Hornady OAL cases tight

[Sigfla]

Has anyone had any trouble with a tight neck using this tool? My .204R cases are tight in the neck when using 39 grain SBK's to measure depth. It works but I feel like the stickiness is making me push the bullet into the lands. Can I run this case through an expander to open it up a bit? Any other suggestions on how to open up the inside of the throat a hair so the bullet slides forward easier? Will it loosen up over time? I really don't want to expand it BC my other gun has a tighter neck and it may no longer work with that gun if I expand it.

 

[M-61]

It will still work. Turn the screw lock down securely on the cable. If the bullet falls out just stick it back in and measure it. Most of mine will not hold the bullet in the modified case. I do push the cable in pretty good so some stick in the lands. For me it is a matter of being consistent with my method. The actual measurement is only a guide. Doing it the same way each time is what matters. Then you know where your lands actually are when the bullet is semi stuck there. A bit more or a bit less and you know if you are off the lands or just touching. As an aside, I have found it takes me 4 or so tries to get two measurements that are the same anyway or really close.

 

[Sigfla]

I would prefer the bullet fall out rather than stick in the neck of the case. I would rather have a light touch pushing the bullet to the lands rather than forcing it. If I have a legit zero measure at the lands I can adjust +- from there. Jamming it just gives me a measure into the lands.

 

[nmkid]

Watch these videos and you will probably never use the Hornady AOL gauge again. http://www.wheeleraccuracy.com/#!videos/p62ad

 

[Sigfla]

I

Watch these videos and you will probably never use the Hornady AOL gauge again. http://www.wheeleraccuracy.com/#!videos/p62ad

Interesting, I have a Remington Sinclair ejector removal tool coming so I can use it to test. It should work with my Remington as it has a tight chamber.

I will need to remove my Savage firing pin to see how the bolt feels on an empty chamber with that gun.

I like the Hornady tool bc it's quick but I can see where it can be improved upon to make it more repeatable. All bets are off if you have a crap caliper though.

 

[hogpatrol]

Watch these videos and you will probably never use the Hornady AOL gauge again. http://www.wheeleraccuracy.com/#!videos/p62ad

I agree this is a better way to do it. For me, I got about .002 difference between the wheeler way and the hornady method. I use a roll/split pin punch for removing the ejector retaining pin. Make sure you have the ejector trapped before removing the pin or it's "cripes, where'd that go"?

 

[Sigfla]

I agree this is a better way to do it. For me, I got about .002 difference between the wheeler way and the hornady method. I use a roll/split pin punch for removing the ejector retaining pin. Make sure you have the ejector trapped before removing the pin or it's "cripes, where'd that go"?

That's what the Sinclair tool is for, lol.

 

[Nvreloader]

Sigfla

Did you try deburring the inside of the case mouth?
Worked for me.

Tia,
Don

 

[Sigfla]

Sigfla

Did you try deburring the inside of the case mouth?
Worked for me.

Tia,
Don

I didn't but thats a good idea.

 

[Zero333]

I put a bullet in the neck and put sideways pressure on it's ogive/nose from every side. Might have to use the floor instead of your fingers. Just use that bullet as a sighter after you do that.

If you have the perfect size expender, then that would be best. If you expand it too much, the neck might not fit the chamber.

 

['Freak]

Instead of the Hornady tool, I get a much better feel for what’s going on using Sinclair’s Bullet Seating Depth Tool #749-004-650, working its solid stainless steel rod through a Delrin action guide (no “special case” involved) shoving directly against either the base of a bullet or, and in a separate step, against the head of any case of your choosing, preferably a case that’s been fire formed to the fullest extents of your chamber.

Two stop collars get positioned on the rod, the first relative to distance to the base of a bullet alone, and then the second, relative to the distance to the case head with that case pushed full against the chamber’s shoulder.

A measurement between the two stop collars gives you the length from case head to the base of the bullet. Add to that measurement, the bullet’s base to ogive length obtained using a bullet comparator. The result is case head to ogive length for a loaded round with ogive positioned relative to the lands however you wanted.

 

[Sigfla]

Extra bonus. My Sinclair tool arrived today and it works just as well on my Savage bolt also. I just need to find a small enough punch to remove the pins on both now.