OAL Gauge Question

UnlistMe
Inventry
Tennessee Deer Sporting & Deer Hunting Community Forum

Help Support TNDeer | Tennessee Deer:

Encore Eye Candy

Encore Eye Candy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2000
Messages
4,918
City & State/Province
In the Middle of no where
I purchased a OAL Gauge. I'm measuring my new 204 barrel; after measuring, my results are 2.4135 and if I back off .02 that leaves me 2.3935. With that measurement there is hardly enough bullet seat to hold the bullet or that what it appears to me?
 
Sometimes it's not possible to seat the bullet as close to the lands as you would like due to the construction of the bullet or magazine constrictions. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the bullet is seated at least a bullets diameter into the neck of the brass. A .204 should be at least .204 of an inch into the neck. I usually set my loads .050 off the OAL with Barnes bullets, but thats my preference. I have some old military rifles that are .150 off the lands due to magazine constrictions, you just have to get as close as you can with what you have to work with. I hope that helped a little. :)
 
No.
The dimensions of the case/neck are fixed and reset to standard dimensions when you resize them with your dies. Sometimes you won't be able to seat the bullet out as far as you would like. Bullets vary in length due to composition and intended purpose, a longer bullet with more bearing surface would probably help on the seating depth question. Barnes bullets tend to be long for their weight due to the lack of lead. Just because the seating depth is not what you would like it does'nt mean that the load will not perform well. When someone says to seat the bullet .050 of the lands its just a starting point, some guns like it further in and some like it further out, you have to experiment with different loads and depths. Two guns with consecutive serial numbers and the same caliber may prefer different loads, every gun has its preference, thats the reason loading is a challenge and rewarding when you find that sweet spot.
 
Cull Buck Hunter said:
No.
The dimensions of the case/neck are fixed and reset to standard dimensions when you resize them with your dies. Sometimes you won't be able to seat the bullet out as far as you would like. Bullets vary in length due to composition and intended purpose, a longer bullet with more bearing surface would probably help on the seating depth question. Barnes bullets tend to be long for their weight due to the lack of lead. Just because the seating depth is not what you would like it does'nt mean that the load will not perform well. When someone says to seat the bullet .050 of the lands its just a starting point, some guns like it further in and some like it further out, you have to experiment with different loads and depths. Two guns with consecutive serial numbers and the same caliber may prefer different loads, every gun has its preference, thats the reason loading is a challenge and rewarding when you find that sweet spot.
Click to expand...
Ditto--sometimes you just can't do what you'd like. There are problems introduced by varying throat lengths, magazine lengths, bullet lengths, case neck lengths and others. It doesn't mean it won't shoot. I'm working with a 300RUM right now that I can't get the bullet within but 0.200 of the lands but it's shooting like gangbusters. Roy Weatherby did it that way and never looked back.
 
One of my best shooting guns was a .308 that I loaded to a COL of 2.80, if I remember correctly and the Max COL was 2.92. That gun shot 1/4" moa groups at 100yds. I have several old Mauser's that I can't get close to the lands on either.
 
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
See price on Amazon
Weber Hickory Wood Chunks Outdoor Cooking Fuel, 4 lb – Premium BBQ Smoking & Grilling Chips for Rich, Subtly Sweet Flavor – Ideal for Beef, Lamb, Poultry & Pork – Long Lasting
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Smoker Wood Chunks 13-16 lbs for Grilling, Smoking, and Wood Fire Cooking ~ 2 x 3 Inches, (Hickory, 790 Cu in.)
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
See price on Amazon
Hickory Pizza Oven Wood 6 Inch, 15 lbs Box – Kiln Dried & Bark-Free Firewood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ Smoking & Grilling – Premium Hickory Wood Logs for Ooni, Gozney, Solo Stove, Bertello
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 8” Splits (Approx 39.5 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
See price on Amazon
Firewood Central Kiln-Dried PA Hickory – 6” Splits (Approx. 42 lb) – Bold Smoking Wood for Pizza Ovens, BBQ & Fire Pits – Easy Light, Low Smoke, USA Sourced
Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller 2-Stage Outlet Thermostat Heating and Cooling Mode Carboy Homebrew Fermenter Greenhouse Terrarium 110V 10A 1100W
See price on Amazon
Inkbird ITC-308 Digital Temperature Controller 2-Stage Outlet Thermostat Heating and Cooling Mode Carboy Homebrew Fermenter Greenhouse Terrarium 110V 10A 1100W
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
See price on Amazon
Greenworks 24V 6in BL Pruning Saw w/Auto Oiler, Tool Only
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
See price on Amazon
Old Potters Kiln Dried Firewood - Cherry, 1100 Cu. in, 16-18 Logs ~ 8" x 2.5" Logs. Solo Stove and Cooking Wood for Grilling, Smoking, and Firepits, Cherry.
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
See price on Amazon
Heritage Smoke Wood Hickory Pizza Oven Wood with Fire Starter - Kiln Dried Firewood 6" Hardwood Logs for Brick Fire Pizza Ovens & Grills, 6 lb, Low Smoke, High Heat, Competition-Grade Clean Burn
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
See price on Amazon
39" Fire Pits with Wood Storage for Outside, Large Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplace with Chimney, Mesh Spark Screen & Fire Poker, Idea for Backyard, Patio, Party, Camping, Picnic
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change.

Latest posts

Back
Top