308 col length?

[JJE]

Was loading some 168 gr 168 smk yesterday. Couple ended up being 2.75 before I got the seating die dialed. Will those still be fine to shoot? All the rest are between 2.8 and 2.803. Thanks

 

[JJE]

42 gr imr 4064.

 

[gtl1946]

If il’s “shooting “ ammo,yes but if Match ammo I have an inertial puller and would tap it on the floor to make the bullets slip out some and reseat.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Was loading some 168 gr 168 smk yesterday. Couple ended up being 2.75 before I got the seating die dialed. Will those still be fine to shoot? All the rest are between 2.8 and 2.803. Thanks

Based on the IMR-4064 powder I have, I'd leave them as is and use them as a starting fouling rounds and not expect the same accuracy as those seated to 2.8. Otherwise, I'd pull , with my Hornady bullet puller, and reseat the bullet, which would be very easy to do and take just a couple minutes.

 

[JJE]

Based on the IMR-4064 powder I have, I'd leave them as is and use them as a starting fouling rounds and not expect the same accuracy as those seated to 2.8. Otherwise, I'd pull , with my Hornady bullet puller, and reseat the bullet, which would be very easy to do and take just a couple min

 

[JJE]

Thanks for the feedback. Fairly new to reloading I appreciate all the knowledge!

 

[Zero333]

What Straightshooter1 said...

Use them for sight-in / fouling.

 

[JJE]

I reset my die, I’m right at the 2.798-2.803 mark. 168 gr smk in once fired LC brass, 42 gr imr 4064. I’m assuming that variation is the bullet?

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Yes, unless you have proud primer(s). Or crimping, incorrectly or inadvertently.

 

[JJE]

No crimp.

 

[divingin]

I reset my die, I’m right at the 2.798-2.803 mark. 168 gr smk in once fired LC brass, 42 gr imr 4064. I’m assuming that variation is the bullet?

42 gn of IMR4064 is not a hot charge. A little deeper is not going to raise pressure to the danger point. Just shoot them.

Variation can come from a lot of places, the length of the nose of the bullet being one of them. Some are longer than others, hence the serious guys measuring and sorting bullets they use in competition.

What kind of rifle, and how are you loading?

If you're not loading from a magazine, don't get too hung up on the SAAMI COAL. If you are, then the max length becomes what fits in your mag.

Distance of the bullet ogive (the diameter that contacts the rifling first) to the lands has an effect on how accurate the round is in that rifle. Playing with that (assuming you're not mag-length limited) will have an effect.

 

[JJE]

42 gn of IMR4064 is not a hot charge. A little deeper is not going to raise pressure to the danger point. Just shoot them.

Variation can come from a lot of places, the length of the nose of the bullet being one of them. Some are longer than others, hence the serious guys measuring and sorting bullets they use in competition.

What kind of rifle, and how are you loading?

If you're not loading from a magazine, don't get too hung up on the SAAMI COAL. If you are, then the max length becomes what fits in your mag.

Distance of the bullet ogive (the diameter that contacts the rifling first) to the lands has an effect on how accurate the round is in that rifle. Playing with that (assuming you're not mag-length limited) will have an effect.

Shooting out of a AR 308. Loading on a rcbs single stage with Hornady dies.

 

[divingin]

Shooting out of a AR 308.

Okay, unless you want to single-load, you can ignore all the length stuff in my post above.

 

[JJE]

Okay, unless you want to single-load, you can ignore all the length stuff in my post above.

What do you mean by single load?

 

[divingin]

Single load: Nothing in the magazine, toss a round in the ejection port, drop the bolt. You can run longer ammo than will fit the magazine.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

This round youll be fine but always beware of some rounds seated deep and creating hi pressure. Its always easy enough to just ask here to be sure

 

[JJE]

This round youll be fine but always beware of some rounds seated deep and creating hi pressure. Its always easy enough to just ask here to be sure

2.8 is seated deep?

 

[Straightshooter1]

2.8 is seated deep?

For a 168 SMK, 2.8 COAL would not be considered seated deep. It's the SAAMI spec for .308. But. . . it could be considered "deep" depending on how full you're filling the case with powder. Heavier, longer bullets seated to .308 are often considered "deep" seated when at 2.8 COAL. It's all pretty relative, actually. . . . relative to amount of powder and size of the bullet. For some people, seating a bullet where the bearing surface touches the doughnut area (shoulder-neck junction) is seated "deep".

 

[Dusty Stevens]

2.8 is seated deep?

No but the 2.75 he said he seated them to is.