colinbentley wrote:Don't forget I am a beginner. Have a look at where I got this idea. On the internet A Beginners Guide to Reloading Pt 1...Equipment.. Youtube. The episode you need is episode 23 dealing with just necksizing 308 ammo .More and more I am finding that every time I ask someone a question about reloading no one seems to be able to give a definitive answer.
Apollo wrote:If you have a rifle with a magazine it is highly unlikely that you can load a round that is as long as one that the bullet is touching the lands in a bore.
colinbentley wrote:I have spent in excess of 20 hours on the web viewing handloading videos, have read from cover to cover "The ABCs of Reloading" by C. Rodney James and am in the process of reading Reloading Manual 14 put out by Speer Bullets. I am a very pedantic person. I don't think I'm stupid but I am careful hence my questions. A pont that has to be answered is why do the length of factory rounds sit between the minimum and maximum, lengths.? Are they simply playing it safe ?
colinbentley wrote:I actually used the rifle itself as the bullet seating press......an idea I got from a website video. So I know it will chamber OK .My brass if anything is short as it's the first time it has been reused after being fired in my rifle. It will be a while before I have to consider case trimming.The more I learn the more I realize what I don't know.I don't wonder many people just fire factory ammo. But where is the fun in that ?
colinbentley wrote:Thanks Supaduke. The recommended maximumlength is 2.7098. .My dummy bullet measures 2.704. So I don't appear to have a problem.Please no more advice as I am getting more confused by the minute.
colinbentley wrote:I actually used the rifle itself as the bullet seating press......an idea I got from a website video.
"I am actually using the rifle itself as the bullet seating PRESS".......
Flyer wrote:Interesting thread and perhaps I'm also in need of advice.
I've got a .243 Sako 85 and plan to load Sierra 95gr Tipped Match Kings and 100gr SPBT Game Kings. COAL with the Game Kings is 2.725" and so I plan to load to 2.710", or .015" off the lands. So far so good.
The SMKs are a different story. Due to the long ogive, COAL is 2.925" and there is no way I can load anywhere near that with the bullet seated properly. The TMK has a very short bearing surface due to the long boat tail and ogive. If I seat 6mm of the bearing surface into the neck, the OAL is about 2.750". If I seat 4mm, it is 2.830".
From what I've read, Match Kings don't mind a jump, but what would be better: to seat the bullet properly with a .175" jump, or seat it out a bit with a .095" jump? I read the article below and this bloke was seating his TMKs to 2.860" - which leaves just over 3mm of bearing surface in contact with the neck.
http://rifleshooter.com/2016/07/243-win ... rettyPhoto
So what would be best? I have plenty of magazine length, so that's not a consideration.
Flyer wrote:Yep, target shooting. The beauty of the Tipped Match Kings is they all measure a consistent length - 1.169" - but I was under the impression that the seating dies act on the ogive in any case - not the tip - which should give consistent clearance between each ogive and the lands. Is that correct? The Game Kings are not as consistent, due to the soft points, but I have a dummy projectile I use to measure COAL and set up the seating die each time and simply ignore the OAL of each seated bullet.
brett1868 wrote:"I am actually using the rifle itself as the bullet seating PRESS".......
Gwion / Norton, This is not as stupid as it sounds providing it's done correctly. Some of the BR guys are neck sizing their brass so it has minimal neck tension, they seat a fraction long so that when they close the bolt the ogive contacts the rifling and the projectile seats further into the case. The logic behind this is that neck tension is extremely consistent and they are always seating to the lands reducing 2 variables of consistency. It's an advanced technique and not for beginners as you have rightly identified there can be issues with pressure so you need to know what you're doing. I think the OP may possibly have too much neck tension which is potentially dangerous when approaching maximum loads he'd also be all over the shop with OAL due to large variations in neck tension so not a practise I'd recommend in his situation.
@ColinBentley
Get yourself the Hornady LNL OAL Straight gauge
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-OAL-Gauge-Straight-1Each/
And to complete the set the Hornady LNL Bullet Comparator
http://www.hornady.com/store/Lock-N-Load-Comparator-Set-Body-and-14-Bullet-Inserts-1-Each/
Both links have a "Videos" tab that gives a good explanation on how to use these tools or get in touch and I can walk you through it in a few minutes.
PM me and ill give you my address so you can send me a couple of fired cases to drill and tap to use with the gauge. Once you have a starting point for max OAL you can tune and adjust from there.
Brett, I have been experimenting with exactly what you mention. It works very well for accuracy. BUT. I am not using the rifle as a press; I am seating the bullet long in my press and the minimal neck tension allows the ogive/bullet depth to adjust to the lands on every round. ALSO. I am using these for range work only. Loading like this for hunting when the ammo will be his sled and bounced around is fool hardy. ALSO, I would not suggest that some one new to hand loading and still trying to figure out their reloading practices should even contemplate loading like this as there are significant risks involved, as touched on above