This doesn't seem right- HELP

[waterfwlr]

So I just bought a hornady lock and load oal gauge. I am using it on my Rock River Varmint Wylde Chamber AR. I am using 50 gr Dogtown HP bullets and when I use the tool I keep coming up with a real short bullet. Like 2.140 oal. I would have thought with a light bullet that I would have a much longer oal. I have previously just loaded to max oal to fit the magazine. The bullet just doesn't look right seated down so far. What do you all think??

 

[chuckbuster243]

That is not right for sure... I have shot a pile of the 55 dogtowns and just short enough to go in the mag is still jumping a pile in my rifle. I cant remember the amount but its allot. Check your gauge something is not seated or measuring correct. Matt

 

[XTR]

Is the bullet sticking in the lands or is it coming out with the case and tool?

Are you making sure the lock nut is tight on the tool when you hit bottom?

Did you clean before you checked it?

Are you measuring the Ogive with a Hornady gauge or are you just measuring OAL to the meplat.

I've seen some odd numbers on occasion but all in all I really like the system

If that bullet has a short radius ogive you may find that it seats shorter than longer bullets with a long radius ogive, and depending on the radius and the throat bullets may hit at different distasnces.

Example, in a 2013 F-TR reamer a 185 Berger Jugg touches the lands at 2.335 measured at the ogive with a Hornady tool, while the much longer 215 Hybrid touches the lands at 2.310, again measured at the ogive.

 

[waterfwlr]

It will occasionally stick to the lands, most times I just push the plunger until it hits the lands. I have to push pretty hard to get the bullet to get stuck in the lands. Yes, the locknut is tight when I hit. Yes, it was cleaned prior. I am measuring the tip of the bullet, my hornady comparator is on its way. I just don't get it. Before I had this tool I just loaded these bullets and similiar ones to fit the magazine and didn't have any function issues. Those bullets must have really be jammed?? Maybe it has a really short throat?? I tried two other bullets, 55gr HP varmint nightmare and 55 grain dogtown spitzer and they were all short

 

[bheadboy]

i have used the tool for years, this is my technique,

clean the chamber, dry the chamber and throat, incert a cleaning rod into the muzzle partially

screw on the case, incert the bullet into the case, incert the case/tool into the action/chamber snugly

with the lock screw loose, push the rod/bullet into the action until the bullet stops, i then take the cleaning rod and gently push it into contact with the bullet

at this point i play back and forth push the bullet away from the throat with the cleaning rod and then with the tool push the bullet back into the throat - snugly - slight cleaning rod pressure to dislodge the bullet or retraction.

at this point i lock the tool screw to secure the mesurement

i then use the hornaday oal gage to measure the length from the base of the case to the ojive of the bullet used without removing anything from the tool.

then i adjust for jump desired and load to that base to ojive length.

Bob

 

[waterfwlr]

Bob, that's the same technique I am doing. I use a wooden dowel instead of the cleaning rod though. I just did it another 5-6 times and I get roughly the same thing.

 

[bheadboy]

that being the case then you are in a position to determine the jump you want and seat to that length, forget the lenght of the result, if the measurement is as you say, then it is correct

Bob

 

[chuckbuster243]

make a dummy round at mag length and paint the bullet with a sharpie. Chamber the round and look for marks from the lands. If you see them seat the bullet deeper in 10-20k and repeat. When you stop getting marks your certain your not jamming. Its a slow way to do it. but it works. Matt

 

[waterfwlr]

that being the case then you are in a position to determine the jump you want and seat to that length, forget the lenght of the result, if the measurement is as you say, then it is correct

Bob

Yes, I am in position to determine seating length. I just can't get past the short bullet that is seated down so far. Doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention if I seat the bullet 20 thousands off the lands it will be that much shorter. Guess I am just going to have to get over it and shoot it and see.

 

[Multitoes]

I also have a RR ; I have found that it "appears" to have a short throat as well which seems contradictory to the Wylde Chamber AR. I also use the Hornady tools.

 

[bheadboy]

Waterfwlr

range report please

Bob

 

[waterfwlr]

I also have a RR ; I have found that it "appears" to have a short throat as well which seems contradictory to the Wylde Chamber AR. I also use the Hornady tools.

that seems to be the issue. Found this on the RRA webstite:

The .223 Wylde chamber was designed as a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles. It will accomodate both .223 Rem and 5.56mm NATO ammunition. It is relieved in the case body to aid in extraction and features a shorter throat for improved accuracy.

 

[waterfwlr]

Waterfwlr

range report please

Bob

You got it Bob. Sometime early next week. Need this figured out soon, that gun is coming with me to Montana for PD's in a week and a half.

 

[K22]

The Frankfort Arsenal tool is much simpler to use and very inexpensive. See the Midway catalog / website for a description of the tool. The guys of Long Range Pursuit recommend it.

I made my own in about 10 minutes from two nylon spacers and screws I purchased at Lowe's. I tap and threaded the nylon spacers and used them over my cleaning rod in the same manner that the Frankfort tool does.

 

[waterfwlr]

Ok, took it to the range this morning. It ran smooth and shot OK, 1/2-3/4 moa. I had the bullets seated just touching the lands as I couldn't get myself to seat the bullet down further. I'll play with the oal a bit.

 

[bheadboy]

Good goin, just for funz try some 52/53 gr Sierra match and jump them .010"

bob

 

[moorepower]

Put a bullet in an unsized, fired case to mag length and put it in the chamber. You will be able to tell what is going on quickly.

 

[triggerhappy243]

I have the same upper. I shoot the varmint nightmare 55 gr. hp. and I seat to feed thru the mags. 2.230 OAL. it shoots 1/2 moa you do not want it to bump the rifleing. you will wind up jambing a round and freaking out bystanders when you have to knock out the loaded/jambed round.