25-06 OAL question

[Smalltruck]

I started wondering what the max OAL on my Howa 1500 in 25-06 was. I bought the hornady tool to check this. And started checking several bullets. Uhh, wow there are some differences between bullets. Here's what I found

Nosler 115 gr ballistic tip. Nosler book says OAL is 3.200, tool measures this bullet as 3.275 to the lands. So do I jump the one closer to the lands? How close?

Nosler 85 gr ballistic tip. Book says 3.200 Gauge says max of 3.243. Better, but should it be closer?

Sierra 100 HPBT Book says 3.240 gauge shows 3.265.

So how close is too close or what is a good starting point might be the better question.

Thanks for any help

 

[Smalltruck]

I loaded some rounds up and left the Sierra as it was. The nosler stuff I stretched out on the 115 to 3.250 and the other I went with the spec. Going to try shooting tomorrow to see what effect this has.

 

[2506]

The COAL stated in reloading books are just lengths that will work through most any action in that caliber. Remember the round needs to fit in your magazine if you want a repeater.
Now how far off the lands a bullet is will affect accuracy. It will also affect pressure of the load. Your particular rifle will tell you what it likes and dislikes as to seating depth of each bullet. I would suggest for a rifle to be used as a hunting rifle that you never seat a bullet closer than 10 thousands off the lands. Bullets can pull forward during recoil if in the magazine and then one day that round will end up in the chamber and if you have to unload the round it can stick the bullet in the bore and dump all the powder down in your action and ruin a days hunt if you don't have cleaning equipment with you. Don't ask how I know about this. :
I would suggest that to find your most accurate load that you first load your bullet 10 thousands off the lands if possible taking into consideration that it needs to work through the magazine. If 10 thousands off the lands will not work then seat the bullet deeper until it will work through the magazine. Then find your most accurate powder, primer, case combination load. Then play with the seating depth by seating 5 rounds 10 thousands at a time deeper in the case. Do a ladder test with the same load but seat bullets 20,30,40, thousands off the lands. You will see your groups open up or tighten up. Once you find which depth is the most accurate you can still play with the seating depth by doing a 5 shot test of bullets seated 5 thousands shorter and longer than your most accurate seating depth to see if it improves accuracy.
Just keep in mind that you should always have a calibers depth of bullet seated in the case and this will give you sufficient grasp on the bullet to have good bullet pull for best shooting. If your caliber is .257 then you need to have at least .257 of an inch of bullet base down into the neck of the case.