overall case length question

[Nsghunter]

My Lee handloading manual lists O.A.C.L. for my 7mm-08 as 2.800 only problem is is that the maximum or minimum?

 

[infoman jr.]

2.800 max

 

[Nsghunter]

So 2.53 is the minimum start length?

On my powder I start low and go slow. Should I do the same thing with case length until I get an overall length gauge or whatever that measuring tool is called?

 

[Hunter 257W]

As a rule you want to seat the bullet out for the longest OAL you can within the MAX. This assumes your gun's magazine will allow that - most will but not always. I assume you have a dial caliper to measure OAL?

 

[Hunter 257W]

Also, for the lighter bullets you need to keep enough bullet in the case to give it full support so you might not be able to reach MAX OAL. A full caliber length inside the case is plenty and often you can go less depending on how rough the ammo is likely to be handled.

 

[Nsghunter]

I don't exactly understand what you mean by this type of measurement. A full caliber length ?

 

[Nsghunter]

As a rule you want to seat the bullet out for the longest OAL you can within the MAX. This assumes your gun's magazine will allow that - most will but not always. I assume you have a dial caliper to measure OAL?

Yes I have a caliper

 

[infoman jr.]

I don't exactly understand what you mean by this type of measurement. A full caliber length ?

A rule of thumb is that for a 7mm bullet (.284"), you'd want at least .284" of the bullet inside the neck of the case.

 

[Sniper]

Too many variables to give a yes or no answer. Too many different bullet lengths based upon design and every rifle is different. I recommend for hunting to set your oal to fit the magazine. If the round will chamber at that length then shoot and check for accuracy. If not sure on that then set oal to what is suggested in whatever manual you are using.

 

[Deer Assassin]

you need to buy a load book

one caliber

load data from every bullet mfg and every powder mfg

http://www.loadbooks.com/

also at cableas

 

[Hunter 257W]

I don't exactly understand what you mean by this type of measurement. A full caliber length ?

infoman jr. is exactly right. For a 7mm cartridge, you want to seat the bullet somewhere near .284 (one bullet diameter) deep in the case neck. It's just a rule of thumb similar to the one where you want a bolt to always go into a threaded hole at least one bolt diameter deep.

 

[DaveB]

NSG---DA has listed his Reloader 15 recipe a few times. I Tried it, it worked so good I shot the other loads just to burn them up.

What you should do is start off low with the RL15, work up to best accuracy which should be sub moa. What rifle you shooting?

 

[Deer Assassin]

i wish you were closer

let me try to break it down for ya

coal is set by saami

they set a specific over all length that is a standard that will fit every rifle made in that caliber

so when you go buy rem ammo it will chamber fine federal ammo it will chamber fine

in you load data it will list a max oal sometimes it may vary per bullet but it will always be with in saami specs

for example from hornaday

in the above example above if you are loading a 120 hornaday bullet you seat it 2.700 and it is that simple
a 162 a max is 2.800

why cause a 162 a max is way longer
if you seat it by the book you will be fine spend the 6 dang dollars and buy a load book for 7/08

2071 tested loads 81 different bullets 59 different powders.

now having said all that

for best accuracy it is a general rule farther the bullet is seated out the better accuracy
IMO you need the coal gauge and a comparator to do this the most accurate way (there are other methods)

the issue with seating to the lands it can cause a few issues

the load will not fit in the mag (especially in short actions) It dont bother me as i just load one in chamber the other on feed ramp (2 shot rifle)

with certain bullets and certain rifles seating to the lands the bullet is not in the brass at all or not deep enough
a 284 bullet need to have the base of bullet at least .284 in the case

 

[7mm08]

Not by any means an expert like these other guys but my 7mm08 Remington with a 140g TSX grouped the best with C.O.L. of 2.81. Group of 4.