OAL for Tikka T3x

[grovey]

IMO... The better the bullet the less there is to worry about, but sorting them into lots is a way to address that. After you use the tool, save that particular bullet in your die box so you can keep track of what it measures in contrast to a new lot. Also to know how much your throat moving.

 

[bloc]

IMO... The better the bullet the less there is to worry about, but sorting them into lots is a way to address that. After you use the tool, save that particular bullet in your die box so you can keep track of what it measures in contrast to a new lot. Also to know how much your throat moving.

I think bullet sorting would be the only way to do it. But now don't we enter the realm of (dare I say it!) intersectionality? Some folks weigh bullets and sort according to weight. How to balance the two, bullet weight vs base-to-ogive measurement?

I used to worry a lot about this, but now don't because I could never be sure that such refinements made a difference. I've embraced the sad truth that when it comes to accuracy, my shooting technique limits me, not my equipment.

I'd probably think much differently if I were a competitive shooter, but all I do is punch holes at the range and try to slay ground squirrels. For those tasks, for my equipment/loads to be capable of <.5 MOA is perfectly fine.

 

[rebs]

My rifle had probably 1200 rds thru when I measured it, but with the Hornady tool I was @ 1.955 to touch with the 80gr mk. I consider this a few thou in the lands, but it's just a reference. A rough seating depth test showed 1.953 to be better than a -10 and -20 jump. It shoots ok, (.2's and .3's at best) and I just started testing at +5 and +10 . +5 looked promising thus far.

Is your rifle a Tikka T3x varmint ? what is your coal to seat the bullet ?
My chamber measured 1.923 with the hornady tool

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[grovey]

Looking back over my data the aforementioned 1.955 to touch measurement was in my hvy bbl T3 CTR scout , not my T3 superlite. The superlite has more rds thru it, and the throat has started to move. It measured 1.960-62 to touch by my data. I single feed both, so I have no idea what the c.o.a.l is.

 

[MihiT]

I found that even bullets from the same lot differ from one another by a few thousandths irrespective of manufacturer.

Has anyone else done this recently?

I would ALWAYS assume this variation.
I do not load close to max, and am happy with a 1/2"MOA, so I'm less concerned about minor variances in neck tension, charge weights, COAL, etc, etc, etc.
For every degree of precision you want, you need to do more.
Seating dies "measure to the ogive"
If you want to reduce the base-to-ogive variation then weight sort your projectiles and re-point/tail them

If not, take whatever average you feel comfortable with and go with it. Whether that's checking 1 in 10 of every new box, or 3 in 10, or 5 in 10, or every single one.
Personally, I check a half dozen random projectiles of a batch in a half dozen random cases and use the average of those numbers.

 

[MihiT]

I also single feed and don't even know if my loaded rounds would fit in the mag.

If you're loading to mag length, there's a very good chance you're well short of the lands. This is probably a lawyer/liability design point.