lead pointy tip that is really susceptible to being dinged a bit even in the boxes this bullet came in... Thus MY checks of C.O.A.L.s once my loads were completed gave me similar misgivings to those you are suffering under at present, with length variations sufficient to get my OCD-ness running rampant!! However, they shot marvellously and utterly destroyed foxes I hit with them (the Sierra "Blitz" bullets have been specially designed and produced with thin jackets, especially up foreward, and soft alloy/pure lead? cores that were damned near explosive when meeting with a soft bodied critter within 250yds). B.T.W. they are STILL available I believe !
But measurement of the C.O.A.Ls gave me a certain amount of trepidation till some kindly Gunshop proprietor made me see sense - that the projectiles themselves were all varied length, give or take a small amount, due to their soft lead tips that were often rounded off some in the boxes they came in, and thus passed this length variation on loaded cartridges.
Hope that helps ease your mind?
ATB ..... and shoot safely.
270trooper
Well-Known Member
I only ever reload using an OAL and then a bullet comparator this gives the most reliable measurement between the back of the casing to the OGIVE not the COAL - as mentioned above the COAL can vary by a bit due to the shapes of the bullet heads / projectiles where using a comparator and an OAL Guage will give the most consistent measurement and provide better accuracy, if you were to reload the same measurements using 2 different brands of projectiles and or 2 different models of the same brand such as a boat tail or a flat tail projectile, and then measure the COAL only they would be completely different, I’ve put all this to the test and ended up understanding it
Triggermortis
Well-Known Member
So if Jodi is seating to a coal of 2710” measured at the tip of any given bullet, if the comparator measures at the olive what would he measurement be ?
If you are measuring thE OAL from the case head to the bullet tip with a micrometer it’s easy to get differing measurements, even on the same round, as it is difficult to keep everything square. Had similar issues when I started but, as deeangeo has already suggested, bought a set of comparators and started measuring to the ogive with much better results.
Highlandsjohn
Well-Known Member
Were I loading this bullet the cartridge coal would be 2.620"?not 2.710"Are you chasing the lands...
Quote.. set the Die seating length to 2.710 Quote
Quote.. set the Die seating length to 2.710 Quote
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