COL Seating Depth

[Twud]

I'm still waiting for my 6BR to show up, so I've been working on some sample Lapua brass. I've turned the necks and tried seating a bullet in one. COL is supposed to be 2.44 with the bullet barely seated I'm getting 2.33. At this depth I can remove the bullet with my fingers. What am I doing wrong? I did not trim the cases, they are 1.55 out of the box. I'm using a 75 grain VMax bullet.
Help
Mark

 

[Preacher]

Before you can figure out your COL you need the barrel for a positive length, otherwise your just guessing at it.
You also can not go by the length of the bullet itself, it needs to be off the ogive.

 

[billmo]

Twud, Where are you getting the 2.44 number from? If that is a number from your Smith, sounds like you might be trouble. But, you do need to get your rifle in hand before you can do a whole lot of detail work and it mean much at all. Preacher is on the money. You need to work off of the ogive and forget about working off of the tip of the bullet. Lead you astray everytime. Bill

 

[AQC440]

Some ballistics software state that the MAXIMUM CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH for the 6mm BR Norma, benchrest ) is 2.440". But your C.O.L. with that particular bullet will probably not turn out anywhere near that length.