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Suggestions on c.o.a.l.

josebd

Silver $$ Contributor
i have a savage ftr .308 with a criterion 30" barrel
Gonna load up Sierra 168 bthp,with varget
My c.o.a.l. With this bullet is 2.883,Sierra book calls for 2.800
Should I start at 2.800 or set them closer to the lands?
I'll be shooting 300 yards max.
 
i have a savage ftr .308 with a criterion 30" barrel
Gonna load up Sierra 168 bthp,with varget
My c.o.a.l. With this bullet is 2.883,Sierra book calls for 2.800
Should I start at 2.800 or set them closer to the lands?
I'll be shooting 300 yards max.
Forget what the book says. Measure the distance to the lands of your rifle with a Hornady tool, threaded cartridge case and caliper. If this is for hunting, start .010" away from the lands and work farther away to find the best seating depth for accuracy. I do a ladder test first and then adjust seating depth. Some do depth first, then charge weight.
 
When you say "with this bullet its 2.883".
Are you saying using Hornady OAL length (stoney point) gauge with the bullet comparator to come up with the figure of to the lands its 2.883?
If that is the case I would seat them at 2.863 and go from there.
Doing that sets you .020 off the lands.
You do not want to jam them (bullet) into the lands as you would probably/possibly see excessive pressure spiking.
 
On target rifles I start in the lands and do my ladder test to find nodes and max charge weight. There are a lot more experienced competition shooters than myself on here. They will weigh in.
 
I use the steel rod with the 2 locking collars
That could be part of your problem. If you're measuring hollow point bullets for COAL you can get .015" variation in COAL vs. measuring ogive to base (OTB) ............. One of the reasons the Hornady tool is so popular. ........... PM sent
 
It's a target rifle,I'm gonna start at .015 and go from there

I opted for .010 for my new barrel. I don't like to "jam" my bullets, even if ever so slightly. I am probably giving up some possible accuracy by not jamming as many bench shooters do. Oh well. I've always gotten enough accuracy starting a .010 for my needs. I feel I use less time at my starting point then say, .015 or more. If my load doesn't shoot at .010 I will then adjust from there to .015. But, if I start at .015...Do I go to .010 or .015??!! I dunno know works for me!
 
That could be part of your problem. If you're measuring hollow point bullets for COAL you can get .015" variation in COAL vs. measuring ogive to base (OTB) ............. One of the reasons the Hornady tool is so popular. ........... PM sent
I've never had any problems with this tool,once I get the c.o.a.l. Then I measure off of the ogive
 
I've never had any problems with this tool,once I get the c.o.a.l. Then I measure off of the ogive
That should work just fine :) ............. I PM'd an alternate method that would allow you to check that your measurements are accurate with the Sinclair tool. Hope it helps !!
 
I've never had any problems with this tool,once I get the c.o.a.l. Then I measure off of the ogive

I measure both ways, .010 to 020 doesn't seem to make a huge difference from my experience 168 haven't shot well for me jambed. Using the rod isn't the best way to measure from what I know due to difference in bullet lengths, iam a newbie tho
 
I measure both ways, .010 to 020 doesn't seem to make a huge difference from my experience 168 haven't shot well for me jambed. Using the rod isn't the best way to measure from what I know due to difference in bullet lengths, iam a newbie tho

The rod measures to the base of the bullet, and the base of the cartridge case, so it is not an issue of bullet tip differences. I too use this tool and I never count on MY measurements to be totally accurate. i use them as a starting point and work from there. In the bullet/cartridge you are using I went simple....I grabbed a factory Fed GM loaded round and set my die to it. Then I played from there, knowing not to go into the lands because the 168 's i have shot did not like a touching set up. I have found the 168 MK to be very forgiving.
 
what i do is measure the bullet,and keep a record of it,the lengths are usually different
 
I usually use the Hornady OAL length gauge then using the Bullet Comparator measuring several different bullets from lot I am using too the ogive then get an average. This is my figure I then use to seat my bullets. I simply seat them .020 less then my average I got.
Works great for me if you do about ten for an average for your base figure.
 
Forget what the book says. Measure the distance to the lands of your rifle with a Hornady tool, threaded cartridge case and caliper. If this is for hunting, start .010" away from the lands and work farther away to find the best seating depth for accuracy. I do a ladder test first and then adjust seating depth. Some do depth first, then charge weight.
The 2.800" COAL stated by Sierra is a measurement that assures feeding in a magazine fed rifle. Yours is a single shot so that length doesn't apply to you. .............. Whether you use the Sinclair tool or the Hornady is immaterial. (I prefer the Hornady) What is important is that your bullet is slightly engraved by the rifling. Free bores are generally only .0005" larger than bullet diameter. A slightly fat bullet can be stopped at the entrance of the free bore and give a false "to the lands" reading. If you buff the shine off the bullet w/ 0000 steel wool the impression made by the lands will appear as tiny rectangular Bright spots assuring you have reached the lands. Never ASSUME your rifle will shoot best at someone else's seating depth. Each rifle is a rule unto itself. There are no short cuts to ultimate accuracy. ............ Yours might shoot good .020" even better at .060" off........ After all you do have a target rifle and want best possible accuracy. Right? FWIW
 
You do not want to jam them (bullet) into the lands as you would probably/possibly see excessive pressure spiking.
There are those that start low (charge wise) and jammed or touching and then work out (away) from lands...There is more than one way to skin a "cat".
 
what i do is measure the bullet,and keep a record of it,the lengths are usually different

The Redding Instant Indicator will give you bullet length, measured to teh Land bearing Point from base. You can use this number to make all your bulets jump the same distance, even if the bullet varies
 

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