juststarting wrote:And handwritten notes, although old school badass, not for me.
sungazer wrote:The C.O.A.L is an important number. what is even more important is if you can find just how long a certain projectile in a cartridge will be when the bullet touches the lands/Rifling. Some projectiles like to be touching the lands (which may or may not be possible) and others are more tolerant to "jump" which just means to travel a small distance before reaching the lands. I see you have a 308 so for example the Berger Hybrids 155gr are know to be a tolerant projectile while the Sierra Match King 155 is known to like touching or even being jammed into the lands. What I meant by may not be possible is for example in my Remington 700 with the factory barrel (and nearly all for safety reasons to reduce pressure) the bullet would not be able to be seated in the case to reach the lands. It is just not long enough. So to seat the bullet properly it will be a bit off the lands. It will also be much longer than the specs for COAL and not fit in a magazine.
Mulder030 wrote:Cheers Sungazer, I have had penciled down to purchase the Hornady OAL gauge. Just hadn't got around to getting it. So you would say it's best to record the C.O.A.L for each projectile (brand, style) per rifle? (ex. Sierra Gameking, 150gr, FMJ COAL = ____, Rifle - Howa, Berger Hybrids, 155gr, COAL = ___, Rifle Howa)
I will need to do some more reading on C.O.A.L. as I have only been using the generic OAL's given in the reloading books. I appreciate your response Sungazer
bladeracer wrote:You don't need any tools.
Put a flat-tip rod down the bore against the bolt face and wrap a piece of tape around the rod at the muzzle.
Then pull the bolt, drop a bullet into the chamber and hold it in the bore against the lands.
Put the rod in against the bullet and mark the rod with a second piece of tape.
Measure the difference.
Do the same with every different bullet you use.
Check it again every few hundred rounds to monitor throat erosion.
Gwion wrote:I just keep my load testing targets with all measurements of vertical, horizontal and overall spread and the load details tested written on them. I also have the exact load data written inside my ammo box and make a dummy round for overall length to make it easy to set up my seating die.
I find keeping targets so simple and it gives me a very clear visual record of what has performed how. But basic for you tech heads, I guess, but simple and effective.
Gwion wrote:I just keep my load testing targets with all measurements of vertical, horizontal and overall spread and the load details tested written on them. I also have the exact load data written inside my ammo box and make a dummy round for overall length to make it easy to set up my seating die.
I find keeping targets so simple and it gives me a very clear visual record of what has performed how. But basic for you tech heads, I guess, but simple and effective.
Mulder030 wrote:I like the look of your spreadsheet Bladeracer, Feel it might be a little over my pay grade at the moment, lol. Thanks for the tips tho, I might have a mess around tomorrow see what I come up with. Is it a feel sort of thing to know when the bullet touched the lands? and how do I know that the bullet I'm using to measure will actually give me the correct depth/measurement. (sorry if this is a stupid question, as mentioned I am as beginner as it comes)
Mulder030 wrote:Gwion wrote:I just keep my load testing targets with all measurements of vertical, horizontal and overall spread and the load details tested written on them. I also have the exact load data written inside my ammo box and make a dummy round for overall length to make it easy to set up my seating die.
I find keeping targets so simple and it gives me a very clear visual record of what has performed how. But basic for you tech heads, I guess, but simple and effective.
I am a very visual person and like the idea of scanning in the targets and linking them into the spreadsheet. Not for every group but maybe my best loads. I have my load data in my ammo box as well, correlating it with the target I put up at the set distance, which is how I reference it back when I return from the range,
I do like the idea of the dummy round tho! I may do that when i have refined my data to a specific load that is bang on for me. Cheers.
bladeracer wrote:I have a program called Pointblank Ballistics that you might like then.
It's probably the most useful of a number of similar programs I've tried.
But I still find it too much of a chore to be bothered inputting everything.
Mulder030 wrote:bladeracer wrote:I have a program called Pointblank Ballistics that you might like then.
It's probably the most useful of a number of similar programs I've tried.
But I still find it too much of a chore to be bothered inputting everything.
Yeah would be keen to take a look,
is it readily available?
bladeracer wrote:
http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php?name=pointblank
Mulder030 wrote:Cheers!
Just to clarify, with your previous comments about COAL and trying to measure the length, you mentioned to opening the action and placing a bullet in the chamber and hold it against the lands. are you referring to a new projectile or a dummy bullet with the specific projectile in it?
bladeracer wrote:Mulder030 wrote:Cheers!
Just to clarify, with your previous comments about COAL and trying to measure the length, you mentioned to opening the action and placing a bullet in the chamber and hold it against the lands. are you referring to a new projectile or a dummy bullet with the specific projectile in it?
Just the bullet, not a cartridge.
A bullet is what is fired down the bore and becomes a projectile.
A dummy cartridge would have a bullet in it.
Oldbloke wrote:I used a cleaning rod initially but was never convinced it was very accurate. I found these instructions a while back & found they work well.
Oldbloke wrote:I don't believe it's as accurate because you only rely on your eye to see any error.
The other method you can measure it with vernier calipers.